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CCAD

Library & Information Technology

Physical & Biological Sciences

What is the Dewey Decimal System?

The Dewey Decimal classification system groups together books on similar subjects by call numbers.

There are 10 Dewey Decimal call number classifications.

  • 000 - Computer Science, Information, & General Works
  • 100 - Philosophy & Psychology    
  • 200 - Religion    
  • 300 - Social Sciences    
  • 400 - Language
  • 500 - Science
  • 600 - Technology
  • 700 - Arts & Recreation
  • 800 - Literature
  • 900 - History & Geography

The 700's are broken down as follows:

  • 700 - General
  • 710 - Landscaping & Gardens
  • 720 - Architecture
  • 730 - Sculpture, ceramics, metalwork
  • 740 - Drawing, comics, illustration, graphic design, fashion, textiles, interior design, glass
  • 750 - Painting
  • 760 - Printmaking
  • 770 - Photography, computer art
  • 780 - Music
  • 790 - Movies & TV, animation, games, dance

How to Read a Dewey Call Number

All parts of a call number are important! 

Make sure you write down the whole number!

Image of a book in our library catalog

Let's dissect this call number: 741.64 A5, H899s  

  • 741: The first three numbers of a Dewey Decimal call number indicates the general subject of the book.
  • .64: Numbers following the first 3 numbers and the decimal point make things more specific.
    • 741 Drawing & drawings 
      • 741.6 Graphic design and illustration 
        • 741.64  Book illustration
  • A5: In the 700 section you might see an A with a number right after it. This is a system unique to our library. It designates time.

  • H899s: The Cutter Number indicates the author or title of the book. Why? It's a librarian thing.

There may be some additional information attached to a call number.

For example: Q 728.0942 L346i, 1904 v.1 

  • Q means it’s in Special Collections
  • 1904 is the year it was published
  • v.1 tells you which volume

There’s also:

  • DVD for DVDs
  • Blu-Ray for Blu-Rays
  • POP for Pop-up Books

How to Find an Item on theShelf

So how do you find books on the shelves?

Let’s use 741.64 A5, H899s  Steel-engraved Book Illustration in England by Basil Hunnisett as an example.

The call # will be on the spine of the item. Illustration of a book spine showing the location of the call number. 

Break the number down from left to right in chunks: 741 64  A5,  H899  s

  • Look for the 741 section
  • Then look for .64
  • Then look for A5
  • After you find 741.64 A5, look for Cutter #s that start with H
  • Then find H899
  • If there are several books by that author, they will be filed by title, this case, s.

DVDs, 'zines, magazines, children's books, Special Collections, pop-up books, and oversize books have special locations in the library. 

REMEMBER! If you can't find an item on the shelf, ask a staff member to help!