The Numbers in Nonfiction

We have learned the recipe for making a nonfiction call number. numbers (for the subject) first three letters of the authors last name

Now lets learn more about the numbers in a nonfiction call number.

How do we know what number goes with each subject ?

By using something cool called

The Dewey Decimal System !!

The Dewey Decimal System is a tool used to sort books into

groups or categories

This system was invented by a man named Melvil Dewey.

He was a librarian who lived long ago.

Sorting books by subject, what a brilliant idea!!

I think Ive got it !!

for sorting all of the subjects

General means broad, lots of subjects will fit into each group.

10 general groups

Here are the 10 general groups for sorting books in the Dewey Decimal System:
General Works Religion Language Technology Literature Philosophy Social Studies Science Arts and Leisure History/Geography

This seems like a lot to remember, but dont worry youll learn it all quickly.
So lets get going !!!!

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.

100s-Philosophy
Books that fit in this group tell about how we think and feel.

200s-Religion
Books in this group tell about different religions or stories from the bible.

300s-Social Studies
Books in this group tell about how people live together.

holidays and customs government, military

Fairy tales and folk tales are also placed in the 300s.
Many were written to teach a
lesson about behavior and..

Thats social studies.

Books in this group are about different languages or grammar.

noun verb adjective

400s-Language

500s-Science
Books in this group are about things from nature.

600s-Technology
This group has books that are about man-made things.

700s-Arts and Leisure

Books in this group are about things we do for fun.

800s-Literature
Books in this group are stories, plays, or poetry.
This is the group fiction books were put in long ago when The Dewey Decimal System was first invented.

Today we have too many fiction books in our libraries to organize them in this way, so fiction books have their own way of being organized.
You know, in ABC order, by author !

900sHistory/Geography
Books in this group tell about events of the past and countries of the world.

Biography- 92
Dont forget this group. It contains books about famous peoples lives.

Knowing these big groups will help make it easier to find the books you want in the nonfiction section.

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 !!!!

Lets See What Youve Learned

Call numbers help us find the books we want to read !!!

1. What is the recipe for a nonfiction call number?

Numbers
(for the subject)

First three letters in the authors last name

2. What system tells us what numbers go with each subject? Dewey Decimal System

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

Melvil Dewey

4. Mr. Dewey matched a number with each _____________.

a) author b) subject c) title

5. All school libraries use the Dewey Decimal System.

a) false b) true