In the 1800's a man named Mevil Dewey, devised a system for classifying all information into ten categories. This system has since been updated but the ten basic division remain basically the same. There are two different systems used in libraries today, the unabridged and the abridged editions. Most school libraries use the abridged edition. The ERC collection of children and young adult materials is arranged in a fashion similar to that which our education majors will find when they go out into the schools. We hope that the brief summary given below will help you in browsing the ERC shelves of children's and young adult non-fiction materials. Of course, we are always here to help so if you can't find what you are looking for, please don't hesitate to ask for assistance!
Aditinally, you may want to click here for a very good tutorial on the Dewey numbers (click on "View the tutorial").
This is the general reference area along with works about ailiens and UFOs and some technical works on computer science. It is a small section in the ERC.
As the title suggests, includes metaphysics, logic and ethics. Also a small section in the ERC.
Includes the philosophy of religion as well as sections on specfic religions including myths and legends. Good place to go for multicultural units.
Social sciences, sociology & anthropolgy
Includes all areas of the behavioral and social sciences. A little tricky
in that some areas that may be considered historical in nature, as in
the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, could be classified in
this area. It depends on how the content is treated within the work itself;
either as historical in nature or in terms of the affects of the event
on human society. If you are working on a social science unit, you may
need to be in both this section and the 900 section.
Also included here are works of folklore. In the 1800s, folklore was considered part of the cultural heritage of a social group and so was not classified as fiction but as part of the customs of a cultural or ethnic group. Therefore, if you are looking for fables, folktales, or tall tales, you are best off in this section, specifically 398.2. However, myths and legends may also be located in the 200 section if they are presented as part of the religious system of a people.
This area is used for explanations about language. Included here are works on linguistics and dictionaires. Many alphabet books are located in this section, specifically 411 and 420.
Science
This area includes:
- 510 Mathematics
- 520 Astronomy (solar system)
- 530 Physics
- 540 Chemistry (elements, minerals, etc.)
- 550 Earth sciences (weather, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc.)
- 560 Paleontology (fossils)
- 570 Life sciences, biology (ecology)
- 580 Plants (botany)
- 590 Animals (sea animals, mammals, humans, five senses
Technology
Includes medicine, heath, and diseases (610) and cook books (640).
Arts & recreation
Including music (780), performning arts (791-792) and sports (793-799).
Literature
This is literature with a capital "L," it includes poetry and
classical works including Shakespeare (823.3). Also included here are
fiction works that are not in English, however translations of works that
were originally written in English, such as Clifford the big red dog in
Spanish, will be located in the fiction section under the name of the
author. We also have several videotapes of interviews with authors in
the 800 section.
History & Geography
Located here are works about explorers (913-919), maps (912), and ancient
civilizations. Works about Native Americans are located under 970.004.
History of the United States is located under 973. World War II is located
under 940.5.
How do I find biographies?
The ERC does not file its biographies in a separate section. The best
finding strategy is to use the OPAC.
Either type in a person's name (last name first) as a subject search,
or type in a profession, for example scientists, women scientists, athletes,
etc., as a subject search, and go through the resulting list looking for
the subject followed by "-Biography."