Melvil Dewey
Librarian
Name at birth: Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey
While working as a librarian at Amherst College, Melvil Dewey developed a system of book classification using numbers from 000-999, dividing nonfiction books into 10 broad categories. By the time of his death, the system was being used in over 96% of all American libraries. Dewey helped found the American Library Association and is credited with creating the world's first library science curriculum.
Extra credit: Dewey also founded the Spelling Reform Association and preferred to spell his name Melvil Dui.
Four Good Links
Melvil Dewey
Biographical background from a slick, high-tech Dewey system
Dewey Decimal System
Educational pages that explain the classification system, with a brief bio of Melvil
The Dewey Decimal System
One quick page on how it breaks down
How to Use the Dewey Decimal System
Breaks it down and explains it for students
Vital Stats
Birth
Birthplace
Death
26 December 1931
(Stroke, age 80)
Best Known As
Inventor of the Dewey Decimal Classification System
