"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.

 

1793 books out of 2757 items checked out at 13:00, 03.17.2019

[2757] Total items checked out [0779] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [1014] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1793] Total Books [0852] 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


  79   [641] Food + drink
  66   [741] Drawing + drawings
  25   [398] Folklore
  21   [914] Europe
  19   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  15   [917] North America
  13   [940] General history of Europe
  12   [895] Literatures of East + Southeast Asia
  12   [332] Financial economics
  12   [599] Mammalia (Mammals)
  12   [973] General history of North America United States
  11   [811] Poetry
  11   [305] Social groups
  11   [612] Human physiology
  11   [158] Applied psychology
  9   [153] Mental processes + intelligence
  9   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  8   [814] Essays
  8   [915] Asia
  8   [979] General history of North America Great Basin + Pacific Slope

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