"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.

 

1343 books out of 2293 items checked out at 17:00, 07.21.2017

[2293] Total items checked out [0607] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0736] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1343] Total Books [0920] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0004] 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


  157   [741] Drawing + drawings
  44   [641] Food + drink
  11   [616] Diseases
  11   [745] Decorative arts
  11   [791] Public performances
  10   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
  10   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  9   [303] Social processes
  9   [649] Child rearing + home care of sick
  9   [746] Textile arts
  8   [747] Interior decoration
  8   [305] Social groups
  8   [793] Indoor games + amusements
  7   [712] Landscape architecture
  7   [613] Promotion of health
  7   [915] Asia
  7   [917] North America
  6   [294] Religions of Indic origin
  6   [636] Animal husbandry
  6   [378] Higher education

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