"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.

 

1324 books out of 2038 items checked out at 17:00, 06.20.2019

[2038] Total items checked out [0531] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0793] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1324] Total Books [0631] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0003] 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


  49   [741] Drawing + drawings
  43   [641] Food + drink
  27   [917] North America
  17   [305] Social groups
  15   [914] Europe
  12   [332] Financial economics
  11   [306] Culture + institutions
  10   [613] Promotion of health
  9   [155] Differential + developmental psychology
  9   [158] Applied psychology
  8   [747] Interior decoration
  8   [303] Social processes
  7   [629] Other branches of engineering
  7   [616] Diseases
  7   [944] General history of Europe France + Monaco
  7   [973] General history of North America United States
  7   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  6   [338] Production
  6   [152] Perception, movement, emotions, drives
  6   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games

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