The Dewey Decimal System

How Nonfiction Books are Organized in the Library

Nonfiction Book Call Numbers

Call Number Head subject) = Numbers (for the

Call Number Tail = First Three Letters of the Authors Last Name Ex. 326.5 And

Dewey Numbers or the Head Groups subjects Keeps similar books together Lets you browse the shelves

Melvil Dewey Invented system Lived long ago We still use system today

10 Groups Broad Groups Lots of subjects fit into each group Groups keep books together on shelves

Dewey Groups
000s Generalities 100s Philosophy 200s Religion 300s Social Sciences 400s Languages 500s Science & Math 600s People Using Science & Technology 700s Arts & Recreation 800s Literature 900s Geography & History

000s - General Books that fit in this group have many different subjects in them.
Encyclopedias or The Guinness Book of Records Books on unexplained subjects, like The Loch Ness Monster.

100s - Philosophy Books that fit in this group tell about how we think and feel.

200s - Religion Books in this group tell about different religions or stories from the bible.

300s - Social Studies Books in this group tell about how people live together Holidays and customs Government Military

400s - Languages Books in this group are about different languages or grammar

500s - Earth Science & Math Books in this group are about things from nature. Natural Disasters Weather Solar System

600s - Technology This group has books that are about manmade things. Medicine Machines Transportation

700s -The Arts Books in this group are about things we do for fun. Drawing Music Sports

800s - Literature Books in this group are stories, plays, or poetry.

900s - Geography and History Books in this group tell about events of the past and countries of the world. Biographies Historic Events Country Information

Remember Nonfiction call numbers are placed in number order or numerical order. Books about the same subject end up near each other on the shelf.

Review
What are the head and tail of a nonfiction call number? Head = Numbers for the subject Tail = First three letters of the authors last name

326.5

And

Review What system tells us what numbers go with each subject? The Dewey Decimal System

Review True or false The Dewey Decimal system keeps books about the same topic or subject near each other. TRUE

Resources
Information on the Dewey Decimal Classification taken from: Weisburg, H. & Toor, R. Teachers Portfolio of Library Skills Lessons & Activities (1985). The Center for Applied Research in Education, Inc.