dewey decimal systerm - a brief introduction

How are books put on shelves?

How are they grouped?

How do you find books that you want?

Libraries in the Olden Days

• Books were placed on the shelf by their age.

• Books were placed in buckets

• Expensive books were placed near a door – in case of fire!!

Melville Dewey

• Born in 1851

• Like spelling, math and organizing things.

• Invented a new way to organize libraries.

• Grouped books by 100s.

Melville Dewey

Dewey Decimal System

Puts similar things together

• Encyclopedias

• Computers

• Strange things – Big Foot, aliens, Loch Ness monster

Dewey System – 0-99

• Psychology - Books about feelings

• Philosophy – Books about thinking

Dewey System – 100-199

• Beliefs• Religions• Mythologies

Dewey System – 200-299

• Communities - Learning to get along together

• Politics • Government• Education• Law• Folk lore and fairy tales

Dewey System – 300-399

• Languages

• How do we talk with each other?

Dewey System – 400-499

• Natural Science• Math

• Nature and the world around us

• The universe• The earth• Animals• Birds• Reptiles• Fish

Dewey System – 500-599

• Science • Technology

• Things that people invent, engineer, grow, manufacture, process and build

Dewey System – 600-699

• Sports• Activities and

Hobbies• How people use

their free time• Art• Craft• Dance• Music

Dewey System – 700-799

• Poetry• Jokes• Riddles• Plays

Dewey System – 800-899

• Geography• History• Biographies – books

about people

Dewey System – 900-999

• Dewey Decimal number

• First 3 letters of the author’s last name

Book Labels /Call Numbers

595.7

TER