[Publib] No Dewey Decimal Classification?

[Kevin Okelly]

What she said. I think this change will make it more difficult to find 
books.

Kevin O'Kelly
Reference and Cataloging Librarian
Somerville Public Library
79 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143
(617)-623-5000


-----Original Message-----
From: "Melissa K. Davidson" <DavidsonMK at ci.staunton.va.us>
To: <publib at webjunction.org>
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 14:53:40 -0500
Subject: [Publib] No Dewey Decimal Classification?

> I have read and heard about this, but not enough I guess because I
> don't
> understand how one would locate books on the shelf. With Dewey or LC it
> is fairly easy to look up a title and locate it exactly on the shelf,
> or
> tell a patron where it is. With categories how else are they shelved?
> If
> I am looking for a specific book on dogs it is not that helpful to say
> 'here are the animal books, it should be here somewhere'
> 
> Can anybody shed some light on this for me?
> 
> Melissa Davidson
> Adult Services Librarian
> Staunton Public Library
> 1 Churchville Ave.
> Staunton, VA 24401
> 540.332.3902
> www.stauntonlibrary.org
> <http://www.staunton.va.us/default.asp?pageid=48BD7E6B-787C-49EE-A7C1-8
> D
> D714653A32> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Jesse Ephraim
> Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 12:55 PM
> To: publib at webjunction.org
> Subject: Re: [Publib] Dewey Decimal Classification
> 
> >Now we have one who says many libraries are 
> >doing away with the DDC and she thinks it is a 
> >waste of money for us to continue using that system. 
> >Question - how many of you have done away with the 
> >DDC and what are you doing instead?
> 
> We are partway through the process of doing away with it.
> 
> Our new system moves away from having numbers as the main designators,
> in favor of more human-readable words (or shortened versions of words).
> We are combining that with better signage, clear separation of series
> with multiple authors, groupings that make more sense to the patrons,
> and more.  For example, all the children's Star Wars stuff - fiction or
> non-fiction - goes in the same general area now.
> 
> Having said that, I have to stress that we are a small library (26,000
> people in town) with no physical branches.  We are not suggesting that
> all libraries move away from Dewey, or even most of them.   It would be
> a very difficult feat - and not necessarily a wise one - for larger
> libraries to do something like that.
> 
> Our decision was based on the specific needs of our populace.  Our
> situation is very different from that of most libraries, so our
> approach
> to library services differs a bit.  For example, we are in an upscale
> outdoors shopping mall in a wealthy suburb in easy walking distance of
> a
> large Barnes & Noble.  Our demographics are pretty unusual, and the
> needs of our patrons are somewhat unique.   We decided to move away
> from
> Dewey due to a number of factors that probably would not be found in
> most places.
> 
> 
> Jesse Ephraim
> 
> Youth Services Librarian
> Southlake Public Library
> 1400 Main St., Ste. 130
> Southlake, TX  76092
> 
> Email:   jephraim at ci.southlake.tx.us
> Phone: (817) 748-8248
> FAX:    (817) 748-8250
> www.southlakelibrary.org
> uncommonly friendly service
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Publib mailing list
> Publib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
>