"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.

 

2264 books out of 3542 items checked out at 16:00, 02.18.2018

[3542] Total items checked out [1004] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [1260] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[2264] Total Books [1141] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0018] 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
  67   [641] Food + drink
  35   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  21   [305] Social groups
  19   [616] Diseases
  17   [917] North America
  16   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  14   [914] Europe
  14   [599] Mammalia (Mammals)
  13   [640] Home economics + family living
  12   [613] Promotion of health
  12   [398] Folklore
  11   [158] Applied psychology
  10   [811] Poetry
  10   [782] Vocal music
  10   [910] Geography + travel
  9   [891] East Indo-European + Celtic
  9   [598] Aves (Birds)
  9   [591] Zoology
  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