"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.

 

0707 books out of 1113 items checked out at 13:00, 01.05.2021

[1113] Total items checked out [0331] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0376] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[0707] Total Books [0324] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0000] 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


  24   [741] Drawing + drawings
  21   [641] Food + drink
  21   [305] Social groups
  15   [811] Poetry
  10   [940] General history of Europe
  7   [398] Folklore
  6   [332] Financial economics
  6   [973] General history of North America United States
  5   [153] Mental processes + intelligence
  5   [979] General history of North America Great Basin + Pacific Slope
  5   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  5   [591] Zoology
  5   [599] Mammalia (Mammals)
  5   [613] Promotion of health
  4   [891] East Indo-European + Celtic
  4   [947] General history of Europe Eastern Europe Soviet Union
  4   [635] Garden crops (Horticulture)
  4   [155] Differential + developmental psychology
  3   [636] Animal husbandry
  3   [745] Decorative arts

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