Dewey Decimal Classification System
Rockwood Middle School Library
Sunday, August 9, 15
Who Created the Dewey Classification System?
! Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851! Melvil Dewey introduced the classification
system in 1876.! Melvil Dewey started the first school for
librarians.
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Ten Main Classifications in Dewey’s System
! The world’s knowledge is divided into 10 categories or groups.
! Each group has a main title and is represented by three numbers.
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The Big Ten!
! Generalities – 000! Philosophy – 100! Religion – 200! Social Science –
300! Language – 400
! Science & Math – 500! Technology – 600! The Arts – 700! Literature – 800! Geography & History - 900
Brings order to the massive amount of world knowledge
Sunday, August 9, 15
You Can Judge A Book by Its Cover!
! The Dewey Decimal Classification call number can be found on the spine label.
! Why? ! When the book is
shelved, the Dewey Decimal Classification call number can be easily seen.
500Lee
200Bya000
Mea
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Generalities - 000
! Encyclopedias! News media! Miscellanea
Encyclopedias, References
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Philosophy - 100
! Paranormal Phenomena! Psychology! Logic
Man thinks
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Religion - 200
! Bible! History of Christianity! Other Religions
About God
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Social Science - 300
! Law! Education! Folklore
About man’s neighbors
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Language - 400
! English! Spanish! Other Languages
Man talks with other men
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Natural Science & Math - 500
! Mathematics! Earth Sciences! Plants! Animals
Man discovers all that is around him
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Technology – 600
! Medicine! Agriculture! Family Living
Man makes useful things
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The Arts - 700
! Drawing ! Music! Recreational & Performing
Arts
Man makes beautiful things
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Literature - 800
! American Literature! Old English Literature! Literatures of Other Languages
Man writes
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Geography & History - 900
! Geography! Biographies! Ancient History
Man writes about travel, people, and events
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So what does the DDSDo?
It helps solve a big problem:
helping you find the right information by giving you a specific number that belongs to the item you want.
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Let’s say you’re interested in bicycles. What you want to know about them will decide what DDC numbers you’ll need to find:
– The history of bicycles
– Taking care of your bicycle
– Bicycle safety
– Bicycle racing
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Each of these topics is about bicycles, but a book about each of these topics will have its very own DDC number.
The history of bicycles (796.6)
Taking care of your bicycle (629.27)
Bicycle safety (388.12)
Bicycle racing (796.62)
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! 700 Arts ! 710 Landscaping & area
planning ! 720Architecture ! 730 Sculpture, ceramics &
metalwork! 740 Drawing & decorative
arts
The ten main classes mentioned before are each divided into ten divisions, like this:
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! 700 Arts ! 710 Landscaping & area
planning ! 720Architecture ! 730 Sculpture, ceramics &
metalwork! 740 Drawing & decorative
arts
The ten main classes mentioned before are each divided into ten divisions, like this:
750 Painting
760 Graphic arts
770 Photography &
computer art
780 Music
790 Sports, games &
entertainment
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Each division is then divided into ten sections, like this:
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Each division is then divided into ten sections, like this:
795 Games of chance796 Athletic & outdoor sports & games797 Aquatic & air sports798 Equestrian sports & animal racing799 Fishing, hunting & shooting
790 Recreational & performing arts 791 Public
performances
792 Stage
presentations
793 Indoor games
& amusements 794 Indoor games of
skill
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You’ll see all of these numbers on theLEFT side of the decimal point. But whatabout the numbers on the RIGHT side of the decimal point?
796.046
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You’ll see all of these numbers on theLEFT side of the decimal point. But whatabout the numbers on the RIGHT side of the decimal point?
796.046
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! The numbers on the right side are used to divide a specific subject into even more specific parts of a subject.
– For a book on making cookies at home, – look for 641.8654– For a book on Golden Retrievers, – look for 636.7527– For a book on stained glass, look for 748.5
! It’s like sorting your socks by color, or music CDs by performer or type of music.
Sunday, August 9, 15
! The numbers on the right side are used to divide a specific subject into even more specific parts of a subject.
– For a book on making cookies at home, – look for 641.8654– For a book on Golden Retrievers, – look for 636.7527– For a book on stained glass, look for 748.5
! It’s like sorting your socks by color, or music CDs by performer or type of music.
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! Once you have the number for the book you need, you can go find the row of books where the book you want should be.
! The books on each shelf are arranged in number order, but if you need help, a library staff member can help you.
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Flashback! What Do You Remember?
! Who created the Dewey Decimal Classification System?
! What does the DDCS do for our library?
! How many main classifications are there?
! Where do you find the DDCS number on a library book?
Sunday, August 9, 15
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