[aisle] [*EXTERNAL*] High School Genrefication Nonfiction

[Schauff, Kristine]

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
>
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