Re: [LM_NET] Dewey Decimal System-baseball example

[sarah <sarah.ludwig@GMAIL.COM>]

I don't have an easy answer for that (I'm still very much processing
this idea), but I'll try to respond. Right now, books on baseball are
scattered all throughout the library. I know that my students are not
savvy enough to find all of them on their own. When I observe them, I
usually see them find one call number and grab it and then look around
on that shelf a little. They are certainly not thinking: "hmmmm, maybe
I should try checking the economics section to see if there are any
books on the economics of baseball." They want it to be simple: all
the baseball books are together.

The library will have to make decisions about books with more than one
subject--baseball and economics, in this example. I'm not sure how
those decisions will get made, but they're already made by *someone*,
so I don't think it's an impossible task.

Sarah

On 5/31/07, nkellner@charter.net <nkellner@charter.net> wrote:
> Devil's advocate here:
>
> But what about poetry books about baseball? Fiction? Biographies? Easy
> Readers? Does putting them all together make life easier for the patron or
> harder?
>
> Just my 2 cents.
> Nancy Kellner
> Library Teacher
> Peaslee School Library
> Northborough, MA
>
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: sarah sarah.ludwig@GMAIL.COM
> Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 12:40:28 -0400
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: Dewey Decimal System eliminated in new Arizona library.
>
>
> 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.
>
> On 5/31/07, Young, Jennifer <jyoung@norton.k12.ma.us> wrote:
> > If you can count and know your ABCs, you can use a Dewey number to
> > locate a book.  The idea that Americans aren't smart enough to do this
> > is troubling.  We already have signs indicating general topics (and
> > Dewey #s).  I'm looking at 700 The Arts right now.  Libraries can
> > certainly update their signage to make it more appealing, and possibly
> > more helpful, but the idea of throwing away one classification system
> > and replacing it with a less precise system is ridiculous.
> >
> > Jennifer Young
> > Library Media Specialist
> > Norton High School
> > 66 West Main Street
> > Norton, MA 02766
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: School Library Media & Network Communications
> > [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Shonda Brisco
> > Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:21 AM
> > To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> > Subject: Re: Dewey Decimal System eliminated in new Arizona library.
> >
> > The article suggests that this type of system (the DDC) is hard for
> > someone to remember.  Excuse me, but I've taught blind children how to
> > write down a call number and locate a braille book on the shelves at a
> > library serving blind and visually impaired children.  At NO point did
> > these children "remember" the call number but instead, learned how to
> > locate information, take notes, and then physically locate the books
> > based upon their location (address) on the shelves.
> >
> > The same is true with sighted (or any) children.  We don't teach
> > children to remember the DDC, we teach them to take notes, to use
> > those notes (the call number) to physically locate the book on the
> > shelves.  If they recall specific areas or call numbers, it's
> > generally because the SUBJECT is of interest to them and the areas
> > (call numbers) are consistent, regardless of which library they use!!
> > That's part of the beauty of the DDC or the LC--- the consistency of
> > the location based upon the SAME information which is shared between
> > libraries.  (Try locating a book in Barnes & Noble, then in Borders,
> > and then at "Ye Local Bookstore of Olde" ...good luck finding the same
> > titles in the same "subject areas" based upon the WHIMS of those who
> > are in charge of the bookstore!)
> >
> > I personally do not remember how to drive to San Antonio each time we
> > have an ALA or TLA meeting there; however, I do have the skills
> > necessary to locate the information, take notes, follow those
> > instructions, and locate the meeting address.  The beauty of this
> > procedure....I always find the location based upon the consistency of
> > the road map!!
> >
> > This is part of being information literate....and if we continue to
> > spoon feed individuals (adults or otherwise) rather than require them
> > to seek information in a manner that shows some information literacy /
> > intellectual growth (or at least two grey cells rubbing together to
> > spark an idea), then we are definitely leading the poor dumb
> > sheep....off the cliff and into the abyss.
> >
> > Just another opinion....
> >
> > ~Shonda
> >
> > On 5/30/07, Barbara Allen <BSAllen@aol.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > This may be of  interest:
> > >
> > _http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0530nodewey0530
> > .html_
> > >
> > (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0530nodewey0530
> > .html)
> > > OMG!
> > > Barbara  Allen
> > > Technical Coordinator
> > > Library Services
> > > Tucson Unified School  District
> > > Tucson, AZ
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ************************************** See what's free at
> > http://www.aol.com.
> > >
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> > --
> > Shonda Brisco, MLIS
> > Library Media / Technology Specialist
> > Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
> > http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
> > http://shonda.edublogs.org/
> > sbrisco@gmail.com
> >
> > "Digital Resources" columnist
> > School Library Journal
> >
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