This session will cover … The advantages and pitfalls of using WebDewey 2.0 General approach How to log on The basic structure of WebDewey 2.0 records Introduction to browse, search, and tables Introduction to built numbers

Advantages of WebDewey a) You can keyword search all of Dewey, and use Boolean searching b) You can access notes and related numbers, by clicking on links c) WebDewey includes terms and built numbers which are not found in the print version d) Some Dewey numbers have Library of Congress subject headings linked e) WebDewey is completely up-to-date, but the print version is not, and is getting more and more out of date

Less appealing features a) Number building can be more difficult, especially for complicated numbers such as literature numbers b) Because Dewey was designed for print, it’s not fully suited to an online interface. It’s important to start with a good understanding of the print version

WebDewey is not Google! Approach WebDewey in the way you would the print version, by browsing down through the summaries of the main classes and checking the relative index. You still need to determine the subject and discipline of a work, and think in exactly the same way as when using the print version of Dewey.

Once you have logged in, by default you are using the 23rd edition of Dewey, which has orange buttons.

Click on “Home” to see the ten main classes

Clicking on “000” displays the summary for the ten classes below

Clicking on “090” displays the ten classes below. This approach enables you to find a number by drilling down through the hierarchies

Broader numbers Box to build numbers Tables LC subject headings associated with the Dewey number Class summaries Narrower numbers

Browse option Useful to check a Dewey number that may already be on the record Allows you to drill down from a general to a more specific number

On the left you enter your browse terms, and on the right select the index that you wish to browse

Drilling down from a general to a more specific number

Search option Useful if you have very specific keywords, that may not be in the relative index Finding the Dewey number corresponding to a Library of Congress subject heading Find a more detailed Dewey number from a base number

Tables

Introduction to built numbers Identified by a small “B” in your search results You need look at how the number has been constructed, and its scope. Sometimes the scope of built numbers is much broader than is immediately obvious in WebDewey

The instructions tell you to add “7” from the table “Add as instructed under ”.

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