Dewey Decimal System

Happy Dewey Decimal System Day!

Melvil Dewey was born on this day in 1851. In 1873, he invented the most widely used library classification system called the Dewey Decimal System. It was first published in the United States in 1876. It is used today in more than 140 countries and translated into more than 30 different languages.

The system places the books on the shelf by subject using numbers from 000 to 999. It is called “Decimal” because it uses numbers to the right of the decimal point for more detail. Each subject has its own set of numbers.

I looked up my thesis book at my university’s library and it’s number is 361.4 A756a1999. The 300’s contains the classification of social sciences.

To celebrate this day, go to the library, look at the call number on your book, and know that this system was created back in 1873!