Basic Library Research
The Dewey Decimal System
A system created by Melivl Dewey which was first published in 1876. This index system works well for libraries because it allows patrons to have the option of being able to look at all the books about a topic at the same time.
The Dewey Decimal System is broken up into ten classes by hundred, and then each class into ten divisions, and each division has ten sections.
Class 1 - Class 000: Computer science, information and general works
Class 2 - Class 100: Philosophy and psychology
Class 3 - Class 200: Religion
Class 4 - Class 300: Social Sciences
Class 5 - Class 400: Language
Class 6 - Class 500: Science
Class 7 - Class 600: Technology
Class 8 - Class 700: Arts and recreation
Class 9 - Class 800: Literature
Class 10 - Class 900: History and geography
Class 1
010 Bibliography
020 Library & information sciences
030 General encyclopedic works
040 Unassigned
050 General serials & their indexes
060 General organizations & museology
070 News media, journalism, publishing
080 General collections
090 Manuscripts & rare books
Class 3
210 Natural theology
220 Bible
230 Christian theology
240 Christian moral & devotional theology
250 Christian orders & local church
260 Christian social theology
270 Christian church history
280 Christian denominations & sects
290 Other & comparative religions
Class 5
410 Linguistics
420 English & Old English
430 Germanic languages German
440 Romance languages French
450 Italian, Romanian languages
460 Spanish & Portuguese languages
470 ltalic languages, Latin
480 Hellenic languages, Classical Greek
490 Other languages
Class 7
600 General technology
610 Medical sciences and medicine
620 Engineering & allied operations
630 Agriculture
640 Home economics & family living
650 Management & auxiliary services
660 Chemical engineering
670 Manufacturing
680 Manufacture for specific uses
690 Buildings
Class 9
810 American literature
820 English & Old English literatures
830 Literatures of Germanic languages
840 Literatures of Romance languages
850 Italian, Romanian literatures
860 Spanish & Portuguese literatures
870 Italic literatures, Latin
880 Hellenic literatures, Classical Greek
890 Literatures of other languages
Class 2
110 Metaphysics
120 Epistemology, causation, humankind
130 Paranormal phenomena
140 Specific philosophical schools
150 Psychology
160 Logic
170 Ethics (moral philosophy)
180 Ancient, medieval, Oriental philosophy
190 Modern Western philosophy
Class 4
300 Sociology and anthropology
310 General statistics
320 Political science
330 Economics
340 Law
350 Public administration
360 Social services; associations
370 Education
380 Commerce, communications, transport
390 Customs, etiquette, folklore
Class 6
510 Mathematics
520 Astronomy & allied sciences
530 Physics
540 Chemistry & allied sciences
550 Earth sciences
560 Paleontology, paleozoology
570 Life sciences
580 Botanical sciences
590 Zoological sciences
Class 8
710 Civic & landscape art
720 Architecture
730 Plastic arts, sculpture
740 Drawing & decorative arts
750 Painting & paintings (museums)
760 Graphic arts, printmaking & prints, postage stamps
770 Photography & photographs
780 Music
790 Recreational & performing arts
Class 10
900 World History
910 Geography and travel
920 Biography, genealogy, insignia
930 History of the ancient world
940 General history of Europe
950 General history of Asia, Far East
960 General history of Africa
970 General history of North America
980 General history of South America
990 General history of other areas