[aisle] [EXTERNAL] High School Genrefication Nonfiction

Mon Feb 3 09:26:07 CST 2020

I say go for it! I especially enjoy seeing students more independent with
the collection now.

Fiction and nonfiction is still separate in my library (not interfiled);
however, I do have Sports and Humor sections which include both fiction and
nonfiction - for example, SPORTS includes three shelves of sports
nonfiction (in Dewey order), a couple shelves of sports biographies, and
then several shelves of sports fiction. All other biographies are together,
not in smaller categories. Biography circulates more than any other
nonfiction category. Having a call number prefix for each genre/category
has been useful for analyzing circulation stats.

Our circulation stats have improved dramatically over two years ago (we're
maintaining almost 2x previous years' levels). Around the time we
genre-fied nonfiction, English teachers at the freshman level also
committed to 10 minutes independent reading daily. When students come to
browse the collection, they are more successful at finding the kind of book
they like ... and then come back again for more from that same location.
When I showed a student the mythology section the other day, she gasped and
said, "Oh my gosh. I'm going to live right here for the next several
months."

Here is our current library map
<https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-AQ1f9shBJgqzFrwvSgfp5doJ14NUQbX> which
lists all the genres/categories. Feel free to call me with any questions. I
actually think separating nonfiction into categories and deciding for each
book was easier for me than the fiction section. And I appreciated how it
made me weed what needed to go.

*Amy V. Bland *
Teacher-Librarian, Prairie Ridge High School
Master of Library & Information Science, Dominican University
*PRWolfPrints.com* <http://prwolfprints.com/> News Team Advisor, Speech
Team Assistant Coach
abland at d155.org | @amyvbland | 815.893.5248 | *PRHSlibrary.org
<http://PRHSlibrary.org>*

