Sandy Bixby Library Media Specialist Edgemere Elementary School Kelly Ray Library Media Resource Teacher Office of Digital Learning Session Resources: tinyurl.com/undewey Un-Deweying the School Library: Empowering Students and Expanding Learning

Create an action plan for transitioning a school library collection from the Dewey Decimal System to a “bookstore model” Customize the organization of your school library collection to address the needs of all learners Session Outcomes We hope that our story will inspire and empower you to …

Access resources referenced throughout this session including: Project Wiki URL & QR Code Fiction Genre Spotlights on Edgemere School Library Wiki Bixby’s Bookshelves Blog Follow us Contact us Session Bookmark

ASK QUESTIONS and share your todaysmeet.com/undew1 Image: AASL/Knowledge Quest

Image: “non-traditional shelving”“subject-based cataloging” “bookstore model” “un-Deweying”

Inspired by Trends and Trailblazers *See more inspiration on our Project wiki.

What do YOU think about the “genrefication” trend in school libraries?

CG 2015 Responses

BCPS Office of Digital Learning (ODL) S.T.A.T. initiative Lighthouse Schools School Library Media Centers & Programs

PILOT PROJECT: ODL provided leadership and support for a genrefication pilot project proposed by Sandy Bixby at Edgemere Elementary. We have offered genrefication workshops for BCPS LMS. We have curated all pilot resources on bcpslis wiki for your use. – ODL staff may be able to provide limited staff support for genrefication projects at other schools. – LMS must submit an Action Plan (linked on wiki) if requesting staff support from ODL. We cannot guarantee availability of ODL staff.

Edgemere Elementary School Library Collection: 7,812 Books*  1288 Fiction  139 Graphic Novels  3809 Nonfiction  2427 Everybody (Picture Books) *At time of genrefication pilot. Library Automation: Follett  DESTINY Library Manager  DESTINYQuest OPAC

Edgemere Elementary School Southeast Area of Baltimore County 487 students 47% FARM 10% Special Ed Average class size students Images © Baltimore County Public Schools

Edgemere Elementary School One of 109 BCPS Elementary Schools Southeast Area of Baltimore County 487 students 47% FARM 10% Special Ed Average class size students Images © Baltimore County Public Schools

Why I decided to un-Dewey… To balance time for teaching and learning with time for finding and checking out books  Curriculum lessons take most of the class period  Limited time for searching Destiny library catalog and browsing shelves Image: BCPS

Why I decided to un-Dewey … To empower students to be more independent and successful at finding books they want to read Students spent more time “searching and asking” for books than “finding and reading” them Limitations of using OPAC for younger students Our mission is to connect kids with books! To make their Library a more learner-centered environment Elementary students have not yet mastered decimal skills So Dewey Decimal System is more librarian-centric than student-centric It’s THEIR Library! Image:

Logistics Support: Planning, funding and human resources BCPS Office of Digital Learning staff A few fellow BCPS school librarians School administration, staff, students Time & Labor 20+ hours Up to 8 helpers during various sessions Used days with no students, after school, evenings, planning periods Budget Approximately $200 spent on supplies Image © BCPS

The Plan Genrefy the Fiction section first, then Nonfiction Leave Everybody section (picture books) in alphabetical order by author Leave some popular Series/Authors in baskets/un-labeled Total number of books involved: Identify Fiction genres and Nonfiction subjects. Based on students’ interests and topics in the collection Include students in the process Keep genre & subject names short and student-friendly Image: BCPS

The Plan Create custom spine labels and signs. Pre-printed vendor’s labels missing some genres and lacked visual appeal Use simple, colorful, copyright-friendly images as visual cues Add QR codes to signs for access to related online resources and media via School Library wiki. Enlist a team of helpers to categorize, label, and re-shelve books. Weed as we go along Image © Baltimore County Public Schools

Created a Project Wiki page: tinyurl.com/undeweytinyurl.com/undewey To curate project information and resources for other librarians to access. Started Librarian’s Blog: bixbysbookshelves.blogspot.combixbysbookshelves.blogspot.com To share the journey, including project news, reflections, photos, and outcomes. Used School Library Twitter: To share project news, photos, and student feedback. Used Destiny Library Manager: To display Genre/Subject sublocations in Copy records. Collect circulation data comparing numbers before and after genrefication. Created Genre Spotlight pages on School Library Wiki & Added QR Codes on Fiction Genre Signs QR codes on signs will lead students to Genre spotlight wiki pages featuring links to Author/Series Websites, Book Trailers, Review a Book, Related Reading, etc. Image © Baltimore County Public Schools Use Digital Tools & Social Media

FICTION: Genres Customize your genre list for YOUR students and your own collection!

FICTION: Spine Labels & Signs * Spine label templates and signs available on our Project Wiki page.

FICTION: Genrefying

FICTION: Labeling and re-shelving

Genrefied FICTION Section *Do not cover Dewey spine labels, BES labels

NONFICTION: The Process Students brainstormed Subjects Photos: bixbysbookshelves.blogspot.com * See more photos and videos on Bixby’s Bookshelves Blog.

