I have been watching this topic with interest for some time now. I am a big Dewey
supporter but not because I believe that Dewey is the end all be all. I just hate
reinventing the wheel. After over 30 years of work as a school library media
specialist I know how long it can take to make the most minor changes in
cataloging. My high school library has been working for over 5 years to change
from Cutter author numbers to three author letter designations. We are not close
to finished and the time spent making such changes takes time away from students.
I am not sure, however, that there is a real problem. Dewey numbers can be a
mystery to patrons but there is really no need for them to be. Dewey numbers
organize materials by topic. We just need to provide signage that puts that
information into English. Patrons wishing to browse by topic should be able to
find it by Dewey using the catalog or by topic within the stacks by following the
signage posted. 398 or a sign designating "Folklore and Fairytales" should guide
the patron to the same place. No big deal.
For some reason there seems to be some resistance to using signage to help patrons
in some libraries. Part of that may simply be that librarians are comfortable with
the Dewey system and just forget that Dewey numbers are not always user friendly.
Another problem is space. Libraries have stacks, not because it is the ideal way
to display books but because they allow the storage of many more items within a
limited area. My grade school library is currently forced to store as many as
75-85 items on nearly every shelf. (Thank heaven elementary books are thin!) There
is no place for displays within our stacks and very little anywhere else. Even
finding places for signage is a problem. If I had unlimited space I would spread
the collection out, use shelves to display signage and display more books front
cover out to attract browsers to their favorite subjects. I would continue to use
the Dewey Decimal System to organize the collection, however. It works.
May be we should talk about an Enhance Dewey Decimal System...libraries organized
by Dewey with extensive signage by topics in the stacks. Wow what a brave NEW
concept! ;^)
Paula Bainter
Ellsworth High School/Grade School
Ellsworth, Kansas
Want good things to happen?
Do good things.
"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities."
-Pogo
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