I understand that WebDewey is updated quarterly.  How can I find out what is in the current release of WebDewey? 

Right after you log on to WebDewey, you see a "welcome" screen.  There is a link on the right side of this screen to "WebDewey News."  The WebDewey News page provides information not only about the most recent changes to the WebDewey database and interface, but also describes any known problems with the service.  WebDewey News is also accessible throughout your WebDewey session via the navigation bar on the left side of the screen: under General, choose News, Search News, then search "WebDewey" in the title field of the news item. 

Currently, WebDewey News includes important information about a significant known problem with the service.  In the WebDewey database, the record for 823.914, English fiction-1945-1999, is currently unavailable.  If this number appears in a search results display or in a hierarchy, clicking on it will result in a blank screen.  If by chance you search a term that is completely unique to the record for 823.914 (which means that WebDewey takes you directly to the record, rather than listing just one search result), a blank screen will also display.  We are making every effort to resolve this problem. 

Also in the WebDewey database, the record for the number 813.54, American fiction-1945-1999, has 1,576 mapped LCSH associated with it.  Displaying this amount of data on one web page creates problems for our system as it is currently configured.  As a temporary solution, we have truncated the list of terms at 700; however, please be advised that it can take 4 minutes or more for this record to appear in your browser window.  While it is loading, you may not see an hourglass icon or a spinning globe to indicate that the process is underway.  We will be posting a link to the complete list of terms on this page in the near future.  Please refer to this list as we continue to develop a long-term solution to this problem. 

If you have a very slow Internet connection, you may have to wait for approximately two minutes for the WebDewey record to load for the number 929.20973, Family histories-United States.  This number also has a large number of mapped LCSH.  Once the page loads, all terms do display. 

Obviously, this information is useful when you see the Dewey numbers mentioned above listed in your Search Results or in a hierarchy, because it lets you know that you will have a long wait for the corresponding WebDewey records to display.  However, if by chance you search a term that is completely unique to one of those records (which means that WebDewey takes you directly to the record, rather than listing just one search result), the same long wait will occur. 

We are making every effort to address this problem and will keep you informed of its status through WebDewey News and the Dewey web site.  Thank you for your patience. 

Last revised: 31 January 2004