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Creating Your Visuals
Creating Your Visuals
Labeling is so important because while we want our libraries to look neat, tidy, and organized (even if the shelves are chaotic), more importantly your students need to make the connection between the image/label and the type of books in that category. Also, once you start labeling, you really won't want to switch to a different label...that takes a ton of time!
Labeling is so important because while we want our libraries to look neat, tidy, and organized (even if the shelves are chaotic), more importantly your students need to make the connection between the image/label and the type of books in that category. Also, once you start labeling, you really won't want to switch to a different label...that takes a ton of time!
One other note, my first library I genrefied after the collection was built, so spine labels and genre labels were all over the place (see below left) and it totally worked for my students. However, I learned quickly that it was important to actually teach the students where to put the genre labels. While the chaos worked for the students, it didn't for me. We did have to go back and redo a lot of labels in order to fix placement. My high school library, I was able to open the building and build a genrefied collection from the start, so my perfectionist self LOVES how uniform they look (see below right). If you can't handle labels in different locations, you may want to consider standardizing your spine label location so your genre labels are also standardized!
One other note, my first library I genrefied after the collection was built, so spine labels and genre labels were all over the place (see below left) and it totally worked for my students. However, I learned quickly that it was important to actually teach the students where to put the genre labels. While the chaos worked for the students, it didn't for me. We did have to go back and redo a lot of labels in order to fix placement. My high school library, I was able to open the building and build a genrefied collection from the start, so my perfectionist self LOVES how uniform they look (see below right). If you can't handle labels in different locations, you may want to consider standardizing your spine label location so your genre labels are also standardized!
So...do you see the colored stars in the image on the left above? That is how I subcategorized for JH.
So...do you see the colored stars in the image on the left above? That is how I subcategorized for JH.
Because I like clean lines and a more uniform look, I ended up using the transparent colored labels from Demco for subcategories in my high school (see image to the right). Students also see the large simple subcategory signage (taped onto plastic or cardboard magazine holders) and easily locate the subject they're looking for. Don't these shelves look amazing!!!
Because I like clean lines and a more uniform look, I ended up using the transparent colored labels from Demco for subcategories in my high school (see image to the right). Students also see the large simple subcategory signage (taped onto plastic or cardboard magazine holders) and easily locate the subject they're looking for. Don't these shelves look amazing!!!
In the JH library, I started by weeding and labeling all the fiction books leaving them on the shelf where they were - this was the fastest way to do it for me. It took almost a month to go through and weed with many late nights because I put a crazy timeline on myself! If I were going to do it again, I would have called in some help from fellow librarians, or weeded and labeled over the course of a semester or school year, and moved the books during the summer. However, as I mentioned, I felt the switch needed to happen quickly, so I put a fast timeline on myself so I could get the kids excited about the library again.
In the JH library, I started by weeding and labeling all the fiction books leaving them on the shelf where they were - this was the fastest way to do it for me. It took almost a month to go through and weed with many late nights because I put a crazy timeline on myself! If I were going to do it again, I would have called in some help from fellow librarians, or weeded and labeled over the course of a semester or school year, and moved the books during the summer. However, as I mentioned, I felt the switch needed to happen quickly, so I put a fast timeline on myself so I could get the kids excited about the library again.
To decide on the genre for a book, I looked in Titlewave for subject headings, tags, reviews, and of course, talked to students. Yes, frequently, books can be placed in multiple genres, but ultimately, if the kids said they'd look for it in ____ genre, then that's where I put it knowing I could change it later.
To decide on the genre for a book, I looked in Titlewave for subject headings, tags, reviews, and of course, talked to students. Yes, frequently, books can be placed in multiple genres, but ultimately, if the kids said they'd look for it in ____ genre, then that's where I put it knowing I could change it later.
For the nonfiction section, I looked at the Dewey sections, and when possible moved the books of the same category onto one or two shelves next to each other. When not possible, I pulled and made stacks of books (on top of the shelves or on carts). Then, I had student assistants and volunteers put labels on the books - thus the chaotic labeling. I did have to go back and fix labels, put them right side up, etc. However, for the most part, the books were labeled so much faster since I had help. It took only a month to label all the nonfiction that way.
For the nonfiction section, I looked at the Dewey sections, and when possible moved the books of the same category onto one or two shelves next to each other. When not possible, I pulled and made stacks of books (on top of the shelves or on carts). Then, I had student assistants and volunteers put labels on the books - thus the chaotic labeling. I did have to go back and fix labels, put them right side up, etc. However, for the most part, the books were labeled so much faster since I had help. It took only a month to label all the nonfiction that way.
Because Tiffany Whitehead posted her nonfiction labels and gave permission for people to use them from Flickr, I utilized a lot of her category labels in the JH library (click here for her blog post on labeling). I also added labels specific to my collection or altered some of them using Comic Life just like she did. I really liked these colorful labels as did my students! Click on the image to the left to access all my JH nonfiction genre labels. Feel free to use whatever you like!
Because Tiffany Whitehead posted her nonfiction labels and gave permission for people to use them from Flickr, I utilized a lot of her category labels in the JH library (click here for her blog post on labeling). I also added labels specific to my collection or altered some of them using Comic Life just like she did. I really liked these colorful labels as did my students! Click on the image to the left to access all my JH nonfiction genre labels. Feel free to use whatever you like!
For the high school, I used Mackin for my opening day collection, and worked with their art department to create icon labels for each of my nonfiction categories. They send all the books fully labeled and shelf-ready each time I order. For books that I purchase from another vendor, I just print label sheets using a standard address label and categorize them myself. HS Label files coming soon!
For the high school, I used Mackin for my opening day collection, and worked with their art department to create icon labels for each of my nonfiction categories. They send all the books fully labeled and shelf-ready each time I order. For books that I purchase from another vendor, I just print label sheets using a standard address label and categorize them myself. HS Label files coming soon!
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