"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.

 

1315 books out of 2290 items checked out at 14:00, 11.20.2017

[2290] Total items checked out [0635] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0680] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1315] Total Books [0856] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0007] 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


  154   [741] Drawing + drawings
  48   [641] Food + drink
  26   [746] Textile arts
  14   [599] Mammalia (Mammals)
  14   [616] Diseases
  13   [613] Promotion of health
  13   [658] General management
  10   [305] Social groups
  8   [973] General history of North America United States
  8   [363] Other social problems + services
  7   [917] North America
  7   [781] General principles + musical forms
  7   [332] Financial economics
  6   [551] Geology, hydrology, meteorology
  6   [747] Interior decoration
  6   [914] Europe
  6   [398] Folklore
  6   [940] General history of Europe
  6   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
  5   [811] Poetry

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

View a Previous Date | 11.16 | 11.17 | 11.18 | 11.19 | 11.20 | 11.21 | 11.22 | 11.23 | 11.24 |

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