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How do I decide where to put each category?
How do I decide where to put each category?
When planning your shelf organization, there's several things to consider:
Are you pairing your fiction/nonfiction and shelving next to each other?
How will I identify the sublocation or categories in Destiny so we know where the book is located?
Will I be changing the call number for each book or leaving them the same?
Are there popular categories that you want to shelve either in high visibility areas or towards the back so students have to walk through other genres to get there? I'll discuss this in more detail below.
I spent time looking at where I was going to put the various categories, and started with Graphic Novels since those were by far the most popular! I looked at how many shelves I would need and looked for locations that would not require me to shelve books "around a corner" or in another aisle. I wanted all my sections to be fully shelved so you could see all the books on the same aisle. I also worked to put similar categories together. For example, History is close to War because war is a part of history, and many action/adventure books include spies and warfare. I also wanted historical books to be closer to the front of the library so displayed books would be seen by students walking by and perhaps they'd get picked up more often.
I spent time looking at where I was going to put the various categories, and started with Graphic Novels since those were by far the most popular! I looked at how many shelves I would need and looked for locations that would not require me to shelve books "around a corner" or in another aisle. I wanted all my sections to be fully shelved so you could see all the books on the same aisle. I also worked to put similar categories together. For example, History is close to War because war is a part of history, and many action/adventure books include spies and warfare. I also wanted historical books to be closer to the front of the library so displayed books would be seen by students walking by and perhaps they'd get picked up more often.
Graphic novels, on the other hand, were shelved closer to the back of the library since students who wanted to check those books out would go to that section without hesitation - even if it was farther back in the library. Sports was also shelved at the back of the library as that is another super popular section.
Graphic novels, on the other hand, were shelved closer to the back of the library since students who wanted to check those books out would go to that section without hesitation - even if it was farther back in the library. Sports was also shelved at the back of the library as that is another super popular section.
When I shifted the books in my junior high, I closed the library in the month of December so I would only be closed the last two weeks of class and then semester exams. I put each section of books in tubs and on carts (borrowed from all over the district) to make re-shelving as easy as possible. I was able to "borrow" students who helped me shelve sections - massive chaos and craziness when books were strewn about - and once everything was back on the shelf (which took about a week), I suppressed my perfectionist tendencies and waited to shelf read until after winter break.
When I shifted the books in my junior high, I closed the library in the month of December so I would only be closed the last two weeks of class and then semester exams. I put each section of books in tubs and on carts (borrowed from all over the district) to make re-shelving as easy as possible. I was able to "borrow" students who helped me shelve sections - massive chaos and craziness when books were strewn about - and once everything was back on the shelf (which took about a week), I suppressed my perfectionist tendencies and waited to shelf read until after winter break.
As you can see, I kept the Dewey number on the spine label, and this is because I am one school of 72 in a large suburban district, and I need to keep the DDC so when we look in the catalog, it still meets the unionized standards for the district.
As you can see, I kept the Dewey number on the spine label, and this is because I am one school of 72 in a large suburban district, and I need to keep the DDC so when we look in the catalog, it still meets the unionized standards for the district.
Students don't have an issue with it at all, and I chose to have the category listed in the "sublocation" section of the catalog so it is very visible when searching.
Students don't have an issue with it at all, and I chose to have the category listed in the "sublocation" section of the catalog so it is very visible when searching.
After reorganizing and moving everything, I now have fiction/nonfiction genres shelved next to each other. I always start with the fiction, then nonfiction, then biographies. Here's a few pictures of some of the categories on the shelf.
After reorganizing and moving everything, I now have fiction/nonfiction genres shelved next to each other. I always start with the fiction, then nonfiction, then biographies. Here's a few pictures of some of the categories on the shelf.
I also mentioned earlier that I have subcategories. Those came after I started with the basic genre categories and I realized that my students needed a bit smaller sections to find what they wanted. It was easy to put the colored transparent Demco labels over the spine label of the nonfiction to create my subcategories!
I also mentioned earlier that I have subcategories. Those came after I started with the basic genre categories and I realized that my students needed a bit smaller sections to find what they wanted. It was easy to put the colored transparent Demco labels over the spine label of the nonfiction to create my subcategories!
Again, as a reminder, stay flexible! As sections have grown in popularity, I have had to shift and add new genres or subcategories, move books from one genre to another, and make changes that my students needed. Genrefication is fluid, ever changing, and I love the fact that it makes the library more dynamic and responsive to the needs of the students instead of the traditional static format that keeps what always has been for the sake of continuity or tradition.
Again, as a reminder, stay flexible! As sections have grown in popularity, I have had to shift and add new genres or subcategories, move books from one genre to another, and make changes that my students needed. Genrefication is fluid, ever changing, and I love the fact that it makes the library more dynamic and responsive to the needs of the students instead of the traditional static format that keeps what always has been for the sake of continuity or tradition.
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