[Web4lib] Innovation: NYT article on Dewey-less Arizona public library

[jennifer.kirton at dpi.nsw.gov.au]

I manage a small 5000 item research library in a government department. 
With our services and journals now online, I never see anyone in the 
library (which is in a separate building).  Researchers on site or in my 
region, either email or phone me if they want something.  There are other 
libraries in our department and most indicate that they seldom get any 
visitors either. 

As a library team, we recently made a decision to start using barcodes for 
asset control and as part of our new library management system we hope to 
get in 2008.

In amongst a lot of discussion, I suggested that after I had barcoded my 
Dewey collection starting at the beginning (001), that from now on, I 
would shelve all new and returning books according to their barcode 
number, that is, at the end of the collection!!

The silence was so long, I thought I had dropped out of the 
teleconference!!

My argument is that the research staff seldom come into the library, and 
if they do, always ask me to help them anyway!  I have part-time help with 
shelving, copying etc, and it is obvious that the Dewey system is a bit of 
a mystery to her despite my best attempts, and maybe a running number 
system might be easier!!  In my library, all that needs to happen is that 
we can locate the book on the shelf as required, no one comes into 
browse!!

Of course, I realise that my library situation is unique, and no, I wont 
actually change the cataloguing/shelving system, as I myself do like to 
browse the collection occasionally, but I have been finding this 
discussion fascinating.

As for signs for "Ohio History", or "US Civil War", I did do this in a 
previous (Dewey) library and it worked very well, so if possible, make the 
time to do this for the more popular or unique sections in your library. 
Even with my current collection, I have an explanation of the Dewey system 
on the sides of the compactus.  As for staff/user recommendations on 
books, when I think about it, I have been doing that verbally, or at least 
mentally all my library career, "A book on veterinary pathology?  Try this 
one, its quite good.".  So why not an additional catalogue entry or a 
sticker/gold star on a book to indicate that others have found it 
useful/interesting.

Finally, that the journalists wrote of their shock at no card catalogue 
did not surprise me.  Unless they have taken their children into a library 
recently, most likely their library experiences are of when they were at 
college many years ago, or the library service they receive within their 
own organisation which maybe like mine, an online and/or "seamless" 
experience without them needing to search a catalogue.  I know many of my 
staff don't, they ask me for the book, and I search the catalogue!!

As always, thanks to everyone for a thought provoking discussion, I've 
enjoyed it.



Jennifer Kirton
Library
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Wollongbar Agricultural Institute
1243 Bruxner Highway
Wollongbar
New South Wales  2477
Australia
jennifer.kirton at dpi.nsw.gov.au
ph +61 2 6626 1321
fax  +61 2 6628 3264


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