deweyless libraries

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"Approximately 50 years ago, under the legendary Ralph Ulveling, the Detroit Public Library instituted Reader Interest classification in its branches. The books in each branch were arranged by categories of interest to the local population by the librarians in that branch. It finally petered out as reduced staff no longer had the time for customization and since it was difficult for staff transferred from one location to another to locate books."

Francis Buckley, as quoted in "Behind the Maricopa County Library's Dewey-less Plan," N. Oder. Online at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6448055.html

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Since 2007, a handful of public libraries across the United States have replaced Dewey Decimal Classification with a “bookstore arrangement” in order to meet the needs of users who have demonstrated browsing preferences. This paper looks at the implementation of BISAC-based headings used to arrange the collections at the Maricopa Library District in Arizona, the Rangeview Library District in Colorado, and the Frankfort Public Library District in Illinois. A multi-methods approach was employed: 1.) a content analysis was conducted to analyze the availability and characteristics of BISAC headings and to provide a sample of headings taken from the online catalogs of the three aforementioned library districts, and 2.) an evaluative survey was distributed for participants to evaluate the BISAC-based headings. The fifteen participants, a mix of both users and librarians, indicated that they favored headings that were more specific, however, there is a need for continued research on the use of BISAC headings to arrange the collections of public libraries.

Summary for a UNC student's master's paper. Full-text can be found at http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/s_papers/id/1550/rec/11

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Idea

A google map of Deweyless libraries in the United States.

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The entire Maricopa County Library District is now Deweyless. I know this fact because I catalog materials for them!

A message from a tumblr user. Sorry if you sent me this ages ago!  I am just getting back to updating this blog. :)

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News report on a Deweyless library.

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FL Legislator - Storms Isn't Done Fixing Your Library (2008)

"Storms calls the Dewey Decimal System frustrating, outdated and ridiculous. She would like something more akin to what they use at bookstores."

Disparaging comments that reinforce stereotypes about librarians aside, Storms' POV is similar to those who advocate for alternative classification schemes.

[deweylesslibraries-blog]

the Perry Branch library is not the only library to become Deweyless - check out this article about the Rangeview Library District's decision to go Deweyless (2009).

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Via NY Times Article on the Perry Branch Library of Arizona's Maricopa County District (2007)

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(via michaelsphotos of Flickr)

[deweylesslibraries-blog]

Hello and welcome

What do you mean by "Deweyless" library? A public library that has abandoned Dewey Decimal Classificationm in favor of more user-friendly arrangements.

Are Deweyless libraries just public libraries? No! Deweyless libraries can public, special, or school libraries. Technically, academic libraries are Deweyless, but they use Library of Congress classification, the other "mainstream" classification scheme.

Purpose of this tumblr As mentioned above, many libraries can be Deweyless, but the goal here is to show off those libraries that have traditonally used DDC and dumped it.

Misc This tumblr started in 2010 and was abandoned for a while. The owner has decided to resurrect this long-forgotten blog and will be posting news items Tuesday-Thursday each week.