The Dewey Decimal Classification System

1. The Dewey Decimal Classification System How the Library is Organized

2. Melvil Dewey 1851-1931 • Melvil Dewey devised a system of organizing books which is used in many libraries. He divided books up into 10 main subjects, and then assigned these subjects a number. That way all the books on a topic would be together on the shelf.

3. THINK ABOUT IT! If books weren’t shelved this way, libraries would be in total chaos!

4. What is a Call Number? • Every book in the library is given its own call number that is an address for locating the book on the shelf. • The call number is located on the spine of a book. • The call number is made up of two parts: the Dewey Decimal classification number and the first three letters of the author’s last name.

5. The Key to Library Call Numbers

6. Fiction Books that are stories made up by the author. They are not true, but might be based on true events. Nonfiction Books that are about real things, people, events and places. They are true, except for fairy and folk tales in 398 and literature (poetry & plays) in the 800s. The Difference Between Fiction and Nonfiction

7. Nonfiction call numbers begin with a Dewey number, and then the first three letters of the author’s last name. Fiction call numbers begin with E or Fic or F, and then the first three letters of the author’s last name. It’s still a call number even though there are no numbers in it! 599 GIB J 599 GIB E SEU TR SEU FIC PAU J FIC PAU Fiction and Nonfiction Call Numbers

8. FICTION CALL NUMBERS HAVE ONLY LETTERS! NONFICTION CALL NUMBERS HAVE NUMBERS AND LETTERS! + Just Remember…….

9. The Dewey System Has 10 Main Classes for Organizing Nonfiction Books.

10. Each of the 10 Main Classes can be further divided:

11. Dewey and Decimals Think of a Dewey number as if it were dollars and cents! For example: 595.23 Comes Before 595.30 When in doubt, add a 0 (zero) to even out the digits after the decimal.