"Making Visible the Invisible", a data visualization commissioned by the Seattle Central Library, operational since fall 2005


This database receives by the hour all of the checkouts of books, cds, DVDs, and other material that library patrons take out of the library. The data at the library is classified in two separate categories. Non-fiction items receive a Dewey Classfication System coding, explained here: Dewey Decimal Classes. Fictional items are classified in a different way. This visualization features the top 20 most active Dewey categories. Click on each of the categories to get the chronological list of titles checked out during the previous hour.

 

0556 books out of 0902 items checked out at 10:00, 11.08.2017

[0902] Total items checked out [0237] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0319] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[0556] Total Books [0291] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0007] Misc

Dewey Decimal Classification Graph

This map highlights current circulating books according to their Dewey classification category in Generalities [0-99]; Philosophy & Psychology[100-199]; Religion [200-299]; Social Science [300-399]; Language [400-499]; Natural Science & Mathematics [500-599]; Technology & Applied Sciences [600-699]; Arts [700-799]; Literature [800-899]; Geography & History [900-999].


     

The top 20 Dewey categories


  21   [641] Food + drink
  19   [741] Drawing + drawings
  8   [720] Architecture
  7   [646] Sewing, clothing, personal living
  6   [979] General history of North America Great Basin + Pacific Slope
  6   [746] Textile arts
  5   [780] Music
  4   [978] General history of North America Western United States
  4   [398] Folklore
  4   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  4   [599] Mammalia (Mammals)
  4   [811] Poetry
  3   [551] Geology, hydrology, meteorology
  3   [338] Production
  3   [937] History of ancient world Italy + adjacent territories
  3   [940] General history of Europe
  3   [975] General history of North America Southeastern United States
  3   [591] Zoology
  3   [970] General history of North America
  3   [917] North America

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

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George Legrady, with Andreas Schlegel and August Black. This active webpage has been operational since October 2005