Deanna Strable, age 10, of Prole, Iowa, for her question:
HOW ARE LIBRARY BOOKS CLASSIFIED?
Melvil Dewey is responsible for starting the library book classification system most widely used today. An American librarian, Dewey was named chief librarian of Columbia University in 1883 and established the first library school there in 1887. He founded the American Library Assn. in 1876 and was director of the New York State Library from 1889 to 1906. Born in Adams Center, N.Y., in 1851, he lived until 1931.
Most widely used method of classifying library books is called the Dewey Decimal System. The system is named for Melvil Dewey, the American librarian who developed the plan in 1876.
The Dewey Decimal System divides all books into 10 main groups. Each of the different groups is represented by 100 numbers.
Generalities, which include encyclopedias, bibliographies and periodicals, are placed between the numbers 000 and 099. Between the numbers 100 and 199 you'll find philosophy and related disciplines, while religion falls between 200 and 299.
Social sciences, including economics, sociology, civics, law, education, vocations and customs, will be filed between 300 and 399. Languages, including dictionaries and grammar books, are filed between 400 and 499.
In the Dewey Decimal System pure sciences, including mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology, paleontology, biology, zoology and botany, will be found between 500 and 599. Between 600 and 699 you'll find technology, including medicine, engineering, agriculture, home economics, business, radio, television and aviation. The arts are grouped between 700 and 799, and here you'll find architecture, sculpture, painting, music, photography and even recreation. Literature, including novels, plays and poetry, will be found between 800 and 899.
Completing the Dewey Decimal System of library book classification is general geography and history, filed between 900 and 999.
Each of the 10 main groups is broken into more specialized fields. When classifications become very fine, decimals are used. The numbers between 630 and 639, for example, cover agriculture with subdivisions under this. Books on useful insects are grouped under 638, with 638.7 including books on beekeeping and 638.2 including those on silkworms.
A few libraries, such as the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., do not use the Dewey System but instead have established their own classification code. One of the most vital parts of the library is the card catalogue. The index lists all of the publications that are on file in the institution's collection.
Separate cards are filed under the author, the subject and and the title. In addition, each card shows a number in the Dewey Decimal System so that you can quickly locate the publication you want.