Understanding the
Dewey Decimal
System
Belinda Callahan
Scope
This presentation will
introduce the Dewey Decimal
System to third through fifth
grade students. The goal is to
empower students to be
confident and successful when
locating nonfiction books in the
media center.
Dewey Pretest for Students
Who was Dewey?
Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851.
While working as an university student
assistant, he invented his system. He also
established the American Library Association
and the first library school.
Why a system?
Dewey wanted a way to organize books the
same way in all libraries. This way patrons can
find books easily no matter what library they
visit.
Books, Books, and More Books
Most of the books in the media center can be
divided into two groups: FICTION and NONFICTION.
FICTION books are from an author’s
imagination and are not true.
Most NONFICTION books are true and about
real things, people, events, and places. But
some books in the nonfiction section are also
fiction, such as folk and fairy tales, poetry,
plays, and even jokes and riddles.
What’s a Call Number?
Call numbers help you find book in the media center.
Each book has a call number and it is shelved by using
this number. You will find call numbers on the book’s
spine.
FICTION books have a “F” (for fiction) on the
top row and the first three letters of the
author’s last number. The books are then
arranged alphabetically using the last three
letters of the author’s last.
F
SMI
Use the link below to see how well you can shelve
fiction books.
The Shelve-It Game
What’s a Call Number?
NONFICTION books have call numbers with two
parts. The first part is the Dewey decimal number
and it is chosen using the book’s subject. The second
part is the first three letters of the author’s last
name. Nonfiction books are shelved first by the
numbers on the top row, and then alphabetically by
the letters on the bottom row.
Use the link below to see how well you can shelve
nonfiction books.
Dewey Number Order Game
610.69
HAY
What Does that Dewey
Number Mean?
Nonfiction books are grouped by
subjects. The Dewey Decimal system
has ten categories beginning with the
000’s and ending with the 900’s.
Let’s learn the categories and find
some books in our media center.
000’s – 099’s General Works
You will find books about . . .
000’s – 099’s General Works
Books you will find . . .
100’s – 199’s Philosophy & Psychology
You will find books about . . .
100’s – 199’s Philosophy & Psychology
Books you will find . . .
200’s – 299’s Religion
You will find books about . . .
200’s – 299’s Religion
Books you will find . . .
300’s – 399’s Social Sciences
You will find books about . . .
300’s – 399’s Social Sciences
Books you will find . . .
400’s – 499’s Language
You will find books about . . .
400’s – 499’s Language
Books you will find . . .
500’s – 599’s Natural Sciences & Mathematics
You will find books about . . .
500’s – 599’s Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Books you will find . . .
600’s – 699’s Applied Sciences
You will find books about . . .
600’s – 699’s Applied Sciences
Books you will find . . .
700’s – 799’s Fine Arts
You will find books about . . .
700’s – 799’s Fine Arts
Books you will find . . .
800’s – 899’s Literature
You will find books about . . .
800’s – 899’s Literature
Books you will find . . .
900’s – 999’s History & Geography
You will find books about . . .
900’s – 999’s History & Geography
Books you will find . . .
Doing the Dewey
First click on the link below:
Test Your Knowledge
Now let’s have some fun! Click on the links
below to play “Dewey” games:
Dewey Concentration Game
Dewey Challenge Game
Where in the Library Is My Book?
Fiction or Nonfiction
Can You Do the Dewey?
References
Acting Out: Six One-Act Plays! Six Newbery Stars! [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
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Ah, Music. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website: http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=9780060287191&appid=4
Alexander. (n.d.). Where in the Library is my book? Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website: http://www.quia.com/jg/1938737.html
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Cutler, B. (n.d.). Fiction or Nonfiction. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website: http://www.quia.com/pop/39360.html
References
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Dictionary [Illustration]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://notesofinspiration.com/2011/09/the-same-definition/
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150970&walkerID=1364262238003
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The History of the Computer [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mackin.com/BookPics/Book.aspx?isbn=9781403496553
The Holiday Handbook [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=0395650119&appid=4
References
Jobs People Do: A Day in the Life of a Doctor [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=0789479508&appid=4
Lodge. (n.d.). Shelve-It Game. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Mrs. Lodge's Library website: http://mrs-lodges-library.com/index.html
Melvil Dewey [Photograph]. (2012, December 10). Retrieved from http://www.sailblogs.com/member/thegreattrip/?xjMsgID=253398
My First Spanish Word Book: A Bilingual Word Book [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=1564582558&appid=4
A Newbery Christmas: Fourteen Stories of Christmas by Newbery Award - Winning Authors [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
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Peter, B. (n.d.). Dewey Concentration. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website: http://www.quia.com/cc/7265.html
Peter, B. (n.d.). Dewey Decimal System. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website: http://www.quia.com/mc/7265.html
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Plant Patterns [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=9780736867276&appid=4
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Riddles [Illustration]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.firstnews.co.uk/bored/my-riddle-can-you-solve-it-or-not11-i16809
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References
Spotlight on the United States of America [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=0778734528&appid=4
Spot the Plot: A Riddle Book of Book Riddles. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=0811846687&appid=4
Thesaurus [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://cliparts101.com/free_clipart/36861/Thesaurus.aspx
Thinking and Feeling [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=1583404392&appid=4
The Torah and Judaism [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=1583402446&appid=4
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World Religions [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=1000106&isbn=0789414392&appid=4
A young person's guide to philosophy : "I think, therefore I am" [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
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