"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.

 

1842 books out of 3191 items checked out at 13:00, 11.19.2017

[3191] Total items checked out [0890] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0952] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1842] Total Books [1204] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0004] 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


  179   [741] Drawing + drawings
  101   [641] Food + drink
  21   [398] Folklore
  19   [305] Social groups
  15   [914] Europe
  13   [612] Human physiology
  12   [362] Social welfare problems + services
  12   [658] General management
  11   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  11   [746] Textile arts
  11   [595] Other invertebrates
  11   [158] Applied psychology
  10   [155] Differential + developmental psychology
  9   [811] Poetry
  9   [153] Mental processes + intelligence
  9   [591] Zoology
  9   [616] Diseases
  8   [306] Culture + institutions
  8   [649] Child rearing + home care of sick
  8   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature

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