Dewey Decimal System

1. Dewey Decimal
Classification System

2. Who created the Dewey Decimal
Classification System?
 Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851
 Melvil Dewey created the number order system
for library books when he was 21 years old.
 Melvil Dewey started the first school for
librarians.

3. Ten Main Classifications in
Dewey’s System
The world’s knowledge is divided
into 10 categories or groups.
Each group has a main title and is
represented by three numbers.

4. The Big Ten!
 Generalities – 000
 Philosophy – 100
 Religion – 200
 Social Science –
300
 Language – 400
 Science & Math – 500
 Technology – 600
 The Arts – 700
 Literature – 800
 Geography & History - 900

5. You Can Judge A Book by Its
Cover!
 The Dewey Decimal
Classification call
number can be found on
the spine label.
 Why?
 When the book is
shelved, the Dewey
Decimal Classification
call number can be
easily seen.
500
Lee
200
Bya
000
Mea

6. Generalities - 000
Encyclopedias
News
Computers
Encyclopedias, References

7. Philosophy - 100
Thoughts
Feelings

8. Religion - 200
Bible
Religion
Mythology

9. Social Science - 300
Laws
Holidays
Folklore

10. Language - 400
English
Spanish
Other Languages

11. Natural Science
& Math - 500
Mathematics
Earth sciences
Plants
Animals

12. Technology – 600
Medicine
Transportation
Cooking

13. The Arts - 700
Drawing
Music
Sports

14. Literature - 800
Poetry
Plays
Jokes and Riddles

15. Geography & History - 900
Geography
Biographies
Ancient History

16. Flashback!
What Do You Remember?
Who created the Dewey Decimal
Classification System?
What does the DDCS do for our
library?
How many main classifications are
there?
Where do you find the DDCS number
on a library book?

17. Resources Used…
All clipart taken from the Microsoft Clipart web site:
http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us&cag=1
Information on the Dewey Decimal Classification taken from:
Weisburg, H. & Toor, R. Teacher’s Portfolio of Library Skills
Lessons & Activities (1985). The Center for Applied Research in
Education, Inc.