On Mon, Feb 3, 2020 at 8:35 AM Mrs. Brunner via AISLE <
aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> Yes I completely agree about using Dewey as a starting point.  I went to a
> bookstore and actually took notes on how things are arranged, and then I
> sat down and talked with my kiddos.  Then we developed a labeling system
> and now the kids can go to one area and find the fiction and nonfiction on
> a subject they are interested in.   I have various historical fiction next
> to the corresponding nonfiction about that time period, and all of the
> animals books are together--fiction and nonfiction, and pets and wild
> animals.  I also separated out by individual sport, with fiction and
> nonfiction together, but it is all labeled very clearly as to which one is
> which.  It's worked out very well.
>
>
> Valerie Brunner
> Mt. Zion Jr. High Librarian
> 315 S. Henderson
> Mt. Zion, IL 62549
> 217-864-2369
> brunnerv at mtzschools.org
>
> *"be kind.  everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."*
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 31, 2020 at 2:21 PM Wagoner, Benjamin via AISLE <
> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
>> Thank you Kristine for your input.  Katie, I like your idea of using 3
>> decimal places for non-fiction.  I appreciate everyone taking the time to
>> respond.  It's a big shift for us to wrap our minds through.
>>
>> Ben
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 31, 2020 at 1:47 PM Flaherty, Megan via AISLE <
>> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>
>>> Very good points, Kristine-thank you for sharing! I have organized my
>>> fiction by genre but I am considering re-organizing my non-fiction now too!
>>>
>>> Megan Flaherty
>>>
>>> Library Media Specialist
>>>
>>> Westview Hills Middle School
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> * On Behalf Of *Schauff,
>>> Kristine via AISLE
>>> *Sent:* Friday, January 31, 2020 1:39 PM
>>> *To:* AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators
>>> discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info>
>>> *Cc:* Schauff, Kristine <schauffk at rfhs301.org>
>>> *Subject:* Re: [aisle] [*EXTERNAL*] High School Genrefication Nonfiction
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ok, this was a long time coming for me.  I'm old and I used to argue
>>> strongly that ditching Dewey was so wrong.  I've worked with Dewey in
>>> public libraries and schools (including the GSLIS library at the U of I)
>>> for way too many years to admit.  Guess who's wrong?  Me.  For my community
>>> and patrons--I am now absolutely convinced that knowing pets live in 636
>>> whatever is not a life skill.  There's not a horse, pup or kitty loving
>>> person that knows this-- if there are, I want to give 'em a hug--because
>>> they learned another language just to find their books!  They may know
>>> where their favorites are geographically in the library but NOT the
>>> number.  If the library had a change of layout, they'd be lost.  So, faced
>>> with specific book report (yes, it still happens here) assignments that
>>> encompass many different Dewey numbers (government assignment that examines
>>> how what does government does or not--affects its citizens).  Talk about
>>> ping-ponging around the room.  300s, 900s, 600s, etc.  It is an
>>> intentionally wide scope assignment to allow students to find something
>>> that interests them.  I have pulled books about drugs and the legal
>>> consequences of using them together.  I have alphabetized the countries.
>>> I've added genre terms to the top of call numbers and shortened Dewey.
>>> Sports are all 796 but with the specific sport at the top.  Kids ARE
>>> reading more nonfiction because they can find it (keeping all bios together
>>> means they had to wade through actresses and actors and authors, and
>>> presidents to find their sports figure-- and I weeded like crazy.  In
>>> biography collection, I found books on Holocaust survivors that we don't
>>> know by name-- but we have their story (really bad cataloging--whole other
>>> story).  Another book report for a class.  Finding enough books on
>>> Holocaust survivors for 3 sections of history students... I'm searching for
>>> every title I can find.  Relabeling them to a common location means next
>>> year will be a bigger win.  Having a gold star of David on the shelf--big
>>> tip-off.  Dewey is a genre-based system.  No doubt.  Use it as a starting
>>> place.  I haven't ditched it, but Dewey looks very different.  History
>>> still lives in 900s.  Lit is in 800, etc.  One doesn't have to throw the
>>> baby out with the bathwater-- but you can change some things up.  My system
>>> is so not perfect.  I argue with myself.  Then I talk to my students and
>>> teachers.  They help a lot!  I'm only partially through my collection but
>>> the kids like what they see done so far.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If your community and patrons would not do better with an altered call
>>> number--don't mess with your success!  My folks weren't successful
>>> searching on their own.  I started to pay attention to students who came in
>>> to find a book.  It was not good.  They wandered.  They were frustrated.
>>> So I changed things--after awhile.  If anyone is interested I can share
>>> specifics.  I use a google sheet to keep my Dewey version straight as I
>>> relabel books.  Do what helps your students and teachers use the
>>> collection.
>>>
>>>
>>> *Kristine Schauff,* Media Specialist
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Rock Falls High School
>>>
>>> 101 - 12th Ave.
>>>
>>> Rock Falls, IL 61071
>>>
>>> 815-625-3886 x248
>>>
>>> schauffk at rfhs301.org
>>>
>>> www.rfhs301.org
>>>
>>> sites.google.com/rfhs301.org/rfhslibrary/home
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *I'm reading*:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jan 31, 2020 at 12:27 PM Wagoner, Benjamin via AISLE <
>>> aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>>
>>> We are debating in our district whether or not to genrefy non-fiction.
>>> Has anyone done that?  It does seem to already be genrefied, but it if will
>>> increase circulation, I'm willing to do it.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Ben Wagoner*
>>>
>>> *  LRC Director/Media Specialist *
>>>
>>> *St. Charles North High School*
>>>
>>> *  255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles, IL*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Currently reading: Nyxia by Scott Reintgen *
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> St. Charles CUSD 303 <http://district.d303.org/>
>>>
>>> 331.228.6324
>>>
>>> @DuboftheHub <https://twitter.com/DubOfTheHub>
>>>
>>>
>>> <https://twitter.com/StCharlesD303?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor>
>>> <https://www.facebook.com/St-Charles-District-303-125824210789789/>
>>> <https://www.instagram.com/stcharlesd303/>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> *Ben Wagoner*
>>
>>   LRC Director/Media Specialist
>>
>> St. Charles North High School
>>
>>   255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles, IL
>>
>>
>> Currently reading: Nyxia by Scott Reintgen
>>
>>
>> St. Charles CUSD 303 <http://district.d303.org/>
>>
>> 331.228.6324
>>
>> @DuboftheHub <https://twitter.com/DubOfTheHub>
>>
>>
>> <https://twitter.com/StCharlesD303?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor>
>> <https://www.facebook.com/St-Charles-District-303-125824210789789/>
>> <https://www.instagram.com/stcharlesd303/>
>>
>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
>> _______________________________________________
>> AISLE mailing list
>> AISLE at list.railslibraries.info
>>
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>
> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
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