"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.

 

1742 books out of 2701 items checked out at 13:00, 09.24.2017

[2701] Total items checked out [0798] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0944] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1742] Total Books [0911] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0011] 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


  141   [741] Drawing + drawings
  51   [641] Food + drink
  27   [398] Folklore
  18   [917] North America
  15   [158] Applied psychology
  14   [612] Human physiology
  14   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  14   [613] Promotion of health
  13   [658] General management
  13   [616] Diseases
  12   [650] Management + auxiliary services
  10   [811] Poetry
  9   [303] Social processes
  9   [746] Textile arts
  9   [914] Europe
  9   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
  8   [362] Social welfare problems + services
  8   [818] Miscellaneous writings
  8   [792] Stage presentations
  8   [428] Standard English usage

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