Dear LM-Netters-
Interesting discussion! May I respectfully disagree with this last post? I don't
think that co-locating books on our shelves is taking "the easy way out." It takes
effort to make certain that our classification choices reflect both use of the
standard tools and an understanding of our library patrons. I teach in a K-5
school, and most of my students haven't been introduced to fractions yet. This
means using a decimal-based system is difficult for successful, independent
location of resources. Within reason, I think it's reflective of your patron base
to make decisions about how your patron would search for the material. My
collection has a dozen books on the Titanic disaster, all in 910.9163 (specifically
recommended by Abridged DDC, edition 14-see DDC Use Notes under 910.4 ). I do
agree that these could go in the 363s, but for my students' stage of development,
the 300s/Social Sciences are more difficult to understand. IMHO, the Titanic with
the 900s treatment as History/Geography simply makes more sense to elementary
students. As a middle school or high school librarian, you may well make other
choices.
To use your examples (from Frederick Muller's collection)... Most likely,
students interested in the Titanic would enjoy reading about the last meals served
on the ship. They might not think, unless doing full-blown Titanic research, to
search the OPAC, and might never find this title on your shelves. Likewise, most
patrons searching for how-to-cook books/recipes, while finding a book with Titanic
recipes in the 641.5s an interesting curiosity, will skip over it in favor of more
traditional cookbooks. In this scenario, the main audience for this book may lose
out.
The "easy way out" is accepting whatever call number is assigned by the vendor or
recommended in the CIP information. Only the librarian, with knowledge of their
patrons and the existing collection itself, can make choices about where best to
class a resource.
That's my 2 cents... feel free to disagree with me!
Shannon
Shannon Walters
Library Media Specialist
C.P. Smith School
Burlington, Vermont 05401
swalters@bsdvt.org
(802) 864-2228
>>> Frederick Muller <mullinator52@GMAIL.COM> 01/20/08 1:43 PM >>>
363.12 - is the Dewey number for disasters, Titanic, Hindenburg, other
general disaster books
620's if technology - physical makeup of boats
641.57 - I have have a cookbook for the last meals on the Titanic
380's - transportation systems
Classification is an art - you must analyze the main emphasis of the book.
Unfortunately most of us take the easy way out and put all the books about
the many aspects of the Titanic in one place.
Something else to ponder?Where are your pyramid books? in 932 or 726.
--
Frederick Muller, Librarian
Halsted Middle School Library
Newton, NJ
mullinator52@gmail.com
My book reviews are compiled at http://www.mullersreviews.com
My book review blog is at http://MullerInTheMiddle.blogspot.com
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