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Understanding Dewey!. Everything you wanted to know about finding materials in the library media center!. Libraries Begin.
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Understanding Dewey! Everything you wanted to know about finding materials in the library media center!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?)
What are the subjects associated with these ten areas? Take a look…..
100’s • Who Am I? This section provides information about …
Philosophy & Psychology • Self-esteem • Ethics • Logic • Astrology
200’s • Where did I come from? • This section provides information about…
Religion & Mythology • Bible • Religious books of all sects • Religious history • Mythology
300’s • What about others? • This section provides information about…
Social Sciences • Government & laws • Economics • Social Groups & Problems • Education • Careers • Folklore • Customs • Holidays
400’s • How do I communicate with others? • This section provides information about…
Language • Linguistics • Dictionaries • All Languages: • German • French • Italian • Spanish, • Latin, • Greek • Sign
500’s • What about the world around me? • This section provides information about…
Mathematics Forces of Nature: Astronomy Physics Chemistry Earth Sciences Weather Paleontology Life Sciences Plants Animals Natural Science & Mathematics
600’s • How can I use natural things in the world to improve my life? • This section provides information about…
Farming Medicine Engineering Manufacturing Business Cooking Sewing Pets Building Technology
700’s • How can I enjoy my leisure time? • This section provides information about…
Fine Arts & Recreation • Art • Music • Dance • Films • Hobbies • Sports
800’s • What are man’s greatest thoughts & deeds? • This section provides information about…
Literature • Poetry • Plays • Jokes & Riddles
900’s • What has man recorded about his history? • This section provides information about…
Geography & History • Geography & travel • Individual biographies • Group biographies • History of Ancient World • Histories by area
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…
Generalities • General Encyclopedias • Library Science • Miscellaneous (for example: Bigfoot, UFO’s) They are not really fiction or nonfiction.
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:
Subdivision Example: • 900’s History • 970’s History of North America • 979’s Rocky Mountain Area • 979.2 State of Utah Got the picture? From large to small, or from general to specific. We could keep going….
How Are Dewey Numbers Assigned? • Every library uses the Dewey DecimalClassificationBook. • 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.
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!