How to Use the Dewey Decimal System
The Dewey Decimal System organizes information into 10
broad areas, which are broken into smaller and smaller topics. Different
topics are assigned numbers, known as "call numbers." For example, "Animals"
are given the number 599. To see what books the library currently has in on
animals, go to the nonfiction shelves and find the books that have a 599 as
part of their call number. A list of some of the information you can find in
the different Dewey Decimal areas, appears below.
You can learn more about the Dewey Decimal System and how it works in the book
The Dewey Decimal System by Allan Fowler. The call number for this book
is: J 025.431 Fo.
- 000
General Knowledge
Almanacs, Encyclopedias, Libraries, Museums, Newspapers ...
- 100
Psychology and Philosophy
Death & Dying, Ethics, Feelings, Logic, Making Friends, Optical Illusions,
Superstitions ...
- 200
Religions and Mythology
Amish, Bible Stories, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Quakers, and
other world religions; Greek, Roman and other myths...
- 300
Social Sciences and Folklore
Careers, Customs, Environment, Families, Folktales, Government, Manners,
Money, Recycling ...
- 400
Languages and Grammar
Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Sign Language, Spanish.
Includes dictionaries.i...
- 500
Math and Science
Animals, Biology, Chemistry, Dinosaurs, Fish, Geology, Insects, Physics,
Planets, Plants ...
- 600
Medicine and Technology
Computers, Cookbooks, Engineering, Farming, Health, Human Body, Inventions,
Manufacturing, Nutrition ...
- 700
Arts & Recreation
Architecture, Crafts, Drawing, Games, Jokes, Music, Puppets, Songbooks,
Sports ...
- 800
Literature
Children's Literature, Plays, Poetry, Shakespeare, Writing ...
- 900
Geography and History
Biographies, Countries, Native Americans, States, Travel, Wars ...