Bothered by getting bogged down in books? You’re not alone – Melvil Dewey was, too.
Melvil Dewey was an American librarian who created the Dewey Decimal System (DDS). The Dewey Decima System provides an easy-to-understand way of finding your books. The Dewey Decimal System applies to all non-fiction books, and is used at any library – Dewey revolutionized organization systems!
Dewey created 10 categories for all non-fiction works; each category has 100 numbers. The 10 main categories are:
- 000-099: General works
- 100-199: philosophy and psychology
- 200-299: religion
- 300-399: social sciences
- 400-499: language
- 500-599: natural sciences and math
- 600-699: technology
- 700-799: arts
- 800-899: literature and rhetoric
- 900-999: history, biography, and geography
Prior to Dewey’s invention, books were shelved randomly, making it next-to-impossible to find books on the general subject matter, much less a specific book title. Dewey first wrote the DDS (Dewey Decimal System) in 1873; the first edition was published in 1876.
The Dewey Decimal System is so effective it’s still being used today – even at DeKalb Public Library!
Put what you learned to the test and go on a mini book hunt. See if you can find the books mentioned below! If you find the books, come to the front desk to get a sticker for your amazing book hunting skills.
- Counting Around Town: Counting at the Library by Rosie Banks
- Manners with a Library Book by Amanda Doering
- Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Denise
If your book hunt is causing you trouble or if you just want to learn more, don’t hesitate to ask us at the YS front desk or you can give us a call at 815-756-9568 ext.3350.