"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.

 

1945 books out of 3299 items checked out at 14:00, 02.17.2018

[3299] Total items checked out [0941] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [1004] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1945] Total Books [1235] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0014] 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


  244   [741] Drawing + drawings
  68   [641] Food + drink
  22   [746] Textile arts
  22   [616] Diseases
  18   [305] Social groups
  18   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  16   [917] North America
  16   [914] Europe
  12   [158] Applied psychology
  12   [973] General history of North America United States
  11   [658] General management
  11   [915] Asia
  10   [398] Folklore
  10   [978] General history of North America Western United States
  9   [979] General history of North America Great Basin + Pacific Slope
  9   [363] Other social problems + services
  9   [615] Pharmacology + theraputics
  8   [793] Indoor games + amusements
  8   [759] Historical, areas, persons treatment
  8   [155] Differential + developmental psychology

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