The Big Book Switch

Notice anything about these shelves?
Yep, that's right.  All these books are FINALLY fully genrefied.

Oh, my goodness, what a ride it has been.  It has taken MUCH longer than my first library to genrefy. Much longer---next week marks the end of my 3rd year, so really about 2.5 of those were tied up with this project.

But there was a method to my madness (and more than a few setbacks which were totally out of my control, but I digress.)

I started my genrefying process as a brand-new-to-high-school librarian.  This gave me the opportunity to lay hands on each and every book in my fiction section.  I was able to get to know my collection in a very real, tangible way.  I weeded as I went.  I noticed what circulates and what doesn't.  I can finally answer the questions that begin, "Hey, do we have ..." with some modicum of clarity.
Everything:

• is labeled
• has a new spine label reflecting genre (ex. Fic Mys Obr)
• has been changed in the computer
• has had series order numbered if it is in a series
• has been moved to its genre location

Thank goodness for my senior student aides without whom moving roughly 13,000 books in a work week would have been impossible.

I settled on these main Genres: Realistic Fiction, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, and Classic. I didn't break them up further into sub-genre such as paranormal, etc. because I'm all about keeping it simple.  If you've further separated your collection and it works for you, that is GREAT. I know myself, though, and I do better with simple.

Already my kids have been able to shelve the returning books at a much faster pace and with more accuracy-- plus, if they aren't in the right place they stick out like a sore thumb and don't sit hidden for months or years with us unable to find it for a patron unless we just stumble across it with pure dumb luck.

I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the results and how very glad I am to finally have this massive task crossed off my to-do list.  Once I get the new signage up, I will really feel "done" with this task and can move on to my other priorities for my library.

Just keep swimming

I missed work yesterday.  I was out of town for a family funeral, and then drove four hours back home afterwards. Needless to say I wasn't particularly well rested today.
Coffee is my friend.
Despite my whole Tuesday-feels-like-Monday situation, I'm happy to report that I made progress in my genrefication process today! (woot!woot!)

Here is the process I'm using this time around:

1. Books are taken off the shelf in order, shelf at a time, until a LARGE cart is filled.
2. Books are then scanned/looked up to determine genre (I've utilized Titlewave a LOT--loving their new online tags for most titles.)
3. Genre stickers are then placed at the top of the spine, and I type up a new spine label.
4. Steps are repeated until I have a sheet full of spine labels.
5. Spine labels are printed.
6. I go through each book again to place new spine label on, and change the call number in the online catalog.
7. If the books are in a series, I make sure they are labeled with series numbers and that is added to their copy information, as well.
8. Books are placed back on the shelves.
9. Lather, rinse, repeat.

This sounds tedious---and it is, a bit.  However, especially since I am new to this campus it has been so helpful to actually lay my hands on each and every fiction title.  As I scan them, I sometimes find books that haven't been checked in properly, thus relieving a student's mind, as well as deleting fines that shouldn't exist! I'm cleaning off the shelves as I empty them, too.

At this point I have almost (one more row to go!) an entire front-and-back 3-section bookshelf completed!  Um...perhaps I should point out that I have about 16,000 Fiction titles.
No worries, though. I'll eat this elephant one bite at a time. I remind myself of this multiple times a day when I want to flail about a bit.
Just keep swimming, 
Just keep swimming...

Once I have ALL the Fiction books labeled and changed in the computer I will start the Big Switch. This will radically change the current library shelving sections.  Right now all non-fiction is around the perimeter of the library, with tall shelving, and all Fiction is in the middle of the library on smaller shelves.

see all the genre stickers?  and the series order stickers? 

fun perspective

Genrefying

Day 10 of the Slice of Life Challenge from Two Writing Teachers

The genrefication is moving along swimmingly.  By the time I left work today I had completed two sections of the first bookshelf--which I realize doesn't sound like much but is right on target for the goal I've set for completing an entire side of each Fiction bookshelf per week. 

After much deliberation, I've settled on the following genres to label:

Realistic Fiction 

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Mystery 

Adventure

Classic

Historical Fiction

Story Collection

These labels will be placed at the top of the book spine, and I have some secondary labels available for the bottom of the spine (these won't change the location of the book, but will just aid students in finding what they want within a genre section) of Sports, Romance, and Suspense. 

So, all the books will be labeled, have their spine labels changed to reflect the genre, and be changed in the catalog.  I'm also making sure to denote the series in the cataloging (ex. Need Chronicles, bk. 2) as I go along.  

My plan is to label all the books first, and then do the big switcharoo once I have a better idea the size area I will need for each section.  

It is a big undertaking, but I love being able to see the progress as I move along and the students have been so excited to know this is where we are headed.