Yikes! If you are wondering why I haven't posted in a while it is because I've been knee deep in a huge library project. I've been interested in the Genre-ficiation and Ditching Dewey movement for a while, and decided to try it out in the fiction section of my library first. I philosophically believe in reorganizing books into genres because I believe it is best for kids. I think:
So, to get started. I recruited the 3rd graders to help me. I wanted to empower the students to do it how they wanted it, giving them ownership of their library (plus, the manual labor for such a large project didn't hurt!)
First, we did a Google Hangout with another library in the area that had already converted to learn more about genres in the library and how it helps students find books easier.
First, we did a Google Hangout with another library in the area that had already converted to learn more about genres in the library and how it helps students find books easier.
From there, we created our list of "Need to Knows" to guide our learning.
Then, we did some research about the genres being used in our district and the students compiled a list of the genres they wanted to have in our library. Interestingly, the students decided they wanted poetry to be included in our fiction section because they said most poetry isn't real anyway, and it made more sense for them to have it in its own section. It was a very compelling argument!
Next, the students formed teams. Each team "adopted" a genre. They picked roles, did some team building, created a team contract and made a plan for how they were going to solve problems on their team.
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The next step was to learn about the library catalog and create lists of books that would go into each genre. They learned a LOT about how to search the library catalog and how to create personalized lists! They also learned a lot about genres and used their problem solving skills to solve disputes about which books should be in each genre. Let the debate begin!
After they had their lists, the students began to search the shelves for the books they wanted in their section of the library. This really got the kids looking at call numbers!
Then, the students placed genre stickers on the spines of the books (ordered from Demco), and alphabetized them. We had to slide the entire fiction section over many times as each genre section grew larger and larger. This was the point when I was wondering, "What did I do?" You know when you clean out your closet and you end up making a bigger mess? That's what the library looked like!
Slowly, but surely, the library started to get pieced back together. We alphabetized each genre section and found a way to fit it back on the shelves. I ended up using MARC records to help decide on the genres for books that didn't find a home. I'm super pleased with the results!
Now, since I was a little crazy and did this in the middle of school year, we still have books being returned that we have to finish and place in a genre. The last thing I did was add a location in Destiny to show where in the library the books can be found.
So far, I'm hearing very positive feedback from staff and students. I will be giving a survey in a few weeks to get more specific data about the changes. I will share it when it is complied!
Tips and Things I Learned:
- 3rd graders LOVE, LOVE putting stickers on anything
- Sometimes you have to make an executive decision about a series (keep the series together)
- Alphabetizing is a lost art
- Make sure you order plenty of the clear plastic labels to go over the genre labels
- I have not been reading enough books. .. . I can't believe how many I had never even seen or heard of before
- Involving the students gives them ownership over the library, they truly feel like it is their library
- EMBRACE THE MESS!
How have you rearranged your library? What tips do you have? Share in the comments below?