Project Definition

Introduction

As librarians discuss the possibility of ditching Dewey, we're hearing again about importing the bookstore model into libraries. It's not about Dewey, however, nor is it about mimicking bookstores. Rather, librarians have set out to adopt what is good from others, whether they are bookstores or libraries. We are emphasizing not the anti-Dewey argument so much as the goal of easy browsability and user-friendly language... it is all about making it easy for users to head straight to a shelf and find what they want..

(adapted from It's Not About Dewey by Francine Fialkoff, Editor-in-Chief, -- Library Journal, 11/01/2009)

The Purpose (Mission)

  • To maintain our relevancy as we continually innovate and challenge the way we think about services we provide.

  • To stay focused on the long-term goal of building a stronger community through comprehensive collections, inviting facilities, quality service and quality teaching.

These are the targets we want to meet

    • Standardize Fiction Genre Categories and Descriptions.

    • Standardize Non-Fiction Genre Categories and Descriptions.

    • Standardize Call Numbers for both F & NF Genre Categories.

    • Successfully implement Genre-based library programs in participating pilot schools.

    • Capture the important PROCESS in this wiki so that the PRODUCT can be replicated as desired/needed.

This is how our organization will gain.

    • Action research while trying new things will make us smarter at what we do and how we do it.

    • A fostered sense of community and collaboration among our Teacher Librarian group.

    • Generate much-needed interest and excitement from our community.

    • The project is founded on the hypothesis that Genre-organized libraries can benefit staff and students as mentioned below in the "Deliverables" section.

    • A sense of pride and accomplishment for being on the pro-active side of a national movement instead of only reacting to changes around us.

Deliverables

Ultimately, Teacher Librarians that participate in this project are striving to find new ways to deliver physical and virtual resources that can be efficiently found to save time for users and staff (including themselves). The time saved is then applied to the powerful processes of reading, researching,..etc. ALL Teacher Librarians (Dewey or Genre) strive for these mentioned deliverables with the intent to ultimately have a positive effect on student enrichment and achievement.

Project Constraints

Project constraints mainly rest in coming to consensus on Genre Categories ("buckets") and sub-categories. The purpose of this wiki is to foster virtual collaboration among participants. This constraint is a natural consequence of our decided need to maintain consistency among participating libraries so that we can lay a foundation for future implementation.

Another constraint is change itself. It is difficult for all to embrace the change. There are quality arguments for modeling to our students both the traditional Dewey system and the Genre-based system. The idea here is to prepare students to find resources regardless of the system.

Funding is a constraint. The libraries that have pursued this project are functioning so under their own building budgets and commitment of the building administrator. "Funding" could also include human resources. Teacher Librarians, support staff, and volunteers are "donating" incredible amounts of time to accomplish this task in the name of what they believe to be best for students!