http://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/mme/news/studentinvestigations/WebQuests/dewey/ima
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Dewey Decimal System
Melville Dewey and his System
Melville Dewey’s Childhood
• Melville Louis Kossuth was born
December 10, 1851 in New York.
• As a child he was drawn to mathematics
and enjoyed classification systems.
• Melville’s family could not afford to
send him to school, but at age 19 he
went and attended Amherst College.
• He worked in the library there to fund
his education
•
http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/birchwood/links/DeweyImages/melvildewey.jpg
Classification Before Dewey
• Before Dewey, Classification systems
used a fixed design.
• Each book was given a specific spot on
the shelf.
• Books and shelves had to be reclassified
with each addition to the collection.
• No two libraries used the same system.
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Father of Modern Librarianship
• Dewey invented the Dewey Decimal
System when he was only 21.
• This system is based off of subjects
and numbers, making it easy for one to
categorize and shelve books.
• Amherst College was the first to adopt
his modernized system.
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The Classifications
000-099
Computer Science, Information, and
General Works:
Encyclopedias
General Reference Works
Computer science
Magazines
Oddities
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The Classifications
100-199
Philosophy, Parapsychology and Occultism,
Psychology:
Schools of thought
Human nature
Witchcraft
Divinatory arts
http://www.bruceeisner.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/13/psychology.jpg
The Classifications
200-299
Religion
Theories
Denominations
Religious ethics
Doctrines
Religious practices
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The Classifications
300-399
Social Sciences
Law
Political Science
Customs
Folklore
Social problems and services
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The Classifications
400-499
Language
Bilingualism
All spoken languages
All written languages
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The Classifications
500-599
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Mathematics
Astronomy
Earth sciences
Biology
Plants
Animals
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Zoology/AnimalPhysiology/Anatomy/Anatomy/animalcell.jpg
The Classifications
600-699
Technology (Applied Sciences)
Medicine
Health
Agriculture
Management
Chemical Engineering
Buildings
http://www.dennisholmesdesigns.com/siteimages/doctor.jpg
The Classifications
700-799
The Arts (Fine and Decorative)
Landscape
Sculpture
Music
Graphic arts
Drawing
Painting
Photography
http://www.sdnp.org.gy/artsf/logo3.jpg
The Classifications
Drama
Poetry
Fiction
Speeches
Letters
Humor
Essays
800-899
Literature and Rhetoric
http://www.rebeccathornburgh.com/books/images/shelfelfhelpsbig.jpg
The Classifications
900-999
History, Geography, and Auxiliary
Disciplines
Geography
Travel
Genealogy
History of places
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The Legacy
Dewey died at age 80 and 7 decades after
his death, he is still known for the most
widely used library classification system
In the world.
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References
Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (2008). How one
library pioneer profoundly influenced modern
librarianship. Retrieved March 29, 2009, from
http://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/biography
Patschke, Kristen. (2000, December 12). Melvil Dewey:
the father of librarianship. Retrieved March 29, 2009,
from http:www.booktalking.net/books/dewey/