Grado en Información y Documentación UEX

Inglés 2017-2018 - UNIT IV.2

2.1 The Dewey Decimal Classification

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNEDEk1Tz4Y

The Dewey Decimal System is a logical and popular book classification system for libraries
and schools. You will need a library and understanding of decimals and numbers.

Step 1. Understand that the Dewey Decimal System categorizes books according to 10 broad
classes, including computers, technology, arts, and literature.
The Dewey Decimal numbers on the spines of books are call numbers. The book’s Dewey
number and the first three letters of the author's last name make up the book's call number.

Step 2. Learn the classification within the 10 main categories, which divide books according
to subject matter. For instance, the 700 class, Arts, is subdivided into 10 divisions, including Drawing,
Painting, and Music.

Step 3. Consider subdivisions within subdivisions. For example, within 750, Painting, you will
find Colour, Symbolism, Religion, and Human Figures.

Step 4. Divide the subdivisions into sections. The subdivision of class 700, Arts, includes the
division 750, Painting, which includes 759, Historical, which comprises such sections as 759.11
(Canadian), 759.13 (American), and 759.2 (British). The decimal in the Dewey Decimal System lets
books be organized into smaller, more precise categories.

Step 5. Arrange books numerically on shelves within the library, according to the Dewey
number.

Step 6. Scan shelves of similar numeric groupings to pinpoint a selected book. Dewey numbers
range from 001 to 999. Did you know? The creator of the Dewey Decimal System, Melvil Dewey,
preferred to spell his last name "Dui."