Top 5 Resources To Build Foundational Knowledge
There are so many resources regarding the topic of genrefication that it can feel overwhelming. Here are a few of the best to get you started! If you're ready for more, be sure to also check out links on Social Librarians, Professional Works, and Popular Media.
#1: "The Dewey Dilemma" (Barbara Fister, Library Journal, October 2009)This is a key overview of alternative classification systems from a public library point of view. The treatment covers a chronology of libraries that have recently experimented with Dewey alternatives, outlines the range of existing arguments, and includes advice and extensive links to related resources. If you only have time to read one article, this is a good one to choose.
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#2: "Dewey or Don't We" (Knowledge Quest, Vol. 42, No. 2, Nov./Dec. 2013)If you do have time to read more, check out this American Association of School Librarians issue of KnowledgeQuest, which is dedicated in its entirety to investigating recent classification trends. Guest editor Hilda K. Weisburg explains: "This issue will help you determine your future course. Read what practitioners have done and why. Compare the opinions of those who take positions that are polar opposites. Consider some of the middle-of-the-road options. Talk with your colleagues--and your students. Then decide."
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#3: Mighty Little Librarian (Tiffany Whitehead, Central Middle School)Blog Series:
Ditching Dewey (4/4/2012) Genre Shelving! (10/11/2011) Choosing Genre Categories (11/29/2013) Labeling the Books (12/1/2013) Making the Move (12/8/2013) Catalog Changes (1/12/2014) Signage (1/17/2014) Multimedia: Ditching Dewey (TL Virtual Cafe webinar, 2/2/2015) Exploring Genrefication in the School Library (Elementary Librarian podcast, April 2014) |
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#5: Do You Genrefy?: An Informal Survey (Infographic) and Library ListservsIn Spring 2015, librarian Naomi Bates used library listservs to conduct an informal survey regarding genrefication, and she shared her results in an infographic. Check it out! Also, remember that even if you aren't able to participate in discussions at professional conferences, you can keep up with other librarians via library listservs. For a sampling of past exchanges, visit the school library LM_NET Listserv Archive and search "genrefication."
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