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Today, December 10, is Dewey Decimal System Day:
https://nationaltoday.com/dewey-decimal-system-day/amp/?fbclid=IwAR3eXDw5SXo0H2ve6nsLOSSnyHgItwVsXb07VNxRZZBOv1KnUpKnWhis_pw
The Dewey Decimal System has had a profound impact on most of our lives, whether we realize it or not. Most public libraries in Canada, as well as in many countries throughout the world, use Dewey Classification to organize at least their non-fiction sections. For kids who cut their teeth on public library resources to help them prepare school projects of progressively greater complexity, I can't help but think that the Dewey classification must have coloured the lens through which they perceived the entirety of the world they lived in.
Many of our school library collections are also organized by Dewey numbers. To help kids orient themselves and make use of the library in a constructive but enjoyable way, there are various books available. Like this one by Brian Cleary:
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/do-you-know-dewey-exploring/9780761366768-item.html?ikwid=dewey&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=13#algoliaQueryId=236abd696eb4c92218e5e04c6424a0c1
So who was Melvil Dewey? His contributions to library science are indisputable but what about the man himself? I learned quite a few new details about him myself in this interview with Alexis O'Neill, author of a recent biopic of him geared to kids in the 7 to 10 age group:
https://www.goodreadswithronna.com/2020/12/10/an-interview-with-alexis-oneill-about-melvil-dewey/
It's interesting to speculate what he would have made of the age of social media.
https://nationaltoday.com/dewey-decimal-system-day/amp/?fbclid=IwAR3eXDw5SXo0H2ve6nsLOSSnyHgItwVsXb07VNxRZZBOv1KnUpKnWhis_pw
The Dewey Decimal System has had a profound impact on most of our lives, whether we realize it or not. Most public libraries in Canada, as well as in many countries throughout the world, use Dewey Classification to organize at least their non-fiction sections. For kids who cut their teeth on public library resources to help them prepare school projects of progressively greater complexity, I can't help but think that the Dewey classification must have coloured the lens through which they perceived the entirety of the world they lived in.
Many of our school library collections are also organized by Dewey numbers. To help kids orient themselves and make use of the library in a constructive but enjoyable way, there are various books available. Like this one by Brian Cleary:
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/do-you-know-dewey-exploring/9780761366768-item.html?ikwid=dewey&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=13#algoliaQueryId=236abd696eb4c92218e5e04c6424a0c1
So who was Melvil Dewey? His contributions to library science are indisputable but what about the man himself? I learned quite a few new details about him myself in this interview with Alexis O'Neill, author of a recent biopic of him geared to kids in the 7 to 10 age group:
https://www.goodreadswithronna.com/2020/12/10/an-interview-with-alexis-oneill-about-melvil-dewey/
It's interesting to speculate what he would have made of the age of social media.
