The
Dewey Decimal
Classification
System
Find information about everything
in the world and beyond!
Heidi Packer
Sue Thach
MEDT 6463
Spring, 2011
What is the Dewey Decimal
Classification System?
 It organizes books and other
materials in libraries so that
people can find them easily on the
shelves.
 It is arranged using numbers to
represent all of the subjects in
the world . . . and beyond.
Melvil Dewey
(1851-1931)
 The Dewey Decimal
Classification System was
Melvil Dewey’s BIG idea.
 He divided all of the
knowledge in the world
into ten main classes and
left room for things he
didn’t even know about
yet, like computers.
http://www.slais.ubc.ca/COURSES/libr517/02-03wt2/projects/dewey/Images/deweymelvil.gif
Dewey is everywhere!
 When you go to other
libraries, you can find
non-fiction books using
the same system.
 Books are grouped
together by subject, so
when you go to the section
on animals (599) you can
browse the shelf and see
books about many animals.
Pebblebrook High School Media Center 2011
The Online Catalog
Pebblebrook High School Media Center 2011
 The computers in your library have a
catalog program that helps you find the
books you want to read.
• When you type in a search term, the
catalog gives you a list of books with
that subject and the Dewey number
telling you where to find it on the
shelf.
• This number is the address of the
book. It is called a “Call Number.”
Call Number
004 ROO
Spine Label
000s
General Knowledge and Information
004
ROO
100s
Psychology and Philosophy
133.1
NET
Click Here
for title
review
200s
Religion
220.9
Rog
300s
Social Sciences
323.44
FRE
400s
Language
401
SWI
423.1
TER
500s
Natural
Sciences
Click Here
for title
review
537
PAR
591.769
PAR
600s
Technology & Applied Science
Click Here
for title
review
614.4
WAR
636.7
CLU
700s
The Arts
743
AME
796. 357
STE
800s
Literature
822.3
SHA
809
WIL
900s
History
940.1
How
Geography
917.580
FRO
Games and Activities
 Here are some ways to learn more about the
Dewey Decimal Classification System and expand
your knowledge:
 Click the link below to play Dewey games:
Quia - Dewey Decimal System
 Click the link below to do some Dewey activities and
test your knowledge:
Dewey Activities
References
Adasiewicz, S. (2007). Mysterious places. New York, NY: Children’s Pr.
Ames, L. J. (2002). Draw 50 horses. New York, NY: Follettbound.
Animated Earth image. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/anim-htm/anim5.htm
Breitsprecher, W. P. (2009). Dewey Decimal System. Retrieved from http://mylmcweb.com/dewey_decimal.htm
Clutton-Brock, J. (2004). Dog. New York, NY: Dk Pub.
Dewey Drawing. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.slais.ubc.ca/COURSES/libr517/02-03-wt2/projects/dewey/Images/
deweymelvil.gif
Doster, G. L. (1991). From Abbeville to Zebulon: early post card views of Georgia. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Pr.
Dupont, C. Y., & Onuf, P. S. (Eds.). (2010). Declaration of independence: the origin and influence of America's founding
document. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Library.
Georgia Standards. (July 13, 2006). English Literature 6-8. Retrieved from
https://www.georgiastandards.org/Standards/Georgia%20Performance%20Standards/SeventhGradeRevised2006.pdf
Georgia Standards. (July 13, 2006). Science 6-8. Retrieved from
https://www.georgiastandards.org/Standards/Georgia%20Performance%20Standards/SeventhGradeRevised2006.pdf
Holland, P. (Ed.). (2000). Romeo and Juliet. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
References
Geoegia Department of Education, GPS. (2002). Quality core curriculum standards (Technology Standard 6). Atlanta, GA: DOE. Retrieved from
https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/GPS%20Support%20Docs/QCC%20Technology%20Integration%206-8.pdf
Howarth, S. (1993). The middle ages. New York, NY: Viking Pr.
Library and computers graphic. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://breitlinks.com/libraryskillstv/#ResearchSkills
Netzley, P.D. (2000, March 1). Amazon.com reviews. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Library-Haunted-Houses/
dp/1560066857/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299641112&sr=1-1
Netzley, P.D. (2000). Haunted houses. San Diego, CA: Lucent.
Parker, S. (2005). Electricity. New York, NY: Dk Pub.
Parker, S. (2004). Seashore. New York, NY: Dk Pub.
Parker, S. (2005, September 05). Amazon.com reviews. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Electricity-Eyewitness-BooksSteve-Parker/dp/0756613884/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299641371&sr=1-1
Quia, (2011). Java games. Retrieved from http://www.quia.com/jg/7265.html
Rogerson, W. (1993). The Bible. New York, NY: Facts on File.
Rooney, A. (2005). Computers: faster, smaller, and smarter. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library.
Stewart, M. (2006). The Atlanta Braves. Chicago, IL: Norwood House Pr.
References
Swisher, C. (1989). The beginning of language: opposing viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Pr.
Terban, M. (1996). Scholastic dictionary of idioms. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.
Ward, B. (2000, August 15). Amazon.com reviews. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Eyewitness-DK-Epidemic-BrianWard/
dp/0789462966/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299640686&sr=8-1
Ward, B. (2000). Epidemic. New York, NY: Dk Pub.
Weidner, J. (2001-11). Study stack games. Retrieved from http://www.studystack.com/hangman-471
Weiss, S. (2008). Dewey: the world’s best organizer [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://westga.view.usg.edu/
webct/urw/lc18361011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct
Williams, B. (1991). Literature. Austin, TX: Steck-Vaughn Library Div.