The World According to Barnes and Noble

July 19, 2010

Now that I have told you about the Dewey Decimal System, I thought I would describe yet another way to organize a book and media collection. As librarians, we are always searching for better ways to serve you, the patrons and the public. Anything we can do to make your library experience as easy and memorable as possible makes us happy. Several recent additions to help facilitate this ease are the Self-Check machines and the Self Hold Pickup system. Another idea being batted around by many libraries is the "bookstore model" approach to organization. You've seen this in Barnes and Noble and Borders. Under this theory, a collection (books, audio visual media, etc) would be organized by subject. Unlike the Dewey Decimal System, each subject would not be assigned a number. There is the travel section, the history section, and so on and so forth. Everything has its place with a convenient sign above it telling where to go.

My question to you, avid Mid-Continent readers, is what do you think? What would make the library a easier place to navigate? Do you like the Dewey Decimal System or do you think the way Barnes and Noble organizes their books, DVDs, etc is better? We welcome all opinions and thoughts.

Thanks,

Sarah E