Module 5: Basic Dewey
How are resources arranged in your library?
Library Organization
Once you know what type of resource you need and the topic, how do you locate the materials in the library? Is your library arranged by Dewey or another system?
Familiarize yourself with the organization of materials in the library. This helps you locate a particular resource, but will also allow you to go quickly to the best area for browsing the shelves in the reference collection or throughout the library.
Dewey Decimal Classification (The DDC)
Most public libraries arrange the books on their shelves using Dewey Decimal Classification, the DDC. This is a numerical arrangement which puts books on the same subject together on the shelves. Individual libraries often add letters relating to the author’s name after the Dewey numbers.
Some libraries, especially larger ones and academic libraries, use a different system developed by the Library of Congress. It uses a combination of letters and numbers and you may see this used on books you borrow from other libraries.
The Dewey Decimal Classification
DDC First Summary
Ten Main Classes
000 Computer science, information & general works
100 Philosophy & psychology
200 Religion
300 Social sciences
400 Language
500 Science
600 Technology
700 Arts & Recreation
800 Literature
900 History
Dewey Second Summary
The Hundred Divisions
000 Computer science, knowledge & systems
010 Bibliographies
020 Library & information sciences
030 Encyclopedias & books of facts
040 [Unassigned]
050 Magazines, journals & serials
060 Associations, organizations & museums
070 News media, journalism & publishing
080 Quotations
090 Manuscripts & rare books
100 Philosophy
110 Metaphysics
120 Epistemology
130 Parapsychology & occultism
140 Philosophical schools of thought
150 Psychology
160 Logic
170 Ethics
180 Ancient, medieval & eastern philosophy
190 Modern western philosophy
200 Religion
210 Philosophy & theory of religion
220 The Bible
230 Christianity & Christian theology
240 Christian practice & observance
250 Christian pastoral practice & religious orders
260 Christian organization, social work & worship
270 History of Christianity
280 Christian denominations
290 Other religions
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology
310 Statistics
320 Political science
330 Economics
340 Law
350 Public administration & military science
360 Social problems & social services
370 Education
380 Commerce, communications & transportation
390 Customs, etiquette & folklore
400 Language
410 Linguistics
420 English & Old English languages
430 German & related languages
440 French & related languages
450 Italian, Romanian & related languages
460 Spanish & Portuguese languages
470 Latin & Italic languages
480 Classical & modern Greek languages
490 Other languages
500 Science
510 Mathematics
520 Astronomy
530 Physics
540 Chemistry
550 Earth sciences & geology
560 Fossils & prehistoric life
570 Life sciences; biology
580 Plants (Botany)
590 Animals (Zoology)
600 Technology
610 Medicine & health
620 Engineering
630 Agriculture
640 Home & family management
650 Management & public relations
660 Chemical engineering
670 Manufacturing
680 Manufacture for specific uses
690 Building & construction
700 Arts
710 Landscaping & area planning
720 Architecture
730 Sculpture, ceramics & metalwork
740 Drawing & decorative arts
750 Painting
760 Graphic arts
770 Photography & computer art
780 Music
790 Sports, games & entertainment
800 Literature, rhetoric & criticism
810 American literature in English
820 English & Old English literatures
830 German & related literatures
840 French & related literatures
850 Italian, Romanian & related literatures
860 Spanish & Portuguese literatures
870 Latin & Italic literatures
880 Classical & modern Greek literatures
890 Other literatures
900 History
910 Geography & travel
920 Biography & genealogy
930 History of ancient world (to ca. 499)
940 History of Europe
950 History of Asia
960 History of Africa
970 History of North America
980 History of South America
990 History of other areas
Additional information about the history and use of the Dewey Decimal Classification (PDF)
Major Point: Understanding the classification system used for your library’s collection or Web links will help you find resources quickly.
Exercise
- Locate the non-fiction areas in your library. Each area (reference, ready reference, children’s, videos, adult non-fiction, etc.) may be organized by Dewey.
- How many places in your library can you locate resources in the 900s?
