[Publib] Re: Mixing genres with regular fiction

[Andy Barnett]

We have taken a slightly different approach. We have maintained our SF, 
Mystery and Western collections, but recently added display shelving for 
the new fiction books in fourteen categories.

Rental
New Fiction
Mysteries
Thriller & Crime
Suspense
Chick Lit
Romance
Historical Fiction
Christian Fiction
Family Stories
International Authors
Science Fiction
Adult Graphic Novels (YA and Children's collections located elsewhere)
Literature (great books and Great Books)

This will amount to 15-20% of our fiction collection (the newest items) in 
displays. These collections maximize patron browsing, while serving as 
gateways to the large blocks of books that are the fiction stacks. Patrons 
can identify new authors in their favorite genres, catch the newest titles 
by the authors they like best and benefit from display style shelving. 
Titles age out of the displays and go to the fiction stacks, except for the 
graphic novels, which would just be lost there.

It is clear that most patrons don't use the catalog to find fiction, 
especially if they are looking for something new. If we are serious about 
helping readers, we need to do more of what we know works. To start with, 
that means displays - not just a shelf or two, but LOTS of displays. Is it 
more work for our staff? Of course, but so what. Helping the reader is what 
we do for a living. Our new titles are our most valuable resource and they 
have declining usage as they age. They are far too valuable to jumble 
together. They should get special treatment and promotion, as any retailer 
would do.

Cataloging note: Yes, each display is its own collection. New suspense 
titles show up as Display - Suspense in the catalog. Each display 
collection has a separate label, collection code, sign and unit.

Time to stop this before it becomes a manifesto or article. But yes, we 
also have Non-Fiction display collections and we are planning them for the 
Children's collection after the area gets remodeled.


Andy Barnett, Asst. Director				www.mcmillanlibrary.org
McMillan Memorial Library
490 East Grand Ave.						715-423-5144 (phone)
Wisconsin Rapids, WI  54494					715-423-2665 (fax)
	
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
      -  Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929 - 1968