Welcome

Imagine you need to decipher a cryptic code in 20 seconds or less before the world falls into utter chaos. Though it might not save the world from destruction, the Dewey Decimal System can feel like a code that, if understood, will bring order to your library experience.

This tutorial will help you learn what the Dewey Decimal System means and how you can use it to organize books. Along the way, you will pick up seven tips for better ways of ‘reading’ a call number.

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The Dewey Decimal System

Suppose you want to find “Green Eggs and Ham” in Latin. You search on the library website and find the following call number: 813 G277g 2003Lat. This call number includes three parts: (1) the call number (813), (2) the cutter line (G277g), and (3) some additional information (2003Lat).

-- Click on each part of the call number to learn what these letters and markers mean --

The Call Number

The first three numbers make up the core part of the call number. They identify what the book is about and how it relates to similar books.

Class

This is the broadest category. There are 10 classes or disciplines that are represented by the numbers 0-9. The Class separates books by disciplines ranging from books about general topics, like dictionaries and encyclopedias, to books about religion, literature, science, and so forth.

Since books are divided by disciplines, rather than subjects, a book about cats might show up in several areas including religious beliefs about cats (200) or the anatomy of cats (500).

Refer to the graphic to see all ten disciplines with their associated class number.

Division

The Division, ranging from 0-9, represents sub-categories within a class.

Under the class Technology (600), for example, divisions include Medicine (610), Engineering (620), and Construction (690).

Section

The Section represents categories within a Division. Sometimes the section number is followed by a decimal point with numbers which further divide the section into more specific topics.

As an example, within the division Medicine and Health (610), there are sections for human anatomy (611), human physiology (612), and personal health (613). Furthermore, within personal health, there might be books about how the natural environment (613.1) and cleanliness care (613.5) help maintain health.

Finding Tips

Now that you know what the numbers mean, you can learn how they are useful in finding a book. Besides helping you browse books based on topic, you can use the following tips to ‘read’ the Division, Class, and Section:

When using a call number, start at the far-left number and compare each digit one at a time. Follow the numbers on the shelf from left to right, top to bottom.
The first three numbers are organized in ascending order left to right (560, 561, 663, 677, etc.)
If there is a period followed by numbers, treat those numbers like a decimal (560.1 comes before 560.15 or 560.4)

Ready to take the challenge and test your skills?

The Cutter Part 1

This line of letter and numbers is called the cutter line. It organizes books of the same topics in alphabetical order by author. It usually starts with the first letter of the author’s last name and then is followed by several numbers and letters.

Since Dr. Seuss’ actual last name was Geisel, this cutter line begins with G.

Finding Tips

Once you have gone through the first numbers, begin on the left of the cutter line and read each digit one at a time, keeping the following tips in mind:

Read all the letters in alphabetical order before continuing to the numbers. (302.230 B662 comes before 302.230 K62).
Treat the numbers after the letters like decimals (A122 comes before A2)
Letters at the end are in alphabetical order

Ready to take the challenge and test your skills?

The Cutter Part 2

Information on this line helps you find books from the same author. It might include the year of publication, the language, a volume number, copy number, or any other specific identifiers.

Since you wanted Dr. Seuss in Latin, the 2003 tells you that it was published in 2003, and the Lat lets you know that it is a Latin edition.

Finding Tips

Keep in mind:

Nothing before something (813 G277 comes before 813 G277g and 813 G277g is before 813 G277g 2003Lat)

Now that you have all 7 tips, you are ready to complete the final challenge. Click below.

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Bringing it home

Tutorial Status

Introduction:

Try It Out:

The Call Number:

The Cutter Part 1:

The Cutter Part 2:

As you look for books, remember:

The first numbers represent disciplines and sub-categories that are in numerical and decimal order
The second line is a combination of letters and numbers that you read alphabetically and as decimals
The last line adds additional information such as a year of publication or language. Call numbers that don’t have this line come before those that do.

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