"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.

1917 books out of 3066 items checked out at 16:00, 01.05.2019

[3066] Total items checked out	[0866] Dewey (non-fiction) Books	[1051] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1917] Total Books	[1029] Media (dvd, cd, etc.)	[0012] 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
	129		[741] Drawing + drawings
	66		[641] Food + drink
	20		[658] General management
	20		[973] General history of North America United States
	18		[796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
	17		[158] Applied psychology
	17		[736] Carving + carvings
	17		[616] Diseases
	15		[629] Other branches of engineering
	13		[305] Social groups
	13		[917] North America
	12		[398] Folklore
	11		[613] Promotion of health
	11		[599] Mammalia (Mammals)
	9		[306] Culture + institutions
	9		[155] Differential + developmental psychology
	9		[914] Europe
	8		[523] Specific celestial bodies + phenomena
	8		[294] Religions of Indic origin
	8		[811] Poetry