"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.

 

1958 books out of 2828 items checked out at 15:00, 09.24.2017

[2828] Total items checked out [0935] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [1023] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1958] Total Books [0822] 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


  296   [741] Drawing + drawings
  50   [641] Food + drink
  26   [914] Europe
  15   [917] North America
  15   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  15   [636] Animal husbandry
  14   [305] Social groups
  14   [398] Folklore
  12   [613] Promotion of health
  11   [158] Applied psychology
  11   [658] General management
  11   [616] Diseases
  10   [306] Culture + institutions
  10   [332] Financial economics
  10   [745] Decorative arts
  9   [973] General history of North America United States
  9   [811] Poetry
  8   [649] Child rearing + home care of sick
  8   [153] Mental processes + intelligence
  8   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

View a Previous Date | 09.20 | 09.21 | 09.22 | 09.23 | 09.24 | 09.25 | 09.26 | 09.27 | 09.28 |

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