"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.

 

1086 books out of 1335 items checked out at 17:00, 02.25.2026

[1335] Total items checked out [0365] Dewey (non-fiction) Books [0721] Non-Dewey (fiction) Books
[1086] Total Books [0172] Media (dvd, cd, etc.) [0012] 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


  42   [641] Food + drink
  33   [741] Drawing + drawings
  13   [914] Europe
  13   [595] Other invertebrates
  11   [567] Fossil cold-blooded vertebrates
  11   [915] Asia
  10   [796] Athletic + outdoor sports + games
  9   [629] Other branches of engineering
  7   [746] Textile arts
  7   [616] Diseases
  7   [398] Folklore
  5   [612] Human physiology
  5   [794] Indoor games of skill
  5   [158] Applied psychology
  5   [658] General management
  5   [306] Culture + institutions
  5   [613] Promotion of health
  5   [364] Criminology
  4   [791] Public performances
  4   [994] General history of other areas Australia

Hourly Histogram of Circulation Activities

View a Previous Date | 02.21 | 02.22 | 02.23 | 02.24 | 02.25 | 02.26 | 02.27 | 02.28 | 03.01 |

George Legrady, with Andreas Schlegel and August Black. This active webpage has been operational since October 2005