This document summarizes a panel discussion on moving beyond the Dewey Decimal System. The panelists discussed their experiences transitioning to word-based subject classifications at various libraries. They shed Dewey numbers for topics like cooking, home, and beauty. Challenges included designing labels and taxonomies. Analysis after going Dewey-free showed improved circulation and patron satisfaction. Other libraries have adopted subject-based or hybrid systems.

1. DEWEY & BEYOND: A PANEL DISCUSSION
LACONI RASS
September 17, 2010
Melissa Rice
Head of Adult Services
Frankfort Public Library District
www.deweyfree.com

2. DEWEY & BEYOND: A PANEL DISCUSSION
Bleue Benton
Oak Park Public Library
Michael Geeraedts
Highland Park Public Library

3. 2005 & 2006
Service & space needs assessment study
New concepts & library services
oLondon’s Idea Store
oDelft’s DOK Library
oRichmond’s Ironwood Branch
Remodeled Youth Services shelving

4. 2007
Dropped ANSCR
Remodeled Circulation
Customer-Focused Library Project

5. Dropped ANSCR

8. Customer Focused Library Project
 Presentations & Practices
 Envirosell
 Paco Underhill: Why We Buy

9. PLA 2008
Maricopa County Public Library, AZ
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library,
Topeka, KS

10. What did we do?
Converted to a word based classification
system
Refer to BISAC (Book Industry Standards
& Classification) as a guideline

11. McGraw-Hill's Conquering GMAT Math
6 different
Dewey numbers
are used to
identify this
book’s location.

12. The Dewey Free Project
Phase 1: Planning & Design
Phase 2: Shifting & Signage
Phase 3: Conversion
Phase 4: Analysis

13. Phase 1: Planning & Design
 Designed a new floor layout
 Weed! Weed! Weed!
 Staffing
 Time schedule

14. Original Floor Plan

15. Proposed Layout: July 2008

16. Phase 2: Shifting & Signage

19. Phase 3: Conversion
Spine labels
Taxonomy

20. Spine Labels
 How many lines or levels?
 How much is too much information?
 Font style, color, and size?
 Designing a label template
o SUBJECT
o CATEGORY
o Author

21. Spine Label Design

22. Call Number

23. Shelf Tags

24. Taxonomy
 Subject Collection Guide
 Project coordinators develop the skeleton
 Monthly committee meeting
 Main taxonomy document is open to everyone
working on the project

25. Cooking
 Deconstructed
 No “Ethnic” OR “Courses & Dishes” categories
 AFRICAN
 AMERICAN
 APPETIZERS
 ASIAN
 BEVERAGES

26. Home
 APPLIANCES
 BUILDING
 CLEANING
 CONSUMER
 DECORATING
o BASEMENT
o BATHROOM
o BEDROOM

27. Beauty
 BODY ART
 GENERAL
 HAIR
 MAKE-UP
 SKIN

28. We’re Done!
Adult Nonfiction, Audiobooks, DVDs, & Large
Print completed on September 10, 2009

29. Final Layout: Micromaps
 http://frankfortlibrary.micromaps.com

30. Projects
 Merged Biography into Subject
Collections
 Converted remaining titles in Reference
Collection
 Designed new endcap signs

31. New Endcap Signs

32. Phase 4: Analysis
We will evaluate the project’s success:
• Circulation Statistics
• Surveys
• Patron comments
• Subject Collection Review
This analysis will tell us if we need to alter any of the
following:
• Signs
• Taxonomies
• Layout

33. What’s Happening?

34. Subject Based, Dewey Free
 Maricopa County Library District, AZ
 Seward Memorial Library, Seward, NE
 Darien Public Library, Darien, CT
 Rangeview Library District, Adams County, CO
 Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien, IL

35. Mashup: Subject + Dewey
 Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka,
KS
 Delta Township District Library, Lansing, MI
 Gail Borden District Library, Rakow Branch, Elgin,
IL

36. Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics by Ina Garten
Subject: Frankfort Public Library
Dewey: SWAN District
 641.5 GARTEN  COOKING GENERAL Garten
 641.5 GAR
Mashup: Delta Township District Subject: Maricopa County Library
Library, Lansing, MI District, AZ
 FOOD 641.5  COOKING
Mashup: Gail Borden Public Library Subject: Rangeview Library District,
District, Rakow Branch CO
 COOKING AND  COOKING
ENTERTAINING 641.5 Garten

37. Italian Grill by Mario Batali
Subject: Frankfort Public Library
Dewey: SWAN District
 641.5 BATALI  COOKING ITALIAN Batali
 641.5784 BATALI
Mashup: Delta Township District Subject: Maricopa County Library
Library, Lansing, MI District, AZ
 FOOD 641.5784  COOKING INTL
Subject: Ridgeview Library District,
Mashup: Gail Borden Library District CO
 COOKING AND ENTERTAINING  COOKING INTNTL ITALIAN
641.5784 Batali
 COOKING INTNTL

38. FRANKFORT PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT
Melissa Rice
Head of Adult Services
mrice@frankfortlibrary.org
815.534.6173
frankfortlibrary.org
deweyfree.com