The Numbers
in Nonfiction
We have learned the
recipe for making a
nonfiction call number.
numbers (for the subject)
first three letters of
the author’s last name
Now let’s learn more
about the numbers in
a nonfiction call
number.
How do we know
what number goes
with each subject ?
By using something cool called
The Dewey Decimal
System !!
The Dewey Decimal
System is a tool used
to sort books into
groups or
categories
This system was
invented by a man
named Melvil Dewey.
He was a
librarian who
lived long ago.
Sorting books by
subject, what a
brilliant idea!!
I think I’ve got it !!
10 general groups
for sorting all of the
subjects
General means broad,
lots of subjects will fit
into each group.
Here are the 10 general
groups for sorting books in
the Dewey Decimal System:
General Works
Philosophy
Religion
Social Studies
Language
Science
Technology
Arts and Leisure
Literature
History/Geography
This seems like a
lot to remember,
but don’t worry
you’ll learn it all
quickly.
So let’s get going !!!!
000s-General Works
Books that fit in this group
have many different
subjects in them. Like:
Encyclopedias or The Guinness Book of
Records
This is also where books on
unexplained subjects would be
found-like The Loch Ness Monster.
100s-Philosophy
Books that fit in this group
tell about how we think and
feel.
200s-Religion
Books in this group tell
about different religions or
stories from the bible.
300s-Social Studies
Books in this group tell
about how people live
together.
holidays and customs
government, military
Fairy tales and folk tales
are also placed in the 300s.
Many were written to teach a
lesson about behavior and..
That’s social studies.
400s-Language
Books in this group are
about different languages
or grammar.
noun
verb
adjective
500s-Science
Books in this group are
about things from nature.
600s-Technology
This group has books that are
about man-made things.
700s-Arts and Leisure
Books in this group are
about things we do for fun.
800s-Literature
Books in this group are
stories, plays, or poetry.
This is the group fiction
books were put in long ago
when The Dewey Decimal
System was first invented.
Today we have too many
fiction books in our
libraries to organize them
in this way, so fiction
books have their own way
of being organized.
You know, in ABC order, by
author !
900sHistory/Geography
Books in this group tell
about events of the past
and countries of the world.
Biography- 92
Don’t forget this group.
It contains books about
famous people’s lives.
Knowing these big
groups will help make
it easier to find the
books you want in the
nonfiction section.
Remember, nonfiction call
numbers are placed in
number order first, so
that means all of the
books about the same
subject end up near each
other on the shelf.
That’s Smart !!!!
Let’s See What You’ve
Learned
Call numbers
help us find
the books we
want to read !!!
1. What is the recipe
for a nonfiction call
number?
Numbers
(for the subject)
First three letters in
the author’s last name
2. What system tells us
what numbers go with
each subject?
Dewey Decimal System
3. Who is responsible
for inventing the Dewey
Decimal System?
Melvil Dewey
4. Mr. Dewey matched
a number with each
_____________.
a) author
b) subject
c) title
5. All school libraries
use the Dewey
Decimal System.
a) false
b) true