If you’ve ever watched a fourth grader give up halfway through finding a football book because 796.33 CAT felt like a secret code, you’ve probably asked yourself: Does it have to be this hard?
You’re not alone.
More and more school librarians are considering a switch to whole number Dewey—a simplified version of the traditional Dewey Decimal Classification that replaces decimal points and cutter numbers with whole numbers and subject-based call numbers. That football book becomes 796 Football, and just like that, all your football books live together in harmony.
But before you start re-labeling every spine in sight, let’s slow down and unpack the pros and cons of going full whole-number Dewey. Because like most things in library land, it's not a one-size-fits-all answer.
1. It’s Easier for Kids.
When students are faced with a call number like 796.332 DOR, most freeze. They don’t know what the number means, how to parse it, or why the last bit even matters. Whole numbers and subject-based words—like 796 Football—feel way more intuitive. For many young readers, that translates to more confidence and more independent browsing.
2. Shelving Becomes Simpler.
Let’s be honest: even adults get a little twitchy shelving with Dewey’s decimal precision. Whole numbers reduce the margin for error, and shelving by subject (not sub-sub-subtopic) just feels more natural.
3. Browsing Improves.
Ever had a student ask for a book on animals and get frustrated because the dog books are in 636.7 and the wildlife books are in 599? Whole-number Dewey gives you the flexibility to bring related topics together and build a system that reflects how your students think.
1. You’re Breaking with Tradition.
Dewey is standardized for a reason. It’s used in most public and academic libraries, and part of what we do as school librarians is prepare students for those environments. Moving away from it could mean more re-teaching later.
2. Subjectivity Creeps In.
Once you start customizing call numbers, where do you stop? What counts as “history” vs. “culture”? Is mythology part of fiction or nonfiction? You’ll need a clear, consistent taxonomy—and the time to maintain it.
3. It’s a Heavy Lift (At First).
Reclassifying your collection takes time. Label changes, catalog updates, signage revisions, shelf rearranging—it’s a project. If you’re a solo librarian (been there), you’ll want a realistic timeline and maybe a few student helpers with strong sticker skills.
As someone who loves a good metadata schema, I totally get the appeal of order, precision, and doing things “the right way.” But I’ve also seen the joy on a student’s face when they find exactly the book they were looking for—on their own. If simplifying our systems helps that happen more often, it’s worth considering.
That said, switching to whole number Dewey isn’t just a cataloging decision—it’s a pedagogical one. What do your students need from your library? What’s realistic given your staffing and time? What values guide your collection design?
If your goal is to make your library more accessible, more browsable, and more student-centered, then whole-number Dewey might be the right move for you.