The Dewey Decimal Classification System is divided into tem main categories. These range from 000-999. Each main category can further be divided into nine sub categories, which have a range of 10-90. Each category is divided into a further nine specialized topics ranging from 1- 9. The specialised topics are broken down further by using decimals.
The Dewey Decimal Classification System is the most widely used classification system in the world. Over 135 countries use the system. Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey was 21 years old when he created The Dewey Decimal Classification System. At the time he was working as a student assistant in a college library. Dewey in the United States is credited for beginning the field of library science. Dewey was born in December 10 1851. His family were poor and lived in a small town upper New York State. Later on he cut his name to Melvil dropped his middle names and for a short time even spelt his last name as Dui. Dewey died in 1931.
The ten main classes are as follows: 000 = Generalities, 100 = Philosophy, Paranormal Phenomena, Psychology, 200 = Religion, 300 = Social sciences, 400 = Language, 500 = Natural sciences and mathematics, 600 = Technology (Applied sciences), 700 = The arts Fine and decorative arts, 800 Literature (Belles-Lettres) and rhetoric and 900 = Geography, History and Auxiliary disciplines.
Principally a classification system has been used to create an order out of knowledge. Dewey put related topics in a hierarchal order from general to specific. The system Dewey created made it possible for more books to be added. The system enables books to be found instantly. Whereas originally librarians would have to spend a long time looking for a particular book. The Dewey Decimal Classification system contains a single index.
Dewey decided to use decimal fractions to represent subjects of books. Dewey numbered books by their intellectual content instead of physical location. This was more effective as intellectual content could never change but physical location could change. Dewey decided to do a subdividing of books to a specificity that nobody was likely to write about that particular subject. This is why he starts off with broad subjects that are systematically broken down into more and more specific subjects.
After the library of congressed moved to a new building after the old one burnt down, they noticed that they needed a new system. The Dewey Decimal Classification System contains a comprehensive index. The Dewey Decimal System calls this a Relative Index. It arranges terms alphabetically and links them to the disciplines in which they appear in the schedules.
The Dewey Decimal Classification System was an immediate success and by the end of the 19th century was the most popular system to be used. Melvil Dewey founded the American library association and began publication of the library journal in 1876. He became chief librarian of Columbia University in 1883 and established the first school of library there in 1887. From 1889-1906 he served as director of the New York state library. Dewey died from a stroke in December 26th 1931.