[aisle] [EXTERNAL] High School Genrefication Nonfiction

Mon Feb 3 10:05:22 CST 2020

I am in complete agreement with Amy!! I have had a similar experience:
After I "genrefied" my collection, my circulation stats
escalated dramatically.  Students loved it.

Like Amy, I have my "Sports" section with fiction selections and nonfiction
together, the nonfiction by Dewey.  Ditto for my "Horror and Suspense"
section.

While organizing a library by genre is challenging in some ways, the
benefits for patrons are worth the effort.  I use Copy Categories in
Destiny and Sublocations to designate genres, and I populated them with by
making Resource Lists.  I have a relatively small collection and we made
the switch during a library renovation, so it wasn't too bad.  Titlewave
makes it super easy to put new books in the correct genre for your
collection as well.

*Mrs. Karen Kruckenberg, MS Ed. TS, **LIS Endorsed*
Harvard High School Library Media Center Director
NHS Co-Advisor
815-943-6461 Ext. 2299
https://harcohilmc.weebly.com/
*"**The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined
effort of each individual." ~Vince Lombardi*
*“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit
me.” **― C.S. Lewis*

On Mon, Feb 3, 2020 at 9:26 AM Amy V. Bland via AISLE <
aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> 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>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>> <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
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>>
>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
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> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
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[aisle] [*EXTERNAL*] High School Genrefication Nonfiction

[aisle] [EXTERNAL] High School Genrefication Nonfiction