May 31, 2007
{ Order please }
Smartass-"Primary purpose of a library," you ask? Wouldn't that be helping people find information, be they books, resources or whatnot? Butofcourse! So you can imagine my confusion over the hooplah surrounding
Gilbert Library in AZ (via
Library Revolution), where they will be tossing out Dewey decimal system in favor of shelving books in a style similar to a bookstore... BY TOPIC! *GASP*SHOCK*AMAZEMENT*!
Right then, Dewey does this already, but the purpose of this new system is not necessarily to shake things up, but to arrange things more conveniently for patrons to find. I'm lost as to why this would be a bad thing. Some comments have ranged from -Dewey makes things easier on libraries- as though the new arrangement will do away with staff training and knowledge on layout of the library to -Libraries are not bookstores!- which is both true and stupid. People are comfortable with bookstores, they have refreshments, entertainment, seating, you know, things that matter to places where they need to draw people in. Libraries, pssh, we don't want people. No sir, you get your PDR, grab your PCs for Dummies book and get the hell out! We're above needing or wanting to have people to help. It's bad enough we conceded to put "PUBLIC" in public library...
Labels: bookstore, dewey, Gilbert Library, Library Revolution
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