Re: [LM_NET] Dewey Decimal System eliminated in new Arizona library.

["Fourie, Francis" <ffourie@CITYSCHOOLS.COM>]

Just the idea of this is totally outrageously ridiculous ! How can you
change a system  ( workable, understandable system) -where you can walk
in ANY library right around the world -and find the right book at the
right "address ' on the shelf. We are trying to raise an information
literate society NOT an information illiterate  society. The idea is not
to MEMORIZE  all the Dewey numbers by heart---the idea  (as all of us
are suppose to know by now) is to teach our students  where to find
(locate) the book on the shelf. This worked for me ( and my students )
in South Africa, In Europe and now here in the USA.
Please, let us move FORWARD and not BACKWARD !
This is my 2 cents on this entire issue. 
Francis Fourie
Assistant- Librarian
Walker Grant Middle School
Fredericksburg,VA 22401

-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of sarah
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:40 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: Dewey Decimal System eliminated in new Arizona library.

I think I am in the minority. I love this idea and I've been trying to
think of a way to incorporate a similar system into my library. Sure,
there will be kinks to work out, but I don't think there is any real
need for the specificity that Dewey provides. Why not put all the
books on baseball in one place, no matter what the *specific* topic
(individual players vs. how-tos vs. the economics of the game, etc.),
and then arrange by author? Then let users tag the books for extra
access points. And have helpful librarians on hand to point users in
the right direction. It makes sense to me.

On 5/31/07, Young, Jennifer <jyoung@norton.k12.ma.us> wrote:
> If you can count and know your ABCs, you can use a Dewey number to
> locate a book.  The idea that Americans aren't smart enough to do this
> is troubling.  We already have signs indicating general topics (and
> Dewey #s).  I'm looking at 700 The Arts right now.  Libraries can
> certainly update their signage to make it more appealing, and possibly
> more helpful, but the idea of throwing away one classification system
> and replacing it with a less precise system is ridiculous.
>
> Jennifer Young
> Library Media Specialist
> Norton High School
> 66 West Main Street
> Norton, MA 02766
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: School Library Media & Network Communications
> [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Shonda Brisco
> Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:21 AM
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: Dewey Decimal System eliminated in new Arizona library.
>
> The article suggests that this type of system (the DDC) is hard for
> someone to remember.  Excuse me, but I've taught blind children how to
> write down a call number and locate a braille book on the shelves at a
> library serving blind and visually impaired children.  At NO point did
> these children "remember" the call number but instead, learned how to
> locate information, take notes, and then physically locate the books
> based upon their location (address) on the shelves.
>
> The same is true with sighted (or any) children.  We don't teach
> children to remember the DDC, we teach them to take notes, to use
> those notes (the call number) to physically locate the book on the
> shelves.  If they recall specific areas or call numbers, it's
> generally because the SUBJECT is of interest to them and the areas
> (call numbers) are consistent, regardless of which library they use!!
> That's part of the beauty of the DDC or the LC--- the consistency of
> the location based upon the SAME information which is shared between
> libraries.  (Try locating a book in Barnes & Noble, then in Borders,
> and then at "Ye Local Bookstore of Olde" ...good luck finding the same
> titles in the same "subject areas" based upon the WHIMS of those who
> are in charge of the bookstore!)
>
> I personally do not remember how to drive to San Antonio each time we
> have an ALA or TLA meeting there; however, I do have the skills
> necessary to locate the information, take notes, follow those
> instructions, and locate the meeting address.  The beauty of this
> procedure....I always find the location based upon the consistency of
> the road map!!
>
> This is part of being information literate....and if we continue to
> spoon feed individuals (adults or otherwise) rather than require them
> to seek information in a manner that shows some information literacy /
> intellectual growth (or at least two grey cells rubbing together to
> spark an idea), then we are definitely leading the poor dumb
> sheep....off the cliff and into the abyss.
>
> Just another opinion....
>
> ~Shonda
>
> On 5/30/07, Barbara Allen <BSAllen@aol.com> wrote:
> >
> > This may be of  interest:
> >
>
_http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0530nodewey0530
> .html_
> >
>
(http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0530nodewey0530
> .html)
> > OMG!
> > Barbara  Allen
> > Technical Coordinator
> > Library Services
> > Tucson Unified School  District
> > Tucson, AZ
> >
> >
> >
> > ************************************** See what's free at
> http://www.aol.com.
> >
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> --
> Shonda Brisco, MLIS
> Library Media / Technology Specialist
> Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
> http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
> http://shonda.edublogs.org/
> sbrisco@gmail.com
>
> "Digital Resources" columnist
> School Library Journal
>
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