Atomic Library Numbers

The circulation card in this old discarded copy informs me that the author's initials expand to "Edward Estlin" which none of the paratext shows in this 1965 Harvest Book edition of a selection from the poetry of e.e. cummings.

In addition the card shows due dates ranging from the late 70s to the early 80s and is graced by a Dewey Decimal in the corner.

811.52

The table below shows a family resemblance between library classification and the atomic numbers from the periodic table of elements.

It might now a days be called Melvil.

Melvil stands for "Melvil Decimal System," named after Melvil Dewey, the famous librarian. Melvil Dewey invented his Dewey Decimal System in 1876, and early versions of his system are in the public domain.

More recent editions of his system are in copyright, and the name "Dewey," "Dewey Decimal," "Dewey Decimal Classification" and "DDC" are registered trademarked by OCLC, who publish periodic revisions.

On the OCLC

OCLC is a global library cooperative that provides shared technology services, original research and community programs for its membership and the library community at large. We are librarians, technologists, researchers, pioneers, leaders and learners. With thousands of library members in more than 100 countries, we come together as OCLC to make information more accessible and more useful.

The OCLC (Online Computer Library Cente) operates WorldCat which I am sure e.e. cummings and his ilk would have purr fun with.

And so for day 1363
06.09.2010