Dewey
From SLNSW
How are resources arranged in your library?
Library Organization
Once you know what type of resource you need and the topic, how do you locate the materials in the library? Is your library arranged by Dewey or another system?
Familiarize yourself with the organization of materials in the library. This helps you locate a particular resource, but will also allow you to go quickly to the best area for browsing the shelves in the reference collection or throughout the library.
Dewey Decimal System
The 100 Divisions
Most public libraries arrange the books on their shelves using the Dewey Decimal System. This is a numerical arrangement which puts books on the same subject together on the shelves. Individual libraries often add letters relating to the author's name after the Dewey numbers. You can take an animated tour of the DDC.
Some libraries, especially larger ones and academic libraries, use a different system developed by the Library of Congress. It uses a combination of letters and numbers and you may see this used on books you borrow from other libraries.
Other libraries, as part of their marketing are using broader subject clusters to arrange their stock, as used by some bookshops.
Dewey on the Web
OCLC WebDewey "offers easy-to-use, World Wide Web-based access to the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and related information, with searching and browsing capabilities; Library of Congress Subject Headings; and links from the mapped LCSH to the corresponding LCSH authority records." A tutorial is available from OCLC.
Library resources are classified so that they can be found on shelves
Dewey Major Subdivisions
For information about the History and Use of the Dewey Decimal System and the Expanded Dewey table, consult the OCLC web site:
Generalities
000 Computers, Internet & systems 010 Bibliographies 020 Library & information science 030 Encyclopedias & books of facts 040 [Unassigned] 050 Magazines, journals & serials 060 Associations, organizations & museums 070 Journalism, publishing & news media 080 Quotations 090 Manuscripts & rare books
Philosophy
100 Philosophy 110 Metaphysics 120 Epistemology 130 Astrology, parapsychology & the occult 140 Philosophical schools of thought 150 Psychology 160 Logic 170 Ethics 180 Ancient, medieval & Eastern philosophy 190 Modern western philosophy
Religion
200 Religion 210 Philosophy & theory of religion 220 The Bible 230 Christianity & Christian theology 240 Christian practice & observance 250 Christ. pastoral practice & religious orders 260 Church org., social work & worship 270 History of Christianity 280 Christian denominations 290 Other religions
Social sciences
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology 310 Statistics 320 Political science 330 Economics 340 Law 350 Public administration & military science 360 Social problems & social services 370 Education 380 Commerce,communications, transportation 390 Customs, etiquette & folklore
Languages
400 Language 410 Linguistics 420 English & Old English Languages 430 German & related languages 440 French & related languages 450 Italian, Romanian & related languages 460 Spanish & Portuguese languages 470 Latin & Italic languages 480 Classical & modern Greek languages 490 Other languages
Pure sciences
500 Science 510 Mathematics 520 Astronomy 530 Physics 540 Chemistry 550 Earth sciences & geology 560 Fossils & prehistoric life 570 Biology & life sciences 580 Plants (Botany) 590 Animals (Zoology)
Technology (applied sciences)
600 Technology 610 Medicine 620 Engineering 630 Agriculture 640 Home & family management 650 Management & public relations 660 Chemical engineering 670 Manufacturing 680 Manufacturing specific products 690 Building & construction
Arts
700 Arts 710 Landscaping & area planning 720 Architecture 730 Sculpture, ceramics & metalwork 740 Drawing & decorative arts 750 Painting 760 Graphic arts 770 Photography 780 Music 790 Sports, games & entertainment
Literature (belles-lettres)
800 Literature, rhetoric & criticism 810 American literature in English 820 English & Old English literatures 830 German & related literatures 840 French & related literatures 850 Italian, Romanian & related literatures 860 Spanish & Portuguese literatures 870 Latin & Italic literatures 880 Classical & modern Greek literatures 890 Other literatures
General geography & history
900 History 910 Geography & travel 920 Biography & genealogy 930 History of ancient world (to ca. 499 A.D.) 940 History of Europe (ca. 500 A.D.- ) 950 History of Asia 960 History of Africa 970 History of North America 980 History of South America 990 History of other regions including Australasia
Major Point: Understanding the Dewey arrangement in your library will help you find resources.
Exercise
1. Look at the non-fiction areas in your library. Each area (reference, ready reference, children's, DVDs, adult non-fiction, etc.) will probably be organized by Dewey. How many places in your library can you locate resources in the 900s? What are they?
2. What is the Dewey number for each of the resources on the list of essential resources?
