Dewey Decimal System Dewey Decimal System DDS Melvil

Dewey Decimal System

Dewey Decimal System (DDS) Melvil Dewey created the Dewey Decimal System (DDS) in the 1800’s so that all the books would be organized by their subject. Just like the grocery store separates the food into different sections such as: dairy products, meat, and produce is exactly how the DDS works.

Dewey Decimal System (DDS) To find a book, you must locate the item’s call number. The call number is the address of where the book lives on the library shelf. You can find the item’s call number on the spine of the book, that is the part facing out on the library shelf

Dewey Decimal System (DDS) There are 3 parts to the call number: 1. Numbers The numbers are the Dewey subject area of the book. For example, if the item has number 200, it has to do with religion. 2. Letters The letters are usually the first three letters of the author’s last name. 3. Year The year is the year the book was published.

Dewey Decimal System (DDS) To find items using the DDS, search the call numbers in this order: 1. Numerical 2. Alphabetical 3. Year These call numbers are in order: 174 182. 6054 182. 61 KRE STA SVE ALT 2010 2007 2005 2010

Dewey Decimal System (DDS) TIP If a call number contains only one decimal place, imagine that it has an endless amount of zeros after that decimal to find its numerical place. Using the previous example: 174 182. 6054 182. 61 KRE STA SVE ALT 2010 2007 2005 2010 Would look like this: 174. 0000 182. 6000 182. 6054 182. 61000 KRE STA SVE ALT 2010 2007 2005 2010

Dewey Decimal System (DDS) 174. 0000 182. 6000 182. 6054 182. 6100 KRE STA SVE ALT 2010 2007 2005 2010 174. 0000 Comes before 182. 6000 is the same, so STA comes before SVE 182. 6000 comes before 182. 6054 comes before 182. 6100

Remember that these are the call numbers: 174 182. 6054 182. 61 KRE STA SVE ALT 2010 2007 2005 2010 The added zeros were just for help: 174. 0000 182. 6000 182. 6054 182. 6100 KRE STA SVE ALT 2010 2007 2005 2010

Now you try it: Put these books in order 615. 8515 615. 864 615. 85 KRU ALT EST EUA BAR 2009 2007 2010 2008 2007

If this is the way you put them… 615. 8515 615. 864 EUA KRU BAR ALT EST 2008 2009 2007 2010 You got it right!

If this is the way you put them… 615. 8515 615. 864 EUA KRU BAR ALT EST 2008 2009 2007 2010 615. 8 is the same, so EUA comes before KRU 615. 8 comes before 615. 8515 comes before 615. 864

For any additional help, ask a librarian. Created by Rebecca Guillen April 2012