How to use the Dewey Decimal System

The Dewey system works in batches of hundreds and tens, or classes and ranges. Classes cover a general topic within the hundreds, and ranges of tens cover a more specific area of the topic. For example, we say that the general Language section is the 400s, and the specific area of French is in the 440s. So, if you’re looking for a book or audio CD to help you with your French, go to the section of nonfiction books that has numbers that start between 440 and 449.

Here’s a basic Dewey class outline:

000 Computer Science (basic computer stuff, learning programs like Excel or Word, blogging, email, downloading, etc)
100 Philosophy & Psychology
200 Religion
300 Social Sciences (poli sci, economics, law, criminology, education, social customs & folklore, etc)
400 Language (phrase books, dictionaries, thesauri, etc)
500 Science (natural science: math, chemistry, physics, biology, etc)
600 Technology (applied science: inventions, cookbooks, medical science, fitness, etc)
700 Arts & Recreation (art & artists, architecture, sports, crafts, photography, music, etc)
800 Literature (poetry, drama, Shakespeare, classics)
900 History & Geography (travel guides, atlases, biographies, ancient & modern history subdivided by geographic region, etc)