"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.

 

1989 books out of 3308 items checked out at 14:00, 02.18.2018

[3308] Total items checked out [1021] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0968] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1989] Total Books [1195] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0010] 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


  221   [741] Drawing + drawings
  79   [641] Food + drink
  26   [398] Folklore
  25   [917] North America
  20   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  20   [746] Textile arts
  19   [158] Applied psychology
  19   [306] Culture + institutions
  17   [616] Diseases
  16   [305] Social groups
  16   [914] Europe
  15   [811] Poetry
  15   [613] Promotion of health
  12   [814] Essays
  11   [629] Other branches of engineering
  11   [973] General history of North America United States
  11   [658] General management
  11   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  9   [294] Religions of Indic origin
  8   [650] Management + auxiliary services

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