Sandy BixbyLibrary Media Specialist Edgemere Elementary School

Kelly RayLibrary Media Resource Teacher Office of Digital Learning

Session Resources: tinyurl.com/undewey

Un-Deweying the School Library: Empowering Students and Expanding Learning

Create an action plan for transitioning a school library collection from the Dewey Decimal System to a “bookstore model”

Customize the organization of your school library collection to address the needs of all learners

Session OutcomesWe hope that our story will inspire and empower you to …

Access resources referenced throughout this session including: Project Wiki URL & QR Code Fiction Genre Spotlights

on Edgemere School Library Wiki Bixby’s Bookshelves Blog Follow us Contact us

Session Bookmark

Image: http://thenextweb.com/wpcontent/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/11/bn1.jpg

“non-traditional shelving”

“subject-based cataloging”

“bookstore model”

“un-Deweying”

Inspired by Trends and Trailblazers

*See more inspiration on our Project wiki.

What do YOU think about the “genrefication” trend in

school libraries?

https://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/3uxS4Qr513gmAKa

ODL: School Library Media Centers & Programs– Libraries staffed by certified library media specialists or Cohorts.– Elementary: Rigorous K-5 Library Media Curriculum aligned with AASL

Standards for the 21st Century Learner and CCSS; weekly special area class.– Secondary LMS: Teach classes regularly in collaboration with teachers

• ODL provided leadership and support for the genrefication pilot project at Edgemere Elementary

• Offering genrefication workshops for other BCPS librarians–ODL staff may be able to provide limited staff support for

genrefication projects at other schools. School LMS must submit an Action Plan.

Edgemere Elementary School

• One of 108 BCPS Elementary Schools• Southeast Area of Baltimore County• 487 students• 47% FARM 10% Special Ed• Average class size 22-25 students

Images © Baltimore County Public Schools

Edgemere Elementary School LibraryCollection: 7,812 Books 1288 Fiction 139 Graphic Novels 3809 Nonfiction 2427 Everybody (Picture Books)

Library Automation: Follett DESTINY Library Manager DESTINYQuest OPAC

Why I decided to un-Dewey…To balance time for teaching and learning with

time for finding and checking out books

Curriculum lessons take most of the class period

Limited time for searching Destiny library catalog and browsing shelves

Image: BCPS

Why I decided to un-Dewey …

To empower students to be more independent and successful at finding books they want to read

• Students spent more time “searching and asking” for books than “finding and reading” them

• Limitations of OPAC for younger students• Our mission is to connect kids with books!

To make their Library a more learner-centered environment• Elementary students have not yet mastered decimal skills • So Dewey Decimal System is more librarian-centric than student-centric• It’s THEIR Library!

Image: http://www.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/SLJ1210w_Dewey_Callout1.jpg

Logistics

Support: Planning, funding and human resources• BCPS Office of Digital Learning staff• A few fellow BCPS school librarians • School administration, staff, students

Time & Labor• 20+ hours• Up to 8 helpers during various sessions• Used days with no students, after school, evenings, planning periods

Budget• Approximately $200 spent on supplies

Image © BCPS

The Plan

Genrefy the Fiction section first, then Nonfiction• Leave Everybody section (picture books) in alphabetical order by author• Leave some popular Series/Authors in baskets/un-labeled• Total number of books involved: 5000+

Identify Fiction genres and Nonfiction subjects.• Based on students’ interests and topics in the collection• Include students in the process• Keep genre & subject names short and student-friendly

Image: BCPS

The Plan

Create custom spine labels and signs.• Pre-printed vendor’s labels were missing genres and lacked visual appeal• Use simple, colorful, copyright-friendly images as visual cues • Add QR codes to signs for access to related online resources and media

via School Library wiki.Enlist a team of helpers to categorize, label, and re-shelve books.• Weed as we go along

Image © Baltimore County Public Schools

Created a Project Wiki page: tinyurl.com/undewey • To curate project information and resources for other librarians to access.

Started Librarian’s Blog: bixbysbookshelves.blogspot.com• To share the journey, including project news, reflections, photos, and outcomes.

Used School Library Twitter: @EESLibrary• To share project news, photos, and student feedback.

Used Destiny Library Manager: • To display Genre/Subject sublocations in Copy records.• Collect circulation data comparing numbers before and after genrefication.

Created Genre Spotlight pages on School Library Wiki & Added QR Codes on Signs• QR codes on signs will lead students to Genre spotlight wiki pages featuring links to

Author/Series Websites, Book Trailers, Review a Book, Related Reading, etc.Image © Baltimore County Public Schools

Use Digital Tools & Social Media

FICTION: Genres

Customize genre list for YOUR students and collection!

FICTION: Spine Labels & Signs

* Spine label templates and signs available on our Project Wiki page.

FICTION: Genrefying

FICTION: Labeling and re-shelving

Genrefied FICTION Section

NONFICTION: The Process Students Brainstorm Subjects

Photos: bixbysbookshelves.blogspot.com

* See more photos and videos on Bixby’s Bookshelves Blog.

Nonfiction: Subjects

Sub-categories were identified later, using a label-maker to mark shelves.

* Spine label templates and signs available on our project wiki.Images: Microsoft Clip Art or Clipart.com

Nonfiction:The Process

Categorizing, labeling, and re-shelving books

* See more photos on Bixby’s Bookshelves Blog.

