A lot of hoopla is going around about doing away with the Dewey Classification System. A NYT article popped into our school list about one library who has decided to drop Dewey altogether. Do I think we should get rid of Dewey? Yes and no. I applaud the libraries that are finally looking at ways to make libraries more usable for their patrons. What I don't think we should do is to stop making it usable for our staff; although logic tells me that a simple classification for patrons should also be simple for staff to use. I don't necessarily think that that Dewey should be abandoned; I do think that if used it should invisible to our patrons.
The Dewey Decimal Classification has been around for 131 years now, and in the span of those years, our patrons still have not figured out how to use it. They don't know what the numbers mean, they don't care what the numbers mean, and I don't think we should have to force them to. I'm in favor of a more bookstore like classification for our patrons in public libraries. As librarians we need to stop thinking like librarians when it comes to our patrons needs too. We want everything to have a place, a number, a home on the shelf, but this is not how our patrons think anymore. Some are already used to iTunes and Amazon, the world of the miscellaneous.
Appropriately, I just spent the last few work days, with the rest of the staff at my branch, relabeling our CDs away from Dewey to a genre based classification (much like you would find at a music store). I've already noticed considerable positive differences in the organization of our CD collection. It is much easier to find things in the Classical music section for one. Finally, Halloween sound effects and Halloween music are brought together from opposite ends of the Dewey spectrum into a Holiday classification. It's not perfect, there are some things that are missing, one being Alternative and Rap sections, although I know the exclusion of one has to do with subject headings and the other was a conscious decision not to add. Since the changes were done globally by subject headings, there are some assignments that I don't disagree with, namely the distinction between what is Rock and what is Pop. Of course the problems have to do more with the limitations we have when dealing with physical items.
I think we do need to step back, take a deep breath, and do a huge reality check in the profession. We need to decide if we are really serving our patrons, and if some libraries decide that Dewey is not serving our patrons effectively then I am in total support.
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