Library Tips

Dewey Decimal system -  The Dewey Decimal System divides human knowledge, ideas, and artistic creations into ten major categories spanning a range from 000 to 999. Each major category divides into nine sub-categories spanning a range of 10 to 90.  Each sub-category is further divided into nine specialized topics ranging from 1 to 9. By adding decimals, the specialized topics are broken down even further. Dewey Decimal System is a hierarchical system,in which the arrangement of books on the shelves moves from the general to the specific. For example, a book about The Sun is labeled 523.7

                                    500 Natural sciences & math,
                                    520 Astronomy & allied sciences,
                                    523 Specific celestial bodies, 
                                    523.7 Sun

100 Philosophy & psychology

200 Religion

300 Social sciences

400 Language

500 Natural sciences & math 

600 Technology (Applied sciences)

700 The arts

800 Literature & rhetoric

900 Geography & history

Fiction and Picture Books are labeled FIC for Fiction and E (Everybody) for Picture Books. These books are arranged by the last name of the author. Belfair Elem. Library uses just the first THREE Letters of the Author's last name.

For example, a fiction book by Avi would be labeled FIC
                                                     AVI

A fiction book of J. K. Rowling would be labeled FIC
                                                  ROW

Avi's book would be shelved before Rowling's book because A comes before ROW in alphabetical order.

A picture book written by Jan Brett would be labeled E
                                                       BRE

a picture book written by Eve Bunting would be labeled E
                                                         BUN

Brett's book would be shelved before Bunting's book because BRE comes before BUN in alphabetical order.

Biographies are true stories about the life of a real person. They are arranged on the library shelves by the Last Name of the person. For example, a biography about Martin Luther King, Jr. would be labeled B
                                                           KIN
is on the K book shelf of the Biographies.

1. A significant or descriptive word.
2. A word used as a reference point for finding other words or information

To search for AUTHOR, type the LAST name and then the FIRST name of the author, click the enter and a list of books shows you the Call Number (Dewey Decimal #, FIC, E or B), Title, Author and # of copies available.

To search by TITLE, type the TITLE of the book, click the enter and a list of books shows you the Call Number (Dewey Decimal #, FIC, E or B), Title, Author and # of copies available. You DO NOT have to type the title words A, AN or THE because the computer catalog ignores these title words.

To search for SUBJECT, type the SUBJECT (idea or thing) you want to need. (subjects are similar to keywords but are BIGGER ideas), click the enter and a list of books shows you the Call Number (Dewey Decimal #, FIC, E or B), Title, Author and # of copies available. Teacher Librarians assign subject headings to each book, using a list of standard terms used by many other libraries.

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