"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.

 

1936 books out of 3275 items checked out at 13:00, 02.17.2018

[3275] Total items checked out [0888] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [1048] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1936] Total Books [1189] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0020] 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


  165   [741] Drawing + drawings
  70   [641] Food + drink
  22   [398] Folklore
  21   [914] Europe
  19   [305] Social groups
  18   [746] Textile arts
  16   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  14   [745] Decorative arts
  13   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  12   [747] Interior decoration
  12   [917] North America
  11   [294] Religions of Indic origin
  11   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
  11   [332] Financial economics
  11   [973] General history of North America United States
  11   [158] Applied psychology
  10   [5] Computer programming
  10   [658] General management
  9   [650] Management + auxiliary services
  9   [306] Culture + institutions

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

View a Previous Date | 02.13 | 02.14 | 02.15 | 02.16 | 02.17 | 02.18 | 02.19 | 02.20 | 02.21 |

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