"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.

 

1509 books out of 2270 items checked out at 17:00, 03.21.2019

[2270] Total items checked out [0675] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0834] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1509] Total Books [0675] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0008] 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


  95   [741] Drawing + drawings
  46   [641] Food + drink
  21   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  14   [595] Other invertebrates
  14   [658] General management
  13   [398] Folklore
  13   [629] Other branches of engineering
  12   [616] Diseases
  11   [973] General history of North America United States
  11   [305] Social groups
  10   [306] Culture + institutions
  10   [917] North America
  10   [811] Poetry
  10   [613] Promotion of health
  9   [914] Europe
  9   [5] Computer programming
  8   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  8   [364] Criminology
  8   [158] Applied psychology
  8   [155] Differential + developmental psychology

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