"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.

 

1559 books out of 2602 items checked out at 14:00, 07.29.2017

[2602] Total items checked out [0772] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0787] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1559] Total Books [1004] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0016] 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


  230   [741] Drawing + drawings
  71   [641] Food + drink
  20   [398] Folklore
  17   [613] Promotion of health
  13   [917] North America
  13   [746] Textile arts
  12   [305] Social groups
  10   [158] Applied psychology
  10   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  10   [745] Decorative arts
  8   [523] Specific celestial bodies + phenomena
  8   [362] Social welfare problems + services
  8   [616] Diseases
  7   [818] Miscellaneous writings
  7   [944] General history of Europe France + Monaco
  6   [629] Other branches of engineering
  6   [155] Differential + developmental psychology
  6   [759] Historical, areas, persons treatment
  6   [306] Culture + institutions
  6   [895] Literatures of East + Southeast Asia

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

View a Previous Date | 07.25 | 07.26 | 07.27 | 07.28 | 07.29 | 07.30 | 07.31 | 08.01 | 08.02 |

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