"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.

 

1686 books out of 2581 items checked out at 15:00, 03.30.2019

[2581] Total items checked out [0702] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0984] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1686] Total Books [0785] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0011] 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


  81   [741] Drawing + drawings
  53   [641] Food + drink
  28   [914] Europe
  18   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  16   [613] Promotion of health
  14   [398] Folklore
  14   [658] General management
  13   [616] Diseases
  13   [629] Other branches of engineering
  11   [917] North America
  11   [158] Applied psychology
  11   [973] General history of North America United States
  10   [5] Computer programming
  10   [650] Management + auxiliary services
  9   [792] Stage presentations
  9   [746] Textile arts
  8   [567] Fossil cold-blooded vertebrates
  8   [747] Interior decoration
  8   [153] Mental processes + intelligence
  6   [612] Human physiology

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