Dewey Decimal Classification System

Who created the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

• Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851• Melvil Dewey created the number order

system for library books when he was 21 years old.

• Melvil Dewey started the first school for librarians.

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.

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

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.500

Lee200Bya

000Mea

Generalities - 000

• Encyclopedias• News media• Rare Books

Encyclopedias, References

Philosophy - 100

• Paranormal phenomena• Psychology• Logic

Man thinks

Religion - 200

• Bible• History of Christianity• Other Religions

About God

Social Science - 300

• Law• Education• Folklore

About man’s neighbors

Language - 400

• English• Spanish• Other Languages

Man talks with other men

Natural Science & Math - 500

• Mathematics• Earth sciences• Plants• Animals

Man discovers all that is around him

Technology – 600

• Medicine• Agriculture• Family living

Man makes useful things

The Arts - 700

• Drawing • Music• Recreational & performing

arts

Man makes beautiful things

Literature - 800

• American Literature• Old English Literature• Literatures of Other Languages

Man writes

Geography & History - 900

• Geography• Biographies• Ancient History

Man writes about travel, people, and events

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?

Resources Used…

All clipart taken from the Microsoft Clipart web site:

Information on the Dewey Decimal Classification taken from: Weisburg, H. & Toor, R. Teacher’s Portfolio of Library Skills

Lessons & Activities (1985). The Center for Applied Research in Education, Inc.

http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us&cag=1