School Libraries: The Numbers in Nonfiction

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School Libraries The Numbers in Nonfiction
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The call numbers of nonfiction books are made up
of two parts

• the call number (for the subject)

• first three letters of the authors last name

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Now lets learn more about the numbers in a
nonfiction call number.
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How do we know what number goes with each subject
?
By using something cool called The Dewey Decimal
System !!
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The Dewey Decimal System is a tool used to sort
books into
groups or categories
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This system was invented by a man named Melvil
Dewey.
He was a librarian who lived long ago.
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Sorting books by subject, what a brilliant idea!!
I think Ive got it !!
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10 general groups for sorting all of the subjects
General means broad, lots of subjects will fit
into each group.
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Here are the 10 general groups for sorting books
in the Dewey Decimal System
General Works Philosophy Religion Social
Studies Language Science Technology Arts and
Leisure Literature History / Geography
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This seems like a lot to remember, but dont
worry youll learn it all quickly.
So lets get going !!!!
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000s-General Works
Books that fit in this group have many different
subjects in them. Like
Encyclopedias or The Guinness Book of Records
This is also where books on unexplained subjects
would be found-like The Loch Ness Monster.
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100s-Philosophy
Books that fit in this group tell about how we
think and feel.
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200s-Religion
Books in this group tell about different
religions or stories from the Bible.
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300s-Social Studies
Books in this group tell about how people live
together.
holidays and customs
government, military
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Fairytales and folktales are also placed in the
300s. Many were written to teach a lesson about
behavior and
Thats social studies.
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400s-Language
Books in this group are about different languages
or grammar.
noun verb adjective
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500s-Science
Books in this group are about things from nature.
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600s-Technology
This group has books that are about man-made
things.
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700s-Arts and Leisure
Books in this group are about things we do for
fun.
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800s-Literature
Books in this group are stories, plays, or poetry.
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This is the group fiction books were put in
long ago when the Dewey Decimal System was first
invented.
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Today we have too many fiction books in our
libraries to organize them in the 800s, so
fiction books have their own sections E for
picture books F for chapter books
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900s-History/Geography
Books in this group tell about events of the past
and countries of the world.
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Biography- 921
The Dewey number for Biographies is 921, HOWEVER
like fiction, we gave biographies their own
section B for biographies
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Knowing these big groups will help make it easier
to find the books you want in the nonfiction
section.
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Remember, nonfiction call numbers are placed in
number order first, so that means all of the
books about the same subject end up near each
other on the shelf.
Thats Smart !!!!
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Lets See What Youve Learned
Call numbers help us find the books we want to
read !!!
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1. What is the format for a nonfiction call number?

Numbers (for the subject) First three letters in
the authors last name
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1. What system tells us what numbers go with each
   subject?

Dewey Decimal System
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1. Who is responsible for inventing the Dewey
   Decimal System?

Melvil Dewey
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• Mr. Dewey matched a number with each
  _____________.
• author
• subject
• title

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• 5. All school libraries use the Dewey Decimal
  System.
• false
• true