[Publib] RE: Good-bye to Dewey

[Jeff Scott]

I would agree with Karen on this. It's not like Maricopa is completely
losing Dewey, it is an experiment. In the end, you will have an idea on
how receptive people are to the idea and it will be a tool for the
future. The merging of an extreme and the status quo will provide a
great example for other libraries to follow. A bigger library like
Maricopa County should be experimenting this way so that other libraries
can learn from them. I remember when Chandler library went with no
service desks at the Basha branch. After six months, they brought them
back, but it provided a great experiment for many libraries who are
implementing roving reference. 



Jeff Scott
Library Manager
Casa Grande Public Library
449 N. Dry Lake
Casa Grande, AZ, 85222
(520) 421-8710 ext. 5110
jscott at ci.casa-grande.az.us
http://www.ci.casa-grande.az.us

>>> "K.G. Schneider" <kgs at bluehighways.com> 6/1/2007 11:57 AM >>>
> relatively small percentage of the library user population.  If Dewey
was
> so obstructive to accessing materials, it would have been superceded
by
> some other method long ago.  

I heard a talk this morning by Bob Stein of the Institute for the
Future
of the Book where he said it was another 70 years after the invention
of
the printing press before someone thought of using page numbers in
books. 

I can come up with other examples, but my point is that just because
something hasn't been thought of or invented doesn't mean there isn't
a
need, or that it can't improve things. 

The real test will not be what we conjecture on this list, but how
this
and other examples of post-Dewey organization measure up. Even at that
(and I mean no disrespect for Maricopa) if they implemented the change
less than optimally, or if there are other confounding factors, ONE
example does not equal that the idea is not sound. 

Frankly, we should be rooting for this to work. Wouldn't it be great
if
we found something that improved library services and might even be
easier for us to teach and learn ourselves? Ok, it's Friday, so I can
answer my own question: of course it would be! Think of life before
auto
cupholders, or pantyhose, or the food processor! 

Incidentally, I am at a conference and Sara is no doubt busy herself,
but as far as I know there have not been any examples of name-calling
in
this thread (though I did feel some of the posts were somewhat harsh
to
the Maricopa system... jeepers, people, they didn't introduce Satan
worship at children's storytime, they're trying a Dewey alternative in
ONE library that's a NEW facility). However, if anyone received
messages
they feel are off-base, they are welcome to contact me and/or Sara.
(Simply disagreeing on the issue does not constitute name-calling or
rudeness.)

Karen / PUBLIB 
Half of the official PUBLIB gripe-gathering team

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