Learning Differences

Dewey Pictograms
Reproducible images portraying collections within the Dewey Decimal Classification System, enabling people with disabilities, low literacy skills, etc., to better locate materials in the library’s collection; these can be mounted on bookstacks or special mounts in the collection.

Learning Disabilities Resource Guide
Written and compiled by Leslie Shelton, Ph.D. and the CLLS LD Task Force

"Accommodating Adults with Disabilities in Literacy Programs"
Rebecca Wade

Maximizing Learning Strengths: Practical Approaches
to Learning Difference and Disabilities
An archived webcast taped live on September 23, 2004 presented by Leslie Shelton and Holly Fulghum-Nutters. This is a two-hour program but has been indexed for your viewing convenience. Speaker's powerpoint presentations and other materials are also available for viewing and/or downloading.

Dewey Pictograms

Reproducible images portraying collections within the Dewey Decimal Classification System, enabling people with disabilities, low literacy skills, etc., to better locate materials in the library’s collection; these can be mounted on bookstacks or special mounts in the collection.

Many thanks to OCLC (all copyright rights in the Dewey Decimal Classification System are owned by OCLC; Dewey, Dewey Decimal Classification, DDC, OCLC and WebDewey are registered trademarks of OCLC) and to Oakland (CA) Public Library for making these images freely available.  The resource is a result of a collaboration between the Oakland Public Library and the East Bay Learning Disabilities Association (EastBayl da.org), supported by the California State Library. 

The 88 images were created by Shelby Designs & Illustrates (Oakland, CA) and the work was supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Introduction

Pictograms for the Dewey Decimal System

These pictograms were produced at the Oakland Public Library under a 2003-2004 Library Services and Technology Act grant of the California State Library. All copyright rights in the Dewey Decimal Classification system are owned by OCLC. Dewey, Dewey Decimal Classification, DDC, OCLC and WebDewey are registered trademarks of OCLC.

People with learning disabilities make up 17 to 20% of the general population. The pictograms were created to help library users with learning disabilities navigate the Dewey Decimal System. They are also an excellent example of universal access, as they will help many other users, including those for whom English is not their native language or who are adult learners.

The images were chosen to represent often-requested subject areas. At the Oakland Public Library, all 88 are mounted in the adult area, and fewer were chosen for the teen and children’s areas. They were mounted on the bookshelves, where the call number section starts. They are also at the end of that shelving unit.

They were designed by Oakland graphic arts firm, Shelby Designs & Illustrates.Artwork is © Shelby Designs & Illustrates.

Contact Lynne Cutler, Disability Services Advocate, Oakland Public Library, with any questions.

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