"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.

 

2367 books out of 3668 items checked out at 14:00, 02.25.2018

[3668] Total items checked out [1068] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [1299] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[2367] Total Books [1138] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0016] 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


  246   [741] Drawing + drawings
  75   [641] Food + drink
  33   [613] Promotion of health
  24   [917] North America
  22   [914] Europe
  20   [616] Diseases
  18   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  17   [398] Folklore
  17   [599] Mammalia (Mammals)
  16   [158] Applied psychology
  15   [305] Social groups
  13   [591] Zoology
  12   [306] Culture + institutions
  12   [910] Geography + travel
  11   [811] Poetry
  10   [891] East Indo-European + Celtic
  10   [612] Human physiology
  10   [595] Other invertebrates
  10   [745] Decorative arts
  10   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)

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