1. An Introduction to the Dewey Decimal System
Meet Mr. Dewey
An Introduction to the Dewey Decimal System

2. Melvil Dewey
Dewey was a librarian who invented a system for organizing nonfiction books in libraries.
We still use it today.
It is called the Dewey Decimal System.
(Branson School,2004)
(Branson School, 2004)

3. How the Dewey Decimal System for nonfiction books works
There are 10 general categories.
Each has books from a different subject.
It is organized by numbers.
© Microsoft PowerPoint
(How to use., n.d.)

4. The Dewey subjects help decide where a book “belongs.”
Dewey makes it easier to find books in the library.

5. The Dewey Subjects Are 500 Natural Science and Math
000 General Knowledge
100 Philosophy and Psychology
200 Religion
300 Social Sciences
400 Languages
500 Natural Science
and Math
600 Applied Science
700 Arts
800 Literature
900 History and Geography
(Funkhauser, n.d.)

6. 000-099 General Knowledge Encyclopedias Newspapers UFOs, Bigfoot,
& Bermuda Triangle
Computer Programming
©Microsoft PowerPoint

7. 100 - 199 Philosophy and Psychology
How people think
Ghost Stories
Feelings
Superstitions
©Microsoft PowerPoint
© (Index of Images, n.d.)

8. 200 - 299 Religion Mythology World Religions Bible Stories
©Microsoft PowerPoint

9. 300 - 399 Social Sciences Fairy Tales, Folklore, and Legends
Holidays
Fairy Tales, Folklore, and Legends
Government and Jobs
Manners and Customs
©Microsoft PowerPoint

10. 400 - 499 Languages Foreign Language Dictionaries Dictionaries
Sign Language
©Microsoft PowerPoint

11. 500 - 599 Natural Science and Math
Astronomy
Mathematics
Dinosaurs
Animals
©Microsoft PowerPoint
©Microsoft PowerPoint

12. 600 - 699 Applied Science Technology Human Body Cookbooks Pets and
Farm Animals
Vehicles
©Microsoft PowerPoint

13. 700 - 799 The Arts Drawing Crafts & Hobbies Music Theatre Architecture
Sports
©Microsoft PowerPoint

14. 800 - 899 Literature How to Write Poetry Jokes & Riddles Plays
(Birks, 1998)

15. 900 - 999 Geography and History
Travel
Countries and Cultures
U.S. States
Native Americans
©Microsoft PowerPoint

16. Test Your Dewey Knowledge!
Science
©Microsoft PowerPoint

17. 900s
History & Geography
©Microsoft PowerPoint

18. The Arts
700s
©Microsoft PowerPoint

19. 300s
Social Sciences
©Microsoft PowerPoint

20. Religion
200s
©Microsoft PowerPoint

21. 600s
Applied Science
©Microsoft PowerPoint

22. Good Job!
Now…

23. How can YOU
Dewey?

24. How to Use The Dewey Decimal System
The Dewey System groups books together on the same subject.
These divisions are further divided and become more specific.

25. Books are Organized into 10 Broad Subjects
000 General Knowledge
100 Philosophy and
Psychology
200 Religion
300 Social Sciences
400 Languages
500 Natural Science & Math
600 Applied Science
700 Arts
800 Literature
900 History and Geography

26. Each of the 10 Broad Subjects is Divided into 10 Sub-Topics
Each Sub-Topic is divided into more specific topics.

27. Dewey goes from the General
to the
Specific

28. Natural Science and Math
General
Natural Science and Math
500

29. 500 Specific GENERAL Natural Science & Math 500 General Science
510 Mathematics
520 Astronomy
530 Physics
540 Chemistry
550 Earth Science
560 Fossils & Dinosaurs
570 Biology
580 Plants
590 Animals
500
Natural Science & Math

30. 590 Animals Even More Specific 597 Amphibians, Reptiles, & Fish
598 Birds
599 Mammals

31. What are Your Favorite Dewey Topics?

32. Cars
629

33. Dinosaurs
560

34. Sports
796

35. New Mexico History
978.9

36. Fairy Tales
398.2

37. Thank You, Mr. Dewey !

38. Bibliography
Birks, R. (1998). The Moreton Bay College drama department. Retrieved February 18, 2004 from
Branson School. (2004). What is the Dewey decimal system? Retrieved February 14, 2004 from
Funkhauser, A., & Vesper, V. (n.d.). Let’s do Dewey. Retrieved February 14, 2004 from
How to use the Dewey decimal system. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2004 from
Index of images. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2004 from
St. Clair Entertainment Group Inc. (2000). Mozart Sonata in A Major. On Piano Classics [CD]. Quebec: St. Clair Entertainment Group Inc.

39. Copyright Disclaimer
Some material in this presentation is used under the fair use exemption of U.S. copyright law.