Melvil Dewey books in order
American librarian
- Lived
- 1851–1931
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 8
Melvil Dewey published 3 non-fiction books and 5 other books, beginning with A Classification and Subject Index, for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library (1876).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Melvil Dewey
Start here
A Classification and Subject Index, for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library
Melvil Dewey's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Library School Rules (1890)
Simplified Library School Rules (1898)
Dewey Decimal Classification and Relative Index (1952)
Other books in order
Abridged Decimal Classification and Relativ Index for Libraries, Clippings, Notes, Etc (1894)
Decimal Classification and Relative Index for Libraries and Personal Use (1922)
Ddc, Dewey Decimal Classification (1980)
Sistema De Clasificacion Decimal (1980)
About Melvil Dewey
Melville Louis Kossuth "Melvil" Dewey was an American librarian and educator who invented the Dewey Decimal system of library classification. He was a founder of the Lake Placid Club, a chief librarian at Columbia College, founder of what would later become the Columbia University School of Library Service, and a founding member of the American Library Association. Although Dewey's contributions to the modern library are widely recognized, his legacy is marred by his sexual harassment of female colleagues, as well as his racism and antisemitism.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Melvil Dewey FAQ
- How many books has Melvil Dewey written?
- Melvil Dewey published 3 non-fiction books and 5 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Melvil Dewey's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Classification and Subject Index, for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library.
- What is Melvil Dewey's last book?
- Simplified Library School Rules (1898).
- What is Melvil Dewey's most famous book?
- A Classification and Subject Index, for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library (1876) is Melvil Dewey's most widely read book.
- Can I read Melvil Dewey's books for free?
- Yes. 1 book by Melvil Dewey is in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.