[Publib] Dewey Decimal Classification

[Nann Blaine Hilyard]

WorldCat approaches that - given that the subset is "bibliographic records contributed by OCLC member libraries," which number 69,840 (according to the OCLC annual report, which I received yesterday).  It lists the owning libraries and how far they are from where you are (or from whatever zip code you enter).

Nann
@the library in Zion, Illinois


From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Robert Balliot
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 1:49 PM
To: Melissa Rice; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] Dewey Decimal Classification


I like the idea of one really big catalog where you find all of the library books in the world. And, everyone uses the same classification scheme but locally employ meta-data to differentiate their holdings.

I like the idea that a child who attends public school can learn how to use their school library and that knowledge will transfer forward to public libraries, colleges, and Universities and back to public libraries.

Is there a cost savings with a system like that?  Does it generate intellectual wealth?

R. Balliot
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/library-marketing.html


On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 2:09 PM, Melissa Rice <mrice at frankfortlibrary.org<mailto:mrice at frankfortlibrary.org>> wrote:
Hello,

We are in the process of our Dewey Free Project, which began June 2008.  We are going Dewey Free not because we believe that it's "cheaper", but we believe that it's more user-friendly. Going Dewey-Free allows us to completely reorganize and relocate collections.  A great example is our new Home (interior design, repair, remodeling, etc.) Collection which combines 4 Dewey call number ranges: 640-640.73, 643-646.48, 690 - 698.9, and 747s.  Like Topeka - Shawnee PL, we've put Language and Travel together.

I don't believe that Dewey is wrong and BISAC is right.  We've taken liberties with BISAC (like many of us have done with Dewey) and looked at OUR collection and how to describe and organize what we own and purchase for our patrons.  We're developing our taxonomies by thinking about how people ask us for materials - what terms they use - and how we can make the bookstore model better.

This isn't a simple task and we're only 30% complete.  We hope to finish by June 2009 - just in time for Summer Reading.  This fall, Youth Services will begin their transformation.

Melissa

--
Melissa Rice
Head of Adult Services
Frankfort Public Library District
21119 Pfeiffer Road
Frankfort, IL  60423
815.469.2423
www.frankfortlibrary.org<http://www.frankfortlibrary.org/>
deweyfree.com<http://deweyfree.com/>




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