[Publib] Dewey vs Bookstore[Scanned]

[Erik Adams]

I agree that access is the goal of any organizational system. Bookstores
do not need to be as specific in their organization scheme since they
specialize in a scope limited to mass-marketed items. Public libraries
happen to have a wider scope than bookstores. At the guest level it is
easier to find "that one item that was published in 2003" with a Dewey
number than it might be to leaf through a whole section of books at a
bookstore that may not carry that particular title any longer due to
lack of sales/marketing/(fill in the blank reason).
Either way works. Dewey's numerical system saves users' time when there
aren't a bunch of duplicate copies on the shelves (it's tedious to read
every title on a shelf when every title is different). At a bookstore it
saves a user time by running straight to the section where a whole shelf
or two might be dedicated to one book that month. 
They seem to work in their own arenas and swapping models would be
counterproductive to enabling access to the guest. 
 
Erik

-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Thorson
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 1:37 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] Dewey vs Bookstore[Scanned]


I've had this conversation several times recently with several different
people. In my opinion, there really isn't that much difference between
Dewey and Bookstore. They are both assigning categories to materials
that sometimes defy categorization. 
 
Dewey uses spine labels and Bookstore uses shelf labels (usually). Dewey
gets a lot more specific than Bookstore (158.1 vs "self-help"). Both
systems are sometimes baffling to the uninitiated (and often the
bookstore doesn't let you use their computers to look something up - you
have to find an "associate" to do it for you). You can browse either
system, but there is always a possibility that what you want is in
another category.
 
In the end, I don't think it really matters to the patron/customer what
"system" you are using. Can they find what they need? Then you've got a
good system.
 
Elizabeth
 
Elizabeth Cuckow Thorson
Manager, Reference and Technical Services
Laramie County Library System
2800 Central Ave., Cheyenne WY 82001
www.LCLSonline.org, ethorson at LCLSonline.org
307-634-3561 ext. 141
Mon-Thurs 10 am-9 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 1-5 pm
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