Guide to Dewey Decimal Classification
The books in the library are arranged on the shelves using a system known as Dewey Decimal Classification. This system allows books to be shelved in subject order and ensures that books of a similar subject will be located around the same location. This will allow you to discover other books on your topic when you go to find a specific book you've been asked to read.
Have you ever wondered why some numbers on the books are so long? It is because the longer the number is the more specific the subject gets. For example:
| General Nursing | 610.73 |
| Community and District Nursing | 610.7343 |
In the Main library, or James Hardiman Library, the collection is spread over three floors. On the podium or ground floor level you'll find the Law collection. On the first floor you'll find Arts and Humanities material as well as Business. On the second floor, you'll find material relating to Science and Engineering, including Computing and Health Sciences. Each of the floor plans indicates where particular Dewey numbers will be found.
Towards the back of the Law area across a bridge a new extension houses the Nursing and Midwifery Library and the Nursing and Midwifery collection. In the Clinical Sciences Institute at University College Hospital Galway, you'll find the housing books relating to Medical Science.
Within each of these areas of the Library, the books are shelved by classification number. The classification number (also called the class number or shelf number) appears on a label on the side of the book. It is made up of the Dewey number and the first three letters of the author's last name.
Books are placed on the shelf in increasing numerical order of the Dewey number. When two books have the same Dewey number they are arranged in alphabetical order of the 3 letters from the author's name. The ends of each row of shelves is numbered to make it easier to find the books you need.
The Library Catalogue will tell you the exact Dewey number of each book. By clicking on the Dewey number a floor plan will be displayed showing you where in the Library to find books at this number.
000 Generalities
004 Data processing & computer science
005 Computer programming, programs & data
020 Library & information sciences
032 Encyclopedias in English
033 Encyclopedias in other Germanic languages
034 Encyclopedias in French, Occitan & Catalan
035 Encyclopedias in Italian, Romanian & related languages
036 Encyclopedias in Spanish & Portuguese
070 News media, journalism & publishing
100 Philosophy & psychology
110 Metaphysics
130 Parapsychology & occultism
150 Psychology
160 Logic
170 Ethics
190 Modern western philosophy
200 Religion
201 Religious mythology general classes of religion, interreligious relations and attitudes, social theology
220 Bible
300 Social sciences
301 Sociology & anthropology
310 General statistics
320 Political science
330 Economics
340 Law
350 Public administration
360 Social services; association
370 Education
390 Customs, etiquette, folklore
400 Language
410 Linguistics
411 Writing systems
412 Etymology
413 Dictionaries
414 Phonology
420 English & Old English
430 Germanic languages; German
440 Romance languages; French
450 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic
460 Spanish & Portuguese languages
500 Natural Sciences & Mathematics
510 Mathematics
530 Physics
540 Chemistry & allied sciences
550 Earth sciences
570 Life sciences
580 Plants
590 Zoological sciences/Animals
600 Technology (Applied sciences)
610 Medical sciences; Medicine
611 Human anatomy, cytology, histology
612 Human physiology
613 Promotion of health
614 Incidence & prevention of disease
615 Pharmacology & therapeutics
616 Diseases
617 Surgery & related medical specialties
618 Gynecology & other medical specialties
619 Experimental medicine
620 Engineering & Applied operations
630 Agriculture
650 Management & auxiliary services
660 Chemical engineering
690 Buildings
700 The Arts
710 Civic & landscape art
720 Architecture
750 Painting & paintings
770 Photography & photographs
800 Literature & Rhetoric
810 American literature in English
820 English & Old English literatures
830 Literatures of Germanic languages
840 Literatures of Romance languages
850 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic
860 Spanish & Portuguese literatures
890 Literatures of other languages
900 Geography & History
909 World history
910 Geography & travel
920 Biography, genealogy, insignia
930 History of ancient world
940 General history of Europe
941 General history of Europe; British Isles
942 General history of Europe; England & Wales
943 General history of Europe; Central Europe; Germany
944 General history of Europe; France & Monaco
945 General history of Europe; Italian Peninsula & adjacent islands
946 General history of Europe; Iberian Peninsula & adjacent islands
947 General history of Europe; Eastern Europe; Soviet Union
948 General history of Europe; Northern Europe; Scandinavia
949 General history of Europe; Other parts of Europe
950 General history of Asia; Far East
960 General history of Africa
970 General history of North America
980 General history of South America