Nonfiction: Subjects Sub-categories were identified later, using a label-maker to mark shelves. * Spine label templates and signs available on our project wiki. Images: Microsoft Clip Art or Clipart.com

Nonfiction: The Process Categorizing, labeling, and re-shelving books * See more photos on Bixby’s Bookshelves Blog. Photos: bixbysbookshelves.blogspot.com

Adding Genres & Subjects-Subcategories to Location Fields in Destiny 2. Add the Genre or Subject- Subcategory (if any) to the Sublocation list by clicking Other; you will only need to add it to ONE book. 3. Select Genre or Subject in Copy record from Sublocation list. Click 1. BEFORE RESHELVING: Select one book for each Fiction Genre & Nonfiction Subject (or Subject-Subcategory). Locate the book in Destiny and Edit Copy. 4. Click Save Copy.

Genre or Subject Displays as Location in Destiny

The Reaction * See more student reaction videos on Bixby’s Bookshelves blog.

The Data Preliminary data from Destiny showed significant circulation increase immediately following genrefication, compared to data for same week in previous year: Fiction: 40% increase Nonfiction: 340% increase *See more circulation data on Bixby’s Bookshelves blog.

The Data: Total Circulations Last Year vs. This Year November 18, 2013-June 1, November 18, 2014-June 1, Total Increase In Circulations 1341 or 11.2%

The Data: Fiction 1417 titles on the Destiny Title/Copy circulation statistics report 625 titles (44.1 %) of the Fiction collection) had increases in circulation over the previous year’s circulations Of those 625 titles, 440 (70.4%) had not circulated during the previous school year 131 (20.96%) increased by 3 circulations over the previous year 231 (36.96%) increased by 5+ circulations over the previous year

Data Analysis: Top 3 Fiction Genres based on Circulation Increase Just Like Me (80) Fantasy (52) Humor (36) *Note: 126 titles were not yet assigned location fields in Destiny

The Data: Nonfiction 3891 titles were listed on the exported report 1085 titles ( 27.9% of the nonfiction collection) had increases in circulation over the previous year’s circulations Of those 1085 titles, 803 (74%) had not circulated during school year 149 (13.7%) increased by 3 circulations over previous year 175 (16.1%) increased by 5+ circulations over previous year

Data Analysis: Top 5 Nonfiction Subjects with Circulation Increases Animals (132) Science (106) Top 3 subcategories: Inventors/Inventions 34, Weather 21, Experiments 15 Sports (81) - 27 were Biographies now located in the sports classification What Can I Make? (67) Who Is? (48) – Discovered by the 3rd grade teachers *Note: 227 titles were not yet assigned location fields in Destiny

Data Analysis: The Bottom Line Overall circulation increase of 11.2 % may not sound terribly significant BUT Over 1200 books (800 nonfiction and 400 fiction titles) that were NEVER checked out last year have circulated this year WHICH MEANS … Our collection is experiencing a rejuvenation as my students and teachers can more quickly and easily find what they want to read and learn!

Maintaining the Momentum on School Library Wiki

QR Codes and Wiki Genre Spotlights

If we had it to do over again, would have:  Done the project over the summer. Summer project more practical if lacking a large team.  Handled the books only ONCE during the process. Would scan books to set new location fields in Catalog at same time as labeling, before re-shelving. Lessons Learned …

Positive changes in the ways students (and teachers) use their Library and interact with the collection Students discovering new and appealing genres and subjects Collaborating to share and recommend genres, subjects, authors, series, and titles to each other Increased ENGAGEMENT in the book-seeking process Continued EXCITEMENT over books they’re finding They’re READING! Teachers easily finding books to support curriculum in classrooms Lasting Impact … for Students & Teachers

Positive changes for instruction: Significant decrease in time needed for book browsing and check out More time for teaching and learning More time for meaningful reader’s advisory Lasting Impact … for Librarian

Positive changes for management: Spine labels added to Returns cart make it easy for kids to genrefy books as they return them Re-shelving is much easier and quicker Lasting Impact … for Librarian

Gain support of school and district administration Create an action plan including a timeline/budget Assemble a team of colleagues and volunteers Start small: Fiction first, maybe one genre at a time Un-Deweying Tips for School Librarians

Middle & High School librarians: Recommend un-Deweying the Fiction section only  Nonfiction collections are too large  Secondary students can navigate Dewey Decimal System Call #’s  They need that experience to prepare for using college and public libraries Un-Deweying Tips for School Librarians

ALTERNATIVES: If re-shelving books by genre not feasable, you can still genrefy!  Use colored pre-printed vendor’s genre labels OR color dot labels  Create a “key” on posters, index cards, book marks  Leave books shelved by Dewey; colored stickers can be spotted easily and genres identified using the key! Un-Deweying Tips for School Librarians

Historical Fiction Fantasy Horror Mystery Realistic Fiction SciFi ALTERNATIVES (No Re-Shelving)

ALTERNATIVES: If re-shelving books by genre not feasable, you can still genrefy!  Use colored pre-printed vendor’s genre labels OR color dot labels  Create a “key” on posters, index cards, book marks  Leave books shelved by Dewey; colored stickers can be spotted easily and genres identified using the key! Un-Deweying Tips for School Librarians

Just un-Dewey it! Use your session BOOKMARK to examine and use resources from the Edgemere pilot Join our new Genrefication Group on Edmodo: Log into bcps.edmodo.com Join with Group Code: b8hyx6