"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.

 

0990 books out of 1606 items checked out at 10:00, 11.22.2017

[1606] Total items checked out [0371] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0619] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[0990] Total Books [0560] 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


  52   [741] Drawing + drawings
  24   [641] Food + drink
  17   [917] North America
  10   [613] Promotion of health
  9   [398] Folklore
  9   [305] Social groups
  8   [914] Europe
  8   [616] Diseases
  7   [394] General customs
  7   [746] Textile arts
  6   [649] Child rearing + home care of sick
  5   [747] Interior decoration
  5   [791] Public performances
  5   [419] Verbal language not spoken or written
  4   [745] Decorative arts
  4   [793] Indoor games + amusements
  4   [551] Geology, hydrology, meteorology
  4   [919] Other areas
  4   [355] Military science
  4   [794] Indoor games of skill

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

View a Previous Date | 11.18 | 11.19 | 11.20 | 11.21 | 11.22 | 11.23 | 11.24 | 11.25 | 11.26 |

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