1. Understanding Dewey! Everything you wanted to know about finding materials in the library media center!

2. Libraries Begin It was during the 1800’s that libraries were beginning to spring up around the country. The printing press had made more and more books available to the general public, and more and more people were learning to read.

3. A Problem Evolves Melvil Dewey was a very bright but frustrated librarian. As more and more books were added to his library collection, he found it difficult to locate materials. Being a resourceful young man, he decided to create a standardized numbering system for classifying nonfiction books in a library.

4. How Should Dewey Start? Dewey wanted a system that put subjects into ten basic areas. (That’s because our numbering system is based on “ten”.) He wanted each book to have a specific number on the book spine so that the book would have a specific location on a library shelf. If he used decimals with his base ten numbering system, he figured he could create detailed numbers for detailed subjects.

5. Dewey Classification 100’s200’s300’s 400’s500’s600’s 700’s800’s900’s

6. And……….  000’s  These are the basic ten sections of every library that uses the Dewey Decimal System. And, most libraries for schools and the public use this system.

7. Subjects ? Dewey chose his ten basic subject areas by pretending to be a caveman. What kind of questions would the “first man” ask? Dewey also wanted to be able to include subjects that were yet to be created due to future technology. (Smart guy, huh?)

8. What are the subjects associated with these ten areas? Take a look…..

9. 100’s  Who Am I? This section provides information about …

10. Philosophy & Psychology  Self-esteem  Ethics  Logic  Astrology

11. 200’s  Where did I come from?  This sections provides information about…

12. Religion & Mythology Bible Religious books of all sects Religious history Mythology

13. 300’s  What about others?  This sections provides information about…

14. Social Sciences  Government & laws  Economics  Social Groups & Problems  Education  Careers  Folklore  Customs  Holidays

15. 400’s  How do I communicate with others?  This sections provides information about…

16. Language  Linguistics  Dictionaries  All Languages: – German – French – Italian – Spanish, – Latin, – Greek – Sign

17. 500’s  What about the world around me?  This sections provides information about…

18. Natural Science & Mathematics  Mathematics  Forces of Nature: – Astronomy – Physics – Chemistry  Earth Sciences  Weather  Paleontology  Life Sciences  Plants  Animals

19. 600’s  How can I use natural things in the world to improve my life?  This sections provides information about…

20. Technology  Farming  Medicine  Engineering  Manufacturing  Business  Cooking  Sewing  Pets  Building

21. 700’s  How can I enjoy my leisure time?  This sections provides information about…

22. Fine Arts & Recreation  Art  Music  Dance  Films  Hobbies  Sports

23. 800’s  What are man’s greatest thoughts & deeds?  This sections provides information about…

24. Literature  Poetry  Plays  Jokes & Riddles

25. 900’s  What has man recorded about his history?  This section provides information about…

26. Geography & History  Geography & travel  Individual biographies  Group biographies  History of Ancient World  Histories by area

27. 000’s  Where do items that don’t seem to fit in any of the other nine sections get placed?  This is where you would find…

28. Generalities  General Encyclopedias  Library Science  Miscellaneous (for example: Bigfoot, UFO’s) They are not really fiction or nonfiction.

29. What about Subdivisions?  Each of these ten general subject areas can be subdivided indefinitely. The more specific the number, the more specific the subject.  For example:

30. Subdivision Example:  900’sHistory  970’sHistory of North America  979’sRocky Mountain Area  979.2State of Utah Got the picture? From large to small, or from general to specific. We could keep going….

31. How Are Dewey Numbers Assigned?  Every library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification Book.  This book has all of the number divisions and subdivision listed.  The librarian uses this book to select the correct Dewey Decimal Number for each title in the library.

32. Find that Book!  Look up a title in the library computer.  Write down the Dewey Decimal Number.  Go to the nonfiction section of the library.  Follow along the shelves numerically until you locate the book.  All books on the same subject will be placed together on the shelf.  Thank You, Melvil Dewey!