"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.

 

1590 books out of 2497 items checked out at 16:00, 04.01.2019

[2497] Total items checked out [0616] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0974] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1590] Total Books [0801] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0009] 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


  62   [741] Drawing + drawings
  32   [641] Food + drink
  22   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  18   [158] Applied psychology
  16   [398] Folklore
  16   [811] Poetry
  14   [917] North America
  14   [914] Europe
  14   [629] Other branches of engineering
  13   [973] General history of North America United States
  13   [746] Textile arts
  12   [613] Promotion of health
  10   [616] Diseases
  10   [155] Differential + developmental psychology
  10   [597] Cold-blooded vertebrates Fishes
  10   [305] Social groups
  9   [791] Public performances
  9   [591] Zoology
  9   [306] Culture + institutions
  8   [567] Fossil cold-blooded vertebrates

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

View a Previous Date | 03.28 | 03.29 | 03.30 | 03.31 | 04.01 | 04.02 | 04.03 | 04.04 | 04.05 |

George Legrady, with Andreas Schlegel and August Black. This active webpage has been operational since October 2005