"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.

1953 books out of 2758 items checked out at 17:00, 09.11.2017

[2758] Total items checked out	[0896] Dewey (non-fiction) Books	[1057] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1953] Total Books	[0773] 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
	232		[741] Drawing + drawings
	58		[641] Food + drink
	29		[914] Europe
	19		[305] Social groups
	19		[796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
	15		[791] Public performances
	13		[746] Textile arts
	11		[629] Other branches of engineering
	11		[650] Management + auxiliary services
	10		[306] Culture + institutions
	10		[616] Diseases
	10		[591] Zoology
	10		[597] Cold-blooded vertebrates Fishes
	10		[649] Child rearing + home care of sick
	9		[158] Applied psychology
	9		[332] Financial economics
	9		[940] General history of Europe
	9		[917] North America
	9		[808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
	8		[428] Standard English usage