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Dewey Decimal Classification System

Presented to Second & Third Grade Students

Developed by Karen Ward

Library Media Specialist

Eichold-Mertz Elementary School

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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.

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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.

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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

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Brings order to the massive amount of world knowledge

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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.

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500

Lee

200Bya

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000

Mea

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Generalities - 000

  • Encyclopedias
  • News media
  • Rare Books

Encyclopedias, References

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Philosophy - 100

  • Paranormal phenomena
  • Psychology
  • Logic

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Man thinks

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Religion - 200

  • Bible
  • History of Christianity
  • Other Religions

About God

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Social Science - 300

  • Law
  • Education
  • Folklore

About man’s neighbors

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Language - 400

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Other Languages

Man talks with other men

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Natural Science �& Math - 500

  • Mathematics
  • Earth sciences
  • Plants
  • Animals

Man discovers all that is around him

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Technology – 600

  • Medicine
  • Agriculture
  • Family living

Man makes useful things

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The Arts - 700

  • Drawing
  • Music
  • Recreational & performing arts

Man makes beautiful things

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Literature - 800

  • American Literature
  • Old English Literature
  • Literatures of Other Languages

Man writes

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Geography �& History - 900

  • Geography
  • Biographies
  • Ancient History

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Man writes about

travel, people, and

events

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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?

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Resources Used…

All clipart taken from the Microsoft Clipart web site:

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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.

http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us&cag=1