Photos: bixbysbookshelves.blogspot.com

The Reaction

* See more student reaction videos on Bixby’s Bookshelves blog.

Adding & Assigning Genres & Subjects to Copies in Destiny OPAC

2. Add Genres/Subjects to Sublocation list by clicking Other; you will only need to add each category once.

3. Select Genre/Subject in Copy record from Sublocation list.

1. Select a Copy and Edit Copy.

Genre or Subject Displays as Location in Destiny

The DataPreliminary data from Destiny

showed significant circulation increase immediately following genrefication, compared to data for same week in previous year:

Fiction: 40% increaseNonfiction: 340% increase

*See more circulation data on Bixby’s Bookshelves blog.

The Data: Total Circulations Last Year vs. This Year

November 18, 2013-June 1, 2014 11988

November 18, 2014-June 1, 2015 13329

Total Increase In Circulations 1341 or 11.2%

The Data: Fiction1417 titles on the Destiny Title/Copy circulation statistics report

625 titles (44.1 %) of the Fiction collection) had increases in circulation over the previous year’s circulations

Of those 625 titles,• 440 (70.4%) had not circulated during the previous school

year• 131 (20.96%) increased by 3 circulations over the

previous year• 231 (36.96%) increased by 5+ circulations over the

previous year

Data Analysis: Top 3 Fiction Genres based on Circulation Increase

Just Like Me (80)

Fantasy (52)

Humor (36)

*Note: 126 titles were not yet assigned location fields in Destiny

The Data: Nonfiction3891 titles were listed on the exported report

1085 titles (27.9% of the nonfiction collection) had increases in circulation over the previous year’s circulations

Of those 1085 titles,• 803 (74%) had not circulated during 2013-14 school year• 149 (13.7%) increased by 3 circulations over previous

year• 175 (16.1%) increased by 5+ circulations over previous

year

Data Analysis:Top 5 Nonfiction Subjects with Circulation

IncreasesAnimals (132)

Science (106) Top 3 subcategories: Inventors/Inventions 34, Weather 21, Experiments 15

Sports (81) - 27 were Biographies now located in the sports classification

What Can I Make? (67)

Who Is? (48) – Discovered by the 3rd grade teachers

*Note: 227 titles were not yet assigned location fields in Destiny

Data Analysis: The Bottom Line

• Overall circulation increase of 11.2 % may not sound terribly significant BUT• Over 1200 books (800 nonfiction and 400 fiction titles) that were NEVER checked out last year have circulated this year WHICH MEANS …• Our collection is experiencing a rejuvenation as my students and teachers can more quickly and easily find what they want to read and learn!

Maintaining the Momentum on School Library Wiki

QR Codes and Wiki Genre Spotlights

If we had it to do over again, would have: Done the project over the summer.• Summer project more practical if lacking a large

team. Handled the books only ONCE during the

process.• Would scan books to set new location fields in

Catalog at same time as labeling, before re-shelving.

Lessons Learned …

Positive changes in the ways students (and teachers) use their Library and interact with the collection

Students discovering new and appealing genres and subjects Collaborating to share and recommend genres, subjects,

authors, series, and titles to each other Increased ENGAGEMENT in the book-seeking process Continued EXCITEMENT over books they’re finding They’re READING!Teachers easily finding books to support curriculum in

classrooms

Lasting Impact … for Students & Teachers

Positive changes for instruction:Significant decrease in time needed for book

browsing and check out

More time for teaching and learning More time for meaningful reader’s advisory

Lasting Impact … for Librarian

Positive changes for management:Spine labels added to Returns cart

make it easy for kids to genrefy books as they return them

Re-shelving is much easier and quicker

Lasting Impact … for Librarian

Gain support of school and district administrationCreate an action plan including a timeline/budget Assemble a team of colleagues and volunteers Start small: Fiction first, maybe one genre at a time

Un-Deweying Tips for School Librarians

Middle & High School librarians: Recommend un-Deweying the Fiction section only

Nonfiction collections are too large Secondary students can navigate Dewey Decimal

System Call #’s They need that experience to prepare for using college

and public libraries

Un-Deweying Tips for School Librarians

ALTERNATIVES:

If re-shelving books by genre not feasable, you can still genrefy! Use colored pre-printed vendor’s genre labels OR color dot labels Create a “key” on posters, index cards, book marks Leave books shelved by Dewey; colored stickers can be spotted easily

and genres identified using the key!

Un-Deweying Tips for School Librarians

Historical Fiction

Fantasy

Horror

Mystery

Realistic Fiction

SciFi

ALTERNATIVES (No Re-Shelving)

ALTERNATIVES:

If re-shelving books by genre not feasable, you can still genrefy! Use colored pre-printed vendor’s genre labels OR color dot labels Create a “key” on posters, index cards, book marks Leave books shelved by Dewey; colored stickers can be spotted easily

and genres identified using the key!

Un-Deweying Tips for School Librarians

Just un-Dewey it!

• Use your session BOOKMARK to examine and use resources from the Edgemere pilot

• Join our new Genrefication Group on Edmodo:• Log into bcps.edmodo.com• Join with Group Code: b8hyx6