"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.

1351 books out of 2340 items checked out at 13:00, 09.18.2017

[2340] Total items checked out	[0602] Dewey (non-fiction) Books	[0749] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1351] Total Books	[0944] 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
	80		[641] Food + drink
	78		[741] Drawing + drawings
	17		[746] Textile arts
	15		[917] North America
	13		[811] Poetry
	13		[613] Promotion of health
	11		[751] Techniques, equipment, forms
	10		[616] Diseases
	9		[355] Military science
	9		[362] Social welfare problems + services
	9		[914] Europe
	8		[895] Literatures of East + Southeast Asia
	8		[305] Social groups
	7		[306] Culture + institutions
	6		[973] General history of North America United States
	6		[398] Folklore
	6		[320] Political science
	5		[919] Other areas
	5		[808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
	5		[791] Public performances