[Publib] Dewey Decimal Classification

[Paula Laurita]

R. Balliot Wrote:

 

"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."

 

As a former school librarian this was one of my constant messages to my K-8
students.  That by being familiar with DDC they could walk into the public
library and know where to find things.  I would ask them, "What are you
going to do if the computers are down or they are all busy?"  They knew that
if they were looking for books on Greek mythology to head to the end of the
200 section.  

 

I was the mean person who required all 5th graders to get a public library
card.  They also had a homework assignment about library programs and
resources.  (You can do these things in a Catholic school.)  In 6th grade
they had to get an Alabama Virtual Library card.  As summer library pages
they were often the only ones allowed to shelve books because they KNEW DDC.


 

I'm not just sharing my marvelousness, but thinking of what the impact of
cuts in school library positions and the hyper-focus on Accelerated Reader.
Our school libraries don't have the opportunity to teach students how use a
public library or a college library that uses DDC and find their way around.
Even a library that uses LLC won't be foreign to them.  Students know that
there is a logic to the shelving system.      

 

I spent 2 hours at a big bookstore yesterday and was constantly frustrated
by the organization.  I know, I know, I'm not familiar with the system used.
But, if it's not intuitive to me than I can only imagine the frustration
other customers felt.  

 

 

Paula S.W. Laurita, MLIS
Coordinator of Public Services
Athens-Limestone Public Library
Athens, AL 35611

plaurita at athenslimestone.lib.al.us

We have found that a library is not an end in itself, but a means to many
ends.
Charles E. Rush, 1939 

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