This document provides an overview of the Dewey Decimal Classification system. It explains that the system was created in 1876 by Melvil Dewey to organize books by subject into 10 main classes which are further divided into more specific categories. The first three numbers represent the general subject class, while additional numbers after the decimal point break subjects into more narrow topics. Some examples of subject categories are given such as 000 for computer science, 100 for philosophy, 200 for religion, and 900 for geography and history. The document concludes by explaining that within each category, books are shelved numerically by call number and then alphabetically by author and title.

1. Do We Know Dewey?
Using the Dewey Decimal System
in the Media Center

2. Melvil Dewey,
a librarian,
invented the
Dewey Decimal
Classification
System in 1846
to sort books
by subject.

3. How does it work?

4. There are always three numbers to
the left of the decimal point.
These organize information into
10 general classes, which are then
broken down into smaller topics.
The numbers to the right organize
subjects even more specifically.

5. 000 Computer Science,
Information and General Works
Books in this group have
many different subjects
Computers and the
Internet
Encyclopedias
World Records
References
News Media
Rare Books
Unexplained Subjects

6. 100 Philosophy and Psychology
Emotions and Feelings
Supernatural Events
Astrology

7. 200 Religion
220 = Bible Stories
221 = Old Testament
225 = New Testament
290 = World Religions
296 = Judaism
The TENS and ONES
numbers separate
each class into
divisions and
sections.

8. 300 Social Sciences
How people live together
Holidays
Customs
Government
Military

9. Fun Fact!
Fairy and folk tales were
written to teach lessons
about behavior –
that’s Social Studies!

10. 400 Language
Different Languages and Grammar

11. 500 Natural Science and Math
Mathematics
Things from Nature
Earth Sciences
Plants
Animals

12. 600 Technology (Applied Sciences)
Man Made Things
And Inventions
Human Body
Medicine
Space Science
Farming
Agriculture
Family Living
Pets
Cooking

13. 630 contains:
Farming
Farm Animals
Cats
Dogs
Pets
Horses
Fun Fact!

14. It’s the numbers AFTER the decimal
point that organize these into more
specific categories!
636.1 = Horses
636.7 = Dogs
636.8 = Cats
636.9 = Pets
That way all the cats
are with the cats
and not with the
chickens or ducks!

15. 700 Arts and Leisure
Things we do for fun!
Drawing
Music
Recreational and
Performing Arts
Sports

16. 796.323 = Basketball
796.332 = Football
796.357 = Baseball
796.44 = Gymnastics
796.962 = Hockey
The more numbers after the decimal
point, the more specific the category!

17. Cheerleaders
and Girls
Gymnastics
don’t belong
mixed in with
Football or
Hockey –
they could
get hurt!

18. 800 Literature
and
Rhetoric
Stories
Plays
Poetry
American Literature
Old English Literature

19. Fun Fact!
“Fiction” books can be placed in
813 – American Fiction.
Because there are so many,
it’s easier to keep them
Under F for Fiction and then
by Author, Series and Title.

20. 900 Geography
and History
Past Events
Countries of World

21. Biographies
920 - 928
Are shelved
alphabetically
by the subject’s
last name, not
by the author!
Fun Fact!

22. Books are shelved NUMERICALLY by:
1. The first three numbers BEFORE
the decimal point
2. Then by the numbers AFTER the
decimal point
After books are grouped numerically, they
are organized ALPHABETICALLY by:
1. The AUTHOR’s last name
2. The TITLE of the book

23. Information for this
presentation was obtained
from several free school and
library internet sources
including Wikipedia,
Language arts at pppst.com,
thinkquest.org, mikids.com,
and breitlinks.com.
Featured books were chosen
randomly from the shelves,
photographed and extracted
by myself (some better than
others).
Copyright 2013 by
Natalie RS McManus