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Arts & Entertainment

Dewey Decimal, Redone

Some local libraries add a new spin to the time-honored cataloging system

The local library: a temple of quiet contemplation and intellectual pursuit. Where thousands of books of every kind sit on shelves, waiting to reveal their stories to eager readers. Where there’s a place for everything, and everything is in its place—thanks in large part to one Mr. Melvil Dewey.

Melvil Dewey (1851-1931) is the American librarian perhaps most responsible for the development of library science in the United States by devising the Dewey Decimal Classification for cataloging, now the most widely used classification system in the world. What makes it so popular?

“It’s a very precise way to file and find an item,” explained Maureen Petry, director of the in Tarrytown.

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The Dewey Decimal Classification System (DDC) categorizes nonfiction books into ten main divisions. These classes are further divided into ten subdivisions and the use of decimals allows for additional categories. A book is assigned a Dewey number based on its subject matter. In most libraries the Dewey number and the first three letters of the author's last name become the book's call number. Nonfiction books are arranged numerically on the shelves according to DDC, ranging from 001 to 999.

It’s a system that’s enormously effective but not without its difficulties, such as the classification by subject and not by topic.

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For example, explained John Fearon, director of the in Pleasantville, “Travel books (914-917) are mixed with history books (all of the 900s) under the strict Dewey system, making it harder for people looking for a book on, let’s say, Hawaiian vacations, to find them.”

Another example: The topic of drug use is discussed in psychology (157), sociology (363.45) and medical (616.863) books. Three disciplines deal with the topic in their own way. Books on drug use can therefore have different call numbers under the Dewey system—so the same topic can be studied within two different disciplines.

So there’s a nationwide movement afoot to tweak—perhaps improve upon—the Dewey standard with the emergence of what has become known as “Bookstore Marketing.”

In her book Creating the Customer-Driven Library: Building on the Bookstore Model, author Jeannette A. Woodward writes that libraries should take their cue from local bookstores by providing more customer-centric service in terms of ambience and accessibility of books.

It’s a concept that John Sexton, assistant director of the Greenburgh Library, advocates but with a proviso: “We’re not doing away with the Dewey Decimal System, just re-organizing our collections to make the most popular items more accessible.

It’s a move, agreed Carol Angert, Greenburgh’s reference librarian/circulation services, that “considers patrons and users when finding books…not make it such a mystery for them.”

Some librarians, including the Warner Library’s Petry and Steve Force, Library Director for the Yonkers Public Libraries, don’t see deviating from the strict Dewey Decimal System as an issue. Force said: “We try to be open minded and practical (about  what we do), but we haven’t had any complaints from users.”

Fearon actually solicited feedback from the community before reconfiguring his library’s collections. What people want? Bestsellers and lots of them—and easily findable. So the library has by expanding a “Best Sellers” section. They also opened up the library so there’s more room for browsing and to sit and read.

“We took the more popular collections and created micro-collection areas—such as home and garden, fitness, computers, Shakespeare, etc," Fearon said. "Now patrons can browse all books of like subject in one area, which also makes for a better utilization of space. We’ve received positive feedback."

“The movement is slow but steady,” said Sexton of the Bookstore Marketing model.

In the end, though, customer service is what it’s all about. So whether it’s to adopt change or not, the success of any library comes down to the people who support it. We’re sure Dewey would agree.

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