Monday, July 16, 2007

The New York Times reports on a library in Arizona which has abandoned the Dewey Classification system for a "neighborhood" or bookstore style arrangement. These attempts at delivering a more patron friendly library always intrigue me because of the problems I have encountered finding things in bookstores. Browsing works when you have a vague idea of the type of book you want to read (mystery, history, cooking, etc.) , but it can be frustrating if your needs are more focused (low cholesterol cooking, the battle for Anzio during World War II) because you might need to "browse" several shelves looking for something that fits your request. And often, even helpful bookstore staff are stumped.

In a bookstore they might not even have a title that fits your need, but, in a more comprehensive library, how do you find what you need in the library without a classification system? While both Dewey and LC may have their drawbacks, I can't see abandoning them for no method of organization. If there is no catalog to use, are the items classified in some other way so the staff know what "neighborhood" titles 'live in'? Is there a secret 'staff catalog' of authors, titles, and subjects headings? How do the staff cope with questions?

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Nice little set of statistics from the RIF newsletter:

Reading Is Fundamental | Parents | Elementary, My Dear Watson  Annotated



The Wonderful World of Fantasy

Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsThis month, the last Harry Potter book hits the shelves.  The bestselling series has introduced millions of kids worldwide to the joy of reading and to the wonderful world of fantasy. 

According to a 2006 Scholastic and Yankelovich study, :

round purple bullet76 percent of Harry Potter readers surveyed agreed that reading the series has made them interested in reading other books.


round purple bullet65 percent of Harry Potter readers agreed they have been doing better in school since reading the series.

Similarly, 89 percent of these readers' parents agreed that the series has helped their child enjoy reading more, and 76 percent agree the series has helped their child in school.


The Harry Potter series joins a lengthy list of magical books that have been engaging kids for centuries: from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy to Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series. This month, whether your kids are Harry Potter fans or not, get them wrapped up in a fantastical story with these books and activities. 

Games & Activities