Observed annually, this day celebrates Melvin Dewey (born December 10, 1851) a librarian, educator and inventor of the Dewey Decimal System. First published in 1876 the Dewey System introduced the concept of relative location and relative index, which means books are cataloged and placed on the shelves in a permanent location according to their subject. Prior to Dewey’s system, books were simply shelved in the order they were purchased.
The Dewey Decimal Classification System is used in most public libraries, including Franklin Township. Ever searched for a book in our catalog and wondered what the call number meant or where to find the book? Here’s a guide to reading call numbers from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
