A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library
by Melvil Dewey
- First published
- 1876
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library" by Melvil Dewey is a library classification system published in 1876. This revolutionary 44-page pamphlet introduced a decimal-based method for organizing books by subject rather than acquisition order. The system uses three-digit numbers with fractional decimals, allowing books to be shelved in relation to similar topics. What began as a modest guide has expanded through 23 editions and now serves 200,000 libraries across 135 countries, fundamentally transforming how libraries organize knowledge.
- Classification, Dewey decimal
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #12513. A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library on Wikipedia.