Dewey Decimal System
Dewey Decimal System
I vaguely remember learning about the Dewey Decimal System in second grade. I thought it was pretty boring and useless because most of the time I would directly ask one of the librarians to find my request without even trying in the first place. However, I never knew how the books were organized within the Dewey Decimal System and how it allowed librarians to easily spot specific books and requests.
The Dewey Decimal System is a library classification system that organizes contents of a library in 10 main groups; General Knowledge, Philosophy and Psychology, Religion, Social Sciences, Languages, Science and Math, Technology, Art and Recreation, Literature, and History and Geography. Each category is assigned 100 numbers. For example, 500-599 is dedicated to books around Science and Math. The decimal point after the first three digits represents the sub-section of the general subject. For example, 595.789 mainly focuses on butterflies which fall under the science category of the Dewey Decimal System. After the numbers, there are letters that indicate the author’s name. All of the books are organized in numerical and alphabetical order. For example, 921.85 PAT comes before 921.87 PAT, and 827.91 HAR comes before 827.91 ZHE.
Invented by Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey, this classification system of books has allowed libraries to become more organized for easier book identification. Melville Dewey was mainly interested in simplified spelling and actually shortened his first name to Melvil instead. As a student assistant in the library of Amherst College, he was particularly disappointed with the arrangement of the books. After proposing his solution to the Amherst Library Committee and successfully graduating, he published A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloging and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library. His system soon dominated libraries, and he later helped establish the American Library Association (ALA) and founded the world’s first library school in Columbia University.
- Harsh
Sources:
https://sixthformstudyskills.ncl.ac.uk/libraries/overview-the-dewey-decimal-system/
https://www.loc.gov/aba/dewey/about-dewey.html
https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/dewey-proposes-library-classification-system.html
That's interesting! I didn't know that there were specific numbers for each category, or that the numbers after represent a subsection. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remembering being taught about it when I was younger, but I honestly forgot everything about it besides the fact that it had to do with libraries. I didn't know there were such specific numbers for subcategories, so that's cool. Overall, this was a unique and pretty interesting blog post.
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing about the Dewey Decimal system from the Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library series, where some characters could recall the system up to the 3rd number after the decimal point. I had a phase where I really wanted to memorize all of it as well. Overall, it seems like good information to know if you go to libraries often. This was a good idea for blog post, nice job!
ReplyDeleteI also vaguely remember being taught what this system is supposed to mean and what the seemingly random numbers and letters are, and no doubt will completely forget the system again not too long from now unfortunately. However, this is still a very unique and great blog post for people who have forgotten what those numbers and letters on books and shelves mean.
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ReplyDeleteI don't remember being taught this, but this system seems to be really specific with its categories and subcategories. The way the books are organized is pretty interesting. This was a very informative blog!
ReplyDeleteThe amount of subcategories is crazy, and its impressive that there are people who have memorized all of the main categories and a lot of the subcategories.
ReplyDeleteCompletely forgot about the Dewey Decimal System. I learned the basics of it in elementary school, but forgot it immediately. Learning the Dewey Decimal System would be so useful, because then I would have a clue where to look for books I am interested in reading at the library.
ReplyDeleteI found this post very interesting. I never knew the Dewey Decimal System, and I used to just think they are random numbers that the librarians memorize (or refer to a code). Great job!
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