Hi - The BVstorytimes is actually the Blue Valley Branch of the Johnson County Library in Kansas. We use this to keep track of books we like to use in our storytimes. Glad you liked it.

Lähettänyt: BVstorytime 12:15 pm (EST) Aug 28, 2008

Hi Krys,

Decided to leave a comment here rather than Twitter for length. Wanted to comment on our transition from Dewey to genre-based cataloguing in the music collection. For small collections genre is the way to go because searching for items that way is generally intuitive. The drawback in music cataloguing is that record companies don't uniformly label their CDs. Some lead with title, some with artist, and some omit one or the other. So, consistent library labeling and searching are frustrated. At least with genres you can determine what categories to use and how many to have. Dewey kind of specifies, and like in other aspects, reflects 19th century (or at least mid 20th) tastes and practices.

In the classical genre one can catalog by composer regardless of type of composition, while in Dewey every type (symphony, string quartet, opera, etc.) has its own alphabet. that makes searching just by composer very frustrating, and you kind of have to know the overall type scheme. Since a small-medium library may only have a few CDs in any type, its classical collection may just appear to be out of order.

At our branch the collection has a lot of jazz, gospel, R&B and Rock; very little C&W and classical. The pop genre is confused because it includes big-band through Michael Jackson. Obviously it needs to be subdivided, but in Dewey pop is only one number, while classical is around 10.

I think it's important to be able to view the front of the CD jacket when browsing, rather than the spine. Obviously the front is easier to read than the spine, and more information about the CD is immediately available. The drawback is keeping the collection in order. Of course, have bins that allow for front access take up more floor space.

How is your collection organized and shelved?

Lähettänyt: saxhorn 3:23 am (EST) Aug 26, 2008

Found you? Of course! That's information science at work!

Lähettänyt: silencius 12:59 am (EST) Aug 26, 2008

Hi! Did you enjoy your visit here? I hope you were here for the dream cruise, it's crazy but it's fun.

I just finished Deliver Us From Normal by Kate Klise and recommend that too. I don't normally bother with mundane juvenile fiction (Cornelia being the exception etc etc) because I'm more of an SF/F fan, but I picked it up at the bookstore and couldn't put it back down. I only gave it 3-1/2 stars because it's just not my usual taste, but overall it's a good grown-up read too.

Lähettänyt: cabri 9:40 pm (EST) Aug 20, 2008

Ha. That is funny. I've pre-ordered my copy already on amazon.co.jp. Hopefully there won't be a delay in shipping (as was the case with Breaking Dawn). I can't wait until October (or Tuesday when my copy of Breaking Dawn is finally due to arrive).

Happy reading!

Lähettänyt: strandedon8jo 1:35 am (EST) Aug 10, 2008

You have an ARC of Paper Towns... jealous!

Lähettänyt: strandedon8jo 12:02 pm (EST) Aug 9, 2008

I'm one step ahead of you. I've already ordered An Abundance of Katherines from Amazon. I've waiting patiently for it to arrive. I definitely miss being able to go into an actual book store and browse but amazon.co.jp has been very good to me these past three years. Especially during my first two years in Japan.

I spent those years living on a small island about 300 kilometers south of Tokyo with a population of just under 9000 people (hence my name... strandedon8jo. Eight is hachi in Japanese, so I was stranded on Hachijo). I enjoyed my time on Hachijo-jima very much, but there were no book stores to speak of. Hachijo-jima is such a beautiful and out of the way place. If you ever make it back to Japan, I definitely recommend a visit.

Since leaving my little tropical island I've been living in Hokkaido the northern most of Japan's main islands. Such a different climate. And while there a bookstore with English books a couple of hours away, I still tend to do most of my purchasing online. So, I while I wait for my good friends at Amazon to send me Katherines, I'll be working my way through TBR pile... a pile that is ever increasing!

Lähettänyt: strandedon8jo 10:39 am (EST) Jul 25, 2008

I'm all a gush with Aussie pride.

I see you have some Mem Fox in your library. Have you read Possum Magic? It's hugely popular amongst Australian kids and is without a doubt her most famous book.

If your interested in a recommendation for an Australian YA author, I suggest John Marsden. I particularly liked his 'Tomorrow when the War Began' series.

Lähettänyt: strandedon8jo 1:31 pm (EST) Jul 24, 2008

You're a librarian... I'm so jealous. My younger nerdfighting self wanted to study to become a librarian, unfortunately this epiphany didn't happen until I was already half way through my degree. Such a shame!

At least I can pretend to be a librarian with the help of librarything.com. It's such a great tool...that and it makes me feel so much better about my love of YA novels. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only adult reader of YA out there.

DFTBA.

Lähettänyt: strandedon8jo 1:19 pm (EST) Jul 24, 2008

Hi!
How funny! :-) I was just looking at the book battle page and saw you added some questions. When I went into librarything, I saw your messages. I look forward to keep up on what you are reading.
Erin

Lähettänyt: ewyatt 12:11 am (EST) Jul 21, 2008

Hi!

I sent you a friend request... I am a school librarian from Finland and it was nice to see how you had taken up a wiki to be used as a research gateway to students! If you don't mind, it would be nice to be in contact - I am trying to come up with some kind of solution in that area as well... It would be nice to know how that wiki works and is it used by the students.

Thanks already in advance and have a great weekend!

Anu

Lähettänyt: Siniperhonen 7:04 am (EST) Jul 18, 2008

I think it is amazing how many geat YA books are out there.....people (me) get so stuck in reading a certain author, or adult books...I am just so amazed at how many wonderful books I have stumbled upon after reading the YA posts!! I have just started reading A Time for Dancing, by Davida Wills Hurwin, and think I am going to really enjoy it. Any other sug. you have would be much appreciated:)

Happy Reading
Lora

Lähettänyt: lorabear 1:09 pm (EST) Jul 17, 2008

Yeah, thanks a bunch, like I needed one more thing to keep me busy on the computer. ;)

Lähettänyt: jwilk55 10:19 pm (EST) Jun 30, 2008

Hey! How did you find me? I discovered this toward the end of the year and decided to slowly work toward entering my whole classroom library. I love this site...so cool! I'm looking forward to working together at BV this year, and am already thinking of fun ideas for my room! Hopefully we can collaborate on lots of projects. See you in August! Jen

Lähettänyt: BVReaders 10:57 pm (EST) Jun 27, 2008

*waves* Hello, fellow Caudill reader! :) I'm contemplating reading the Abraham Lincoln nominees, too... Hmmm.

Lähettänyt: abbylibrarian 8:55 pm (EST) Jun 9, 2008