"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.

 

0943 books out of 1591 items checked out at 12:00, 03.20.2019

[1591] Total items checked out [0429] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0514] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[0943] Total Books [0567] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0005] 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


  41   [741] Drawing + drawings
  21   [641] Food + drink
  17   [973] General history of North America United States
  16   [811] Poetry
  12   [629] Other branches of engineering
  11   [158] Applied psychology
  11   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  11   [598] Aves (Birds)
  10   [895] Literatures of East + Southeast Asia
  9   [306] Culture + institutions
  8   [551] Geology, hydrology, meteorology
  8   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  8   [363] Other social problems + services
  8   [613] Promotion of health
  7   [155] Differential + developmental psychology
  6   [914] Europe
  6   [398] Folklore
  6   [746] Textile arts
  6   [152] Perception, movement, emotions, drives
  5   [649] Child rearing + home care of sick

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