The Caveman’s Guide to the Dewey Decimal System. The Story of the Numbers Used for Nonfiction...
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The Caveman’s Guide to the Dewey Decimal System
The Caveman’s Guide to the Dewey Decimal System. The Story of the Numbers Used for Nonfiction Books In 1873 Mr. Melvil Dewey devised a system of classifying
The Story of the Numbers Used for Nonfiction Books In 1873 Mr.
Melvil Dewey devised a system of classifying books which is used in
many libraries. He chose certain main subjects and numbers, so that
all nonfiction books on the same subject would be together on the
shelf.
Slide 3
The Dewey Decimal System The Dewey Decimal Classification is
the most widely used library organization system in the world. The
system groups books by topic by dividing them into 10 basic
categories, and each of those categories is further split into 10
categories, and so on.
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Deweys Plan He chose these subjects by imagining himself to be
a Caveman. He asked himself questions he thought such a man would
have asked.
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000s How do I begin? Generalities Information I need to know
before I begin. These are books which contain information on many
subjects such as encyclopedias and other reference books.
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100s Who am I? PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY Man thinks about
himself.
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200s Who made me? RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY Man thinks about
God.
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300s Who is the person in the next cave? SOCIAL SCIENCE Man
thinks about other people.
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400s How can I communicate with the person in the next cave?
Language Man learns to communicate using sign language and
words.
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500s How can I explain nature and the world around me? NATURAL
SCIENCE Man learns to understand nature on the land, in the sea,
and in the sky.
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600s How can I use what I know about nature? APPLIED SCIENCE
AND USEFUL ARTS (Technology) Primitive man learned about fire and
how to make weapons. He learned through the ages about the wheel,
about medicine, planting crops, cooking food, building bridges, and
how to make all the things we use.
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700s How can I enjoy my free time? FINE ART AND RECREATION or
(Arts) By this time, primitive man had more time to do the things
he enjoyed. He learned how to paint pictures and create music. He
also learned how to dance and play games.
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800s How can I tell my children all that I have accomplished?
LITERATURE Man became a storyteller. He created stories, poems, and
plays about his ancestors and the people he knew. Later, man
recorded these stories for all people to read.
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900s How can I leave a record for the people of the future?
GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY Man began to write about events that
had occurred everywhere, and about people who had participated in
these events.
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Dewey Decimal System 000 General Knowledge Almanacs,
Encyclopedias 100 Psychology & Philosophy Feelings, Emotions
200 Religion Bible Stories, Beliefs, Mythologies 300 Social
Sciences & Folklore Careers, Customs, Holidays, Fairy Tales 400
Languages Grammar, Sign Language, English, Foreign Language
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Dewey Decimal System 500 Natural Science Planets, Weather, Wild
Animals 600 Applied Science, Technology Space Travel, Alternative
Energy, Domesticated Animals 700 Arts & Recreation Drawing,
Crafts, Games, Sports 800 Literature Poetry, Plays, Classic
Literature 900 Geography & History Travel, Countries, States,
Biographies
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Works Cited Complete Library Skills Activities Program by Arden
Druce who cited it from School Library Journal, February 1961.
Copyright R.R. Bowker Company/Cahners Magazine Division. Originally
created by:
http://mte.anacortes.k12.wa.us/library/dewey/deweystory.htm Updated
by http://www.grandviewlibrary.info 09/25/12