Guide to Dewey Decimal Classification - Library

USING THE DEWEY DECIMALCLASSIFICATION SYSTEMBooks in the Education Library are arranged on the shelvesusing the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Each bookis given a unique “call number” that becomes its “address” onthe shelf.A typical call number for the Education Library consists of aDewey Decimal number and a cutter number. It will look like this:ED LIB375.00093H47ED LIB – abbreviation of Education Library375.00093 is the Dewey decimal numberH47 is the cutter numberHow the Dewey Decimal System WorksThe Dewey system of classification divides knowledge into 10 major categories:000 Generalities100 Philosophy and Psychology200 Religion300 Social Science400 Language500 Natural Science and Mathematics600 Technology (Applied Sciences)700 Arts800 Literature900 Geography and HistoryEach of these ten categories is further divided into ten subcategories from 00 to 90. Forexample, the 300s are divided as follows:300 Social Sciences310 General statistics320 Political Science

2330 Economics340 Law350 Public Administration360 Social services370 Education380 Commerce, communications, transport390 Customs, etiquette, folkloreEach of these categories are further subdivided and then further divided. Each divisionbecomes more specific. The more numbers in the call number, the more specific thesubject. The decimal place is used to make the number even more specific.The 370 Education category is further subdivided as follows:370 Education371 School management; special education372 Elementary education373 Secondary education374 Adult education375 Curriculums376 Education of women377 Schools and religion378 Higher education379 Government regulation, control, supportCutter NumbersThe cutter number for a book usually consists of the first letter of the author's last nameand a series of numbers. This series of numbers comes from a table that is designed tohelp maintain an alphabetical arrangement of names.Conley, Ellen C767Conley, Robert C768Cook, Robin C77Cook, Thomas C773Looking for a book on the shelf….When looking for books shelved in the dewey decimal system remember that the callnumber is first put in order by the numbers in front of the decimal point. Following thedecimal point the item is arranged by 10s, then by 100s, 1000s etc. The bigger thenumber the more specific the subject of the book. The call numbers listed below arearranged as the would be found on the shelf. For example:

• 331• 331.01• 331.011• 331.016• 331.02• 331.026• 331.041• 331.04136• 331.042• 331.1• 331.198• 331.23