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How to Put Dewey Decimal Numbers on Books

If you have a personal library of books that ranges in the hundreds or even thousands, you may have a hard time keeping them organized. One way is to use the Dewey Decimal System that the libraries use. One advantage of this system is that the numbers for the books are already inside on the copyright's page, which keeps you from having to come up with your own organization system.

Things You'll Need

Labels
Clear tape

Instructions

- 1
  Separate fiction books from nonfiction books. Group the fiction books into one pile and the nonfiction books into another pile.
- 2
  Start working with the nonfiction books. Browse the first pages until you see the copyright page for the book. Read the page until you find the book's Dewey decimal. Examples of Dewey decimals that can be found on nonfiction books are 303.6, 303.9 or 305.7. Design a labeling scheme for books without copyright information or a Dewey decimal number.
- 3
  Take note of the book's Dewey decimal number. Find the author of book and attach the first letter of his last name to the Dewey decimal number. For example, if the book's Dewey decimal number is 305.7, and the author's last name is Wood, then the label will look like this: 305.7 W. Write this Dewey decimal number on a labeling sticker.
- 4
  Stick the label on the spine of the book, and cover it with a clear tape so that it will not peel off. If the book's spine is very thin, you may stick the label at the bottom left corner of the front cover.
- 5
  Go through the fiction books. Write down the author's last name on a labeling sticker and attach it to the spine or the front cover of the book. Cover it with clear tape so that it will not peel off.
- 6
  Organize the books on the shelf alphabetically or numerically for the nonfiction books.

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