1. The Dewey Decimal System

In this system, general topics are assigned numbers. Here are the ten basic divisions in the Dewey Decimal System.

000 Generalities

100 Philosophy and Related Disciplines

200 Religion

300 The Social Sciences

400 Language

500 Pure Sciences

600 Technology (Applied Sciences)

700 The Arts

800 Literature (Belles Lettres)

900 General Geography and History

Each of these general categories is subdivided into more specific areas. For example, science books are arranged as follows:

500 Pure Sciences

510 Mathematics

520 Astronomy and allied sciences

530 Physics

540 Chemistry and allied sciences

550 Sciences of earth and other worlds

560 Paleontology

570 Life sciences

580 Botanical sciences

590 Zoological sciences

Each of these categories is further subdivided into even more specific areas. For example, you would find books on various aspects of geology arranged as follows:

551 Physical and dynamic geology

552 Rocks (Petrology)

553 Economics of Geology

554 Geology of Europe

555 Geology of Asia

556 Geology of Africa

557 Geology of North America

558 Geology of South American

559 Geology of other areas and worlds

Where would you look for information about the kinds of rocks in the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia?

Even these categories are subdivided into more specific areas. If you were looking for information on the Black Hawk War, a conflict involving North American native people, you would first go to the 900s where material on geography and history are stored. The general history of North America is found in the 970s. The place and date of the Black Hawk War places it in the 973s. Finally, you find a book that has the information you want. The call number on the spine is 973.5.