Library 101

Updated on 04/05/2021

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     The easiest way to raise a literate child is to read to them and to give them access to books. Since September is Library Card Sign-up Month, we would like to encourage all parents to bring their children to their local library to obtain a library card and allow their children to engage in the joy of searching for and finding books that will ignite their imagination, spark their curiosity and introduce them to a new world of ideas and concepts. A library is a unique place in that it gives people equal access to information and to books that tell them about the past, the present and lets them dream about the future. Libraries are filled with a plethora of books so helping a child to navigate the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system can make the task to find that special book that excites them a bit easier. So here we go…..!

Melvil Dewey (1851 - 1931)

     The DDC, created in 1876 by Melvil Dewey, is the system utilized by more than 200,000 libraries around the world to organize their materials. All library materials are categorized by subject or field of study and assigned a DDC number (generally referred to as a call number). The DDC is made up of ten main classes (ranging from 000 – 900) that are broken down into ten divisions which are broken down further into ten sections. Each number simply gives the book a more specific classification, starting out with a broad subject and then narrowing down. The great thing about this system is that once you have located a book on a certain topic, you will find other books on the same subject around it. Most libraries today use the DDC to organize their nonfiction collection and shelve their fiction titles by author’s last name, even though literature has an assigned number of 800. This is done for simplicity’s sake as the fiction genre is so large.

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The DDC Main Classes and Divisions

000 – General works, computer science and information

• 010 – Bibliographies
  
• 020 – Library and information sciences
• 030 – Encyclopedias and books of facts
• 040 – Unassigned
• 050 – Magazines, journals and serials
• 060 – Associations, organizations and museums
• 070 – News media, journalism and publishing
• 080 – Quotations
• 090 – Manuscripts and rare books

100 – Philosophy and psychology

• 110 – Metaphysics
• 120 – Epistemology
• 130 – Parapsychology
• 140 – Philosophical schools of thought
• 150 – Psychology
• 160 – Philosophical logic
• 170 – Ethics
• 180 – Ancient, medieval and eastern philosophy
• 190 – Modern Western philosophy

200 – Religion

• 210 – Philosophy and theory of religion
• 220 – The Bible
• 230 – Christianity
• 240 – Christian practice and observance
• 250 – Christian orders and local church
• 260 – Social and ecclesiastical theology
• 270 – History of Christianity
• 280 – Christian denominations
• 290 – Other religions

300 – Social sciences

• 310 – Statistics
• 320 – Political science
• 330 – Economics
• 340 – Law
• 350 – Public administration and military science
• 360 – Social problems and social services
• 370 – Education
• 380 – Commerce, communities & transportation
• 390 – Customs, etiquette, folklore & fairy tales
  

400 – Language

• 410 – Linguistics
  
• 420 – English and Old English languages
• 430 – German and related languages
• 440 – French and related languages
• 450 – Italian, Romanian and related languages
• 460 – Spanish, Portuguese and Galician
• 470 – Latin and Italic languages
• 480 – Classical and modern Greek languages
• 490 – Other languages
  

500 – Natural sciences (pure science)

• 510 – Mathematics
  
• 520 – Astronomy
• 530 – Physics
• 540 – Chemistry
• 550 – Earth sciences and geology
• 560 – Fossils and prehistoric life
• 570 – Biology
• 580 – Plants
• 590 – Zoology (animals)
  

600 – Technology

• 610 – Medicine and health
  
• 620 – Engineering
• 630 – Agriculture
• 640 – Home and family management
• 650 – Management and public relations
• 660 – Chemical engineering
• 670 – Manufacturing
• 680 – Manufacture for specific uses
• 690 – Construction of buildings
  

700 – Arts and recreation

• 710 – Area planning and landscape architecture
  
• 720 – Architecture
• 730 – Sculpture, ceramics and metalwork
• 740 – Graphic and decorative arts
• 750 – Painting
• 760 – Printmaking and prints
• 770 – Photography, computer art, film and video
• 780 – Music
• 790 – Sports, games and entertainment
  

800 – Literature

• 810 – American literature in English
• 820 – English and Old English literature
• 830 – German and related literatures
• 840 – French and related literatures
• 850 – Italian, Romanian and related literatures
• 860 – Spanish, Portuguese, Galician literatures
• 870 – Latin and Italic literatures
• 880 – Classical and modern Greek literatures
• 890 – Other literatures
  

900 – History and geography

• 910 – Geography and travel
  
• 920 – Biography and genealogy
• 930 – History of ancient world (to 499)
• 940 – History of Europe
• 950 – History of Asia
• 960 – History of Africa
• 970 – History of North America
• 980 – History of South America
• 990 – History of other areas
  

Download and print out this list of DDC Main Classes and Divisions and bring it with you on your next library visit.

DDC Main Classes and Divisions
File Size:	249 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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     Hopefully you aren’t thoroughly confused but if you aren’t a regular library user, your head might be spinning right about now. Don’t worry, repeated trips to the library will help you and your child become masters as you search the shelves and see what’s offered. You can also have fun exploring the DDC and becoming more familiar with the system by working on a coloring page, engaging in a scavenger hunt or simply exploring the shelves of your local library to see what books can be found under each number. When in doubt, ask a librarian for assistance.

     To further enhance the experience, consider reading some fun library titles with your child such as...

Do You Know Dewey? by Brian P. Cleary

The Great Dewey Hunt by Toni Buzzeo

The Library by Sarah Stewart

Curious George Visits the Library by H. A. Rey

Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library by James & Kimberly Dean

Delilah D. at the Library by Jeanne Willis

No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou by Rhonda Gowler Greene

A Library Book for Bear by Bonny Becker

D.W.'s Library Card by Marc Brown

At the Library (A Shine-A-Light Book) by Heather Alexander & Ipek Konak

The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy

Aiden Pike: On the Sourdough Trail (The Dewey Decimal Adventures #1) by Mary C. Ryan

For more title suggestions, take a look at our book list:
Stories about Books, Reading & Libraries.

     Don't forget to also take a look at your library's events calendar for storytimes, lectures, workshops, movie nights and so many other things. My daughter loves attending the weekly preschool storytime offered at our local library. The children engage in songs, finger play, arts and crafts activities and listen to a story or two read aloud each week.

What is your family's favorite thing about going to the library? Share with us in the comments!

Happy reading and library time!

-Kate @ BTBL

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Author

We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 5) for Kate, and two sons (now 3 and 1) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.