"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.

 

1418 books out of 2172 items checked out at 15:00, 07.27.2017

[2172] Total items checked out [0603] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0815] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1418] Total Books [0723] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0006] 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


  104   [741] Drawing + drawings
  31   [641] Food + drink
  22   [895] Literatures of East + Southeast Asia
  20   [914] Europe
  14   [616] Diseases
  13   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  9   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  9   [917] North America
  9   [940] General history of Europe
  9   [158] Applied psychology
  8   [5] Computer programming
  7   [362] Social welfare problems + services
  7   [133] Parapsychology + occultism
  7   [791] Public performances
  7   [891] East Indo-European + Celtic
  7   [658] General management
  6   [649] Child rearing + home care of sick
  6   [363] Other social problems + services
  6   [378] Higher education
  6   [155] Differential + developmental psychology

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