"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.

 

1499 books out of 2297 items checked out at 13:00, 06.24.2019

[2297] Total items checked out [0598] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0901] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1499] Total Books [0695] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0005] 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


  41   [641] Food + drink
  34   [741] Drawing + drawings
  16   [914] Europe
  16   [613] Promotion of health
  15   [398] Folklore
  15   [616] Diseases
  12   [305] Social groups
  11   [629] Other branches of engineering
  10   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  10   [523] Specific celestial bodies + phenomena
  9   [791] Public performances
  9   [658] General management
  9   [158] Applied psychology
  9   [332] Financial economics
  8   [940] General history of Europe
  8   [636] Animal husbandry
  8   [917] North America
  8   [591] Zoology
  8   [973] General history of North America United States
  7   [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