[Publib] labeling books

[Jeffie Nicholson]

The Childrens Department staff has drafted the following request:
 
"We are considering attaching ready-made labels to our juvenile fiction
collection to specify its grade (or reading) level, and also using the
picture-labels available in library supply catalogs to designate books
in the following categories: mysteries, historical fiction, classics,
science fiction, and sports.  We are thinking of doing this because many
patrons come in asking what the grade/reading level of such-and-such a
book is, and where the mysteries, historical fiction, etc. books are
located.  Since we don't separate out books by genre or type, we thought
labels would help.  Also, many of our patrons are in a hurry pretty
often, and appear to appreciate any arrangement that shortens their
search-time for the type and level of book their child needs.  The level
labels, ranging from 1 to 6, would be quick and easy to apply; we would
use as our primary reading level arbiter the website www.renlearn.com (
http://www.renlearn.com/ ), which gives reading/grade levels for a
vast database of books, mostly titles on the Accelerated Reader lists
but other titles as well.  Levels can be located quickly and easily on
this site merely by typing in the book title.
 
There are drawbacks.  We currently have subject bibliographies for the
most asked-for genres already; while it would save some wear and tear on
the staff helping parents locate the books, it could cut down on
browsing, which is so rewarding for readers of all ages; and there is,
of course, some expense involved, though not a great deal.  While we are
pretty convinced the pros outweigh the cons--the genre labels alone
would be an enormous help, and patrons wouldn't have to use the printed
bibliographies so much when they're rushed--we would like to know how
other public library children's departments have approached this type of
labeling."
 
Our library has a history of not labeling anything other than new books
and of not having small collections within collections.  We are part of
a system, the main library, so this most likely will affect the branches
too.  Are there any other library systems that do label their juvenile
collections (grade 1-6)?  What have you found to be the pros and cons. 
As a manager, I worry about maintaining the labeling, consistancy,
positive and negative effects on readers (how does a person feel if in
6th grade but reading a book labeled for 4th grade?)...   Why not direct
the patron to the web site listed to use at their convenience?   How
about loss of opportunity to interact with a patron?  Is this expected
to happen in the YA dept too?  
 
Thank you for any input.  
 
 
 
 
Jeffie R. Nicholson
Main Library Coordinator
Reference Department
1314 Columbia Avenue
Williamson County Public Library
Franklin, TN 37064
jnicholson at williamson-tn.org 
reference: (615) 595-1243
office: (615) 595-1269
fax: (615) 595-1245

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.
- Albert Einstein 
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