"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.

 

0914 books out of 1583 items checked out at 12:00, 09.19.2017

[1583] Total items checked out [0375] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0539] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[0914] Total Books [0631] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0003] 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


  50   [741] Drawing + drawings
  18   [398] Folklore
  17   [641] Food + drink
  12   [917] North America
  7   [599] Mammalia (Mammals)
  7   [745] Decorative arts
  7   [613] Promotion of health
  7   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  7   [728] Residential + related buildings
  6   [305] Social groups
  6   [394] General customs
  6   [915] Asia
  6   [650] Management + auxiliary services
  6   [616] Diseases
  5   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
  5   [792] Stage presentations
  5   [303] Social processes
  5   [636] Animal husbandry
  4   [746] Textile arts
  4   [363] Other social problems + services

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

View a Previous Date | 09.15 | 09.16 | 09.17 | 09.18 | 09.19 | 09.20 | 09.21 | 09.22 | 09.23 |

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