Re: [LM_NET] Dewey Decimal System eliminated in new Arizona library

[Lyn Grund <lcgrund@GMAIL.COM>]

>
> I think I am in the minority. I love this idea and I've been trying to
> think of a way to incorporate a similar system into my library. Sure,
> there will be kinks to work out, but I don't think there is any real
> need for the specificity that Dewey provides. Why not put all the
> books on baseball in one place, no matter what the *specific* topic
> (individual players vs. how-tos vs. the economics of the game, etc.),
> and then arrange by author? Then let users tag the books for extra
> access points. And have helpful librarians on hand to point users in
> the right direction. It makes sense to me.



How about the idea of consistency in the way we find materials in libraries?
Especially at the high school level, this idea frightens me. How are we
preparing our students for college libraries? Every library has its
variations but in general if you understand the big picture and the general
concepts you can feel comfortable in any library. I have encouraged our K-3
libraries to be as library-like as possible to lay the groundwork for
students as they move through our system. They have some special
collections, i.e. Dr. Seuss, that are shelved together and that varies from
school to school, but that is the exception, not the rule.

I always tell my students that they don't have to understand anything about
Dewey in order to find a book, they just have to understand numerical order.
With our OPAC, they can print out their search results so there's no more of
that scrabbling on little pieces of paper to try to remember the Call #.
Plus they have all their bibliographic information on that sheet too.

Lyn Grund, Librarian
Middlesex High School
MIddlesex, NJ
lcgrund@gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------