The Dewey Decimal System was devised by Melvil Dewey in 1874. This system enables easy shelving and sourcing of non-fiction and reference books.
Librarians and library assistants shelve non-fiction books using the Dewey Decimal System (DDS) and readers search for non-fiction books using the same system.
The DDS contains ten subject categories with each category being assigned a batch of one hundred numbers from the range 000 to 999. For example Science has been assigned the batch of numbers from 500-599. This means that Science books will be found shelved together under the 500-599 number heading.
Non- fiction books are used when we are researching facts for schoolwork but they can also be read just for the sheer pleasure of gaining knowledge.
Reading and retaining (memorising) a lot of facts can be fun, entertaining and make you as smart as Stephen Fry!
Visit the library to collect a Dewey Decimal System bookmark. These bookmarks act as a guide to help you find books for research. Ask Miss McGough for a DDS bookmark.
Dewey Decimal System Categories:
000 Computers, Information & General Reference
100 Philosophy & Psychology
200 Religion
300 Social sciences
400 Language
500 Science
600 Technology (including Food Technology)
700 Arts and Recreation
800 Literature
900 History & Geography