Transcript The Dewey Decimal Classification System

The Dewey Decimal
Classification System
Rob Case
MEDT 6463
Project 3
Why Study the Dewey Decimal System?
• We will look at the Dewey Decimal
Classification System so that you
can learn how materials are
organized in your Media Center.
• This will make it possible for you
find materials you need for class
and for pleasure reading.
Who Was Melvil Dewey?
• Melville Louis Kossuth
Dewey was born on
December 10, 1851 in
Adams Center, New
York.
• Keenly interested in
simplified spelling, he
shortened his first
name to Melvil as a
young adult and
dropped his middle
names. For a short
time, even spelled his
last name as Dui.
Who Was Melvil Dewey? (cont.)
• Dewey invented the Dewey Decimal
Classification (DDC) system when he was 21
and working as a student assistant in the
library of Amherst College.
• Melvil Dewey is known as the “Father of
Modern Librarianship.”
• Dewey founded the first library school.
• Dewey helped establish the American Library
Association (ALA) in 1876, and is credited
with creating the world's first library
science curriculum.
Dewey Decimal Classification System
000 - General Works
100 - Philosophy and Psychology
200 - Religion
300 - Social Science
400 - Language
500 - Natural Science and Mathematics
600 - Technology (Applied Sciences)
700 – Arts and Recreation
800 - Literature
900 - Geography and History
General Works 000-099
• Books with many subjects all in one
• These books include Bibliographies,
Encyclopedias, Books of Facts, etc
• This section also includes books related
to news media, journalism and
publishing as well as magazines,
journals and serials
Philosophy and Psychology 100-199
• Books on philosophy, psychology,
paranormal, logic and ethics
• Books on feelings, thoughts and
ideas
• Books on how to study and other
self-improvement
Religion 200-299
• Books on all the ideas of religion
and natural theology
• Books on the bible and the
Christian denomination
• Books on different world religions
and what they believe
Social Science 300-399
• Books about sociology, anthropology,
economics and education
• Books regarding laws and
government
• Also includes books about customs,
etiquette and folklore.
Language 400-499
• Books involving language and
linguistics
• Books about foreign languages such
as Spanish, French, German, etc
• Also includes Thesauri, Dictionaries
and books about English grammar
Natural Science and Mathematics 500-599
• Books about science, mathematics,
astronomy, physics and chemistry
• Includes books about rocks, animals,
insects, fossils, weather, etc.
• These books help us understand our
environment and the world around us
Technology (Applied Sciences) 600-699
• Books about technology, medicine and
engineering
• Includes books about agriculture, home
economics and chemical engineering
• Also includes books on manufacturing
and buildings
Arts and Recreation 700-799
• Books about art and recreation
• Includes books about painting,
photography, landscaping, and
architecture
• Also includes books on music and
sports
Literature 800-899
• Books about literature and rhetoric
• Includes books about poems, plays,
short stories, riddles and jokes
• This section features classic works
of writing by William Shakespeare
Geography and History 900-999
• Books about geography and history
• Includes books about groups of
people, countries, and war
• This section features books about
travel and atlases
How does the Dewey Decimal System Work?
• The DDC classifies or categorizes nonfiction books
into ten main divisions which are arranged from
lowest number (000) to highest number (999).
- 133.5
- 255.3
- 333.5
• A book is assigned a Dewey number based on its
subject matter. In most libraries the Dewey number
and the first three letters of the author's last name
become the book's call number. They are arranged
alphabetically if the call number is the same.
- 133.5 Abc
- 133.5 Bcd
- 133.5 Def
Dewey Decimal System Review Activities
Try these online review activities to practice what you
have just learned:

“Do We” Really Know Dewey

Quia Matching Game (need Java script to run)
http://www.quia.com/jg/7265.html

Library Skills Game
http://www.ccsd.edu/bardonia/LearningGames/LibrarySkills/

Let’s Do Dewey
http://frank.mtsu.edu/~vvesper/dewey2.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/5002/index.shtml
Sources
• Flickr (2006). Melvil Dewey Image. Retrieved April 2009
from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianbrarian/200420263/
• OCLC (2008). How one library pioneer profoundly influenced
modern librarianship. Retrieved April 2009 from:
http://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/biography/
• OCLC (2008). A Brief Introduction to the Dewey Decimal
Classification. Retrieved April 2009 from:
http://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/biography/
• Patschke, K. (2000). Melvil Dewey: The Father of
Librarianship. Retrieved April 2009 from:
http://www.booktalking.net/books/dewey/