"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.

 

1272 books out of 2322 items checked out at 18:00, 07.24.2017

[2322] Total items checked out [0635] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0637] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1272] Total Books [1015] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0008] 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


  146   [741] Drawing + drawings
  67   [641] Food + drink
  29   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  19   [914] Europe
  18   [917] North America
  14   [158] Applied psychology
  12   [613] Promotion of health
  11   [551] Geology, hydrology, meteorology
  8   [616] Diseases
  8   [629] Other branches of engineering
  8   [658] General management
  8   [973] General history of North America United States
  8   [5] Computer programming
  7   [305] Social groups
  7   [306] Culture + institutions
  7   [797] Aquatic + air sports
  7   [398] Folklore
  6   [303] Social processes
  6   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
  5   [591] Zoology

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