"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.

 

0948 books out of 1509 items checked out at 10:00, 03.28.2019

[1509] Total items checked out [0340] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0608] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[0948] Total Books [0495] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0002] 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


  31   [741] Drawing + drawings
  15   [641] Food + drink
  12   [745] Decorative arts
  9   [551] Geology, hydrology, meteorology
  8   [650] Management + auxiliary services
  8   [914] Europe
  7   [811] Poetry
  7   [973] General history of North America United States
  7   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  7   [613] Promotion of health
  7   [582] Spermatophyta (Seed-bearing plants)
  7   [398] Folklore
  6   [658] General management
  5   [332] Financial economics
  5   [895] Literatures of East + Southeast Asia
  5   [305] Social groups
  5   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  5   [158] Applied psychology
  5   [294] Religions of Indic origin
  4   [959] General history of Asia Southeast Asia

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