"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.

 

2018 books out of 3328 items checked out at 13:00, 02.25.2018

[3328] Total items checked out [0970] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [1048] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[2018] Total Books [1148] 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


  190   [741] Drawing + drawings
  59   [641] Food + drink
  35   [914] Europe
  22   [613] Promotion of health
  21   [305] Social groups
  18   [158] Applied psychology
  17   [398] Folklore
  16   [917] North America
  15   [616] Diseases
  14   [791] Public performances
  13   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  13   [364] Criminology
  12   [940] General history of Europe
  12   [973] General history of North America United States
  12   [629] Other branches of engineering
  11   [808] Rhetoric + collections of literature
  11   [362] Social welfare problems + services
  10   [153] Mental processes + intelligence
  10   [306] Culture + institutions
  9   [152] Perception, movement, emotions, drives

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