The main difference between Library of Congress System and Dewey Decimal System is that Library of Congress System has 21 classes, allowing for more call numbers, but Dewey Decimal System only has 10 classes, allowing only a limited number of call numbers.

Dewey Decimal Classification, also called Dewey Decimal System, system for organizing the contents of a library based on the division of all knowledge into 10 groups, with each group assigned 100 numbers.

The Dewey Decimal Classification System is the most widely used method for classifying books in the library. This system is a general knowledge organization tool that is continuously revised to keep pace with knowledge. It is named after Melvil Dewey, an American Librarian who developed it in 1876.

Reading a Dewey Decimal Call Number

1. Books are arranged sequentially. The first number of a Dewey Decimal call number indicates the general class the call number falls within.
2. Numbers following the first 3 numbers. The numbers define the subject of the book.
3. The Cutter Number is the next set of numbers.

In a new book, the Library of Congress information is often printed in the front of the book. This is the first place to start. The suggested Dewey number will be at the end of the listing and will be a 3 digit number, possibly followed by a decimal and further digits.

Library classification assists the librarian to make available the requisite book to the reader in the shortest possible time. The purpose of any library classification scheme is to allow libraries to arrange the documents in a sequence that will be of immense help to the readers.

Libraries in the United States generally use either the Library of Congress Classification System (LC) or the Dewey Decimal Classification System to organize their books. Most academic libraries use LC, and most public libraries and K-12 school libraries use Dewey.

What are the main book genres?

• Fantasy.
• Sci-Fi.
• Mystery.
• Thriller.
• Romance.
• Westerns.
• Dystopian.
• Contemporary.

Fiction is shelved alphabetically by the author’s full last name. If there are multiple books by the same last name, then the books should be shelved then in alphabetical order of the author’s first name.

Dewey Decimal System

Fundamental and derived units are the two classifications of system of units.