Books and other items on the Library's shelves are organised using the Dewey Decimal System. Each is given a number from 000 to 999 depending on its broad subject area, as shown below:
000 - Computer science, information & general works
100 - Philosophy & psychology
200 - Religion
300 - Social Sciences
400 - Language
500 - Science
600 - Technology
700 - Arts & recreation
800 - Literature
900 - History & geography
This helps you find the books you need on our shelves, with the numbers increasing the higher up you go in the building. Sometimes, the first three numbers have a decimal place after them and another series of numbers. These can be long but indicate extra information about the item's content. Just because a number is longer, it doesn't mean it'll be further along on the shelves. After the numbers, books will sometimes also have letters. These are from the author or editor's last name.
In the image above, '617.102 703 HEB' comes first, then '617.102 707 6 AME' and finally '617.102 708 3 BAR'. This collection of numbers is known as a 'shelfmark' or 'classmark'.
The Library recognises that the Dewey Decimal Classification system is established but controversial. Melvin Dewey created this system and although improved with updates, it shows bias in areas including gender, race and religion. To help create an inclusive and safe environment for all, we modify it with additional custom classification. This lessens the impact of the Dewey Decimal System's flaws and involves putting items in different places than where it says they should go.