"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.

 

2025 books out of 2949 items checked out at 15:00, 03.17.2019

[2949] Total items checked out [0912] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [1113] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[2025] Total Books [0804] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0020] 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


  153   [741] Drawing + drawings
  57   [641] Food + drink
  21   [398] Folklore
  17   [305] Social groups
  16   [629] Other branches of engineering
  16   [811] Poetry
  14   [613] Promotion of health
  13   [915] Asia
  13   [746] Textile arts
  13   [306] Culture + institutions
  13   [914] Europe
  12   [599] Mammalia (Mammals)
  12   [612] Human physiology
  12   [973] General history of North America United States
  12   [616] Diseases
  11   [636] Animal husbandry
  10   [591] Zoology
  10   [646] Sewing, clothing, personal living
  10   [294] Religions of Indic origin
  10   [551] Geology, hydrology, meteorology

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