Library 101

The Dewey Decimal System is a tool to help organize library materials.  Call numbers are assigned to each item so that items on similar subjects are near each other.  This helps if you want to browse the shelves.  The Dewey systems uses broad categories of whole numbers folowed by decimals to help classify the collection. The whole numbers are in the 000-999 range.  The whole numbers represent broad subject categories.  

Example:

620.009: The number in front of the decimal point is read as a whole number (six hundred and twenty), the rest as a decimal. 620.009 would come between 620 and 620.1

E542: Read the letter and then the rest is a whole number.  The letter is usually associated with the author's last name.  In the case of architects, it is often the architect's last name.  

2016:  At Schumann Library we often include the publication date as part of the call number

The beginning numbers of a Dewey Decimal call number indicate what broad classification your book is in.

000 Generalities 
100 Philosophy & psychology 
200 Religion 
300 Social sciences 
400 Language 
500 Natural sciences & mathematics 
600 Technology (Applied sciences) 
700 The arts 
800 Literature & rhetoric 
900 Geography & history