Hello everyone:I have a question about classifying fiction. I know the Classificaton System for Church Libraries and the Church Library Ministry Information Service say to use "F," not 813 and 823, like most school and public libraries.Does it really matter which way you go?We only have about 50 fiction titles in our church library of 1,700 titles, and all 1,700 volumes fit in one room. So you can get the whole DDC layout in basically one glance. It seems like a "FICTION" label on the 800s shelf would do about as well as a separate fiction section.Or is "F" so ingrained with most users that they expect a separate fiction section from their experience in school and public libraries?I would appreciate your advice.Many thanks!Charles CampbellGracePointe Church LibraryMontgomery, ALwww.librarything.com/profile/GracePointeChurch
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In a library the size and make-up of yours, I would just keep the Dewey designation and put very obvious signs on the shelves. You don't really have enough fiction volumes to warrant a separate area and as long as it is well-marked, I would think it would be fine.
I use FIC for fiction and have a separate section. Most folks still expect and look for that.
In our library we still use the F for fiction, but we have decided to add a men's section, because they seemed to go straight in through the door and didn't browse. We put M F DAV on the shelf set up for the men. Then we made another shelf nest to the fiction shelf for biographies and missionaries that would appeal to the men and labeled them M 267 and M 266 plus Christian living as M 248. We didn't put the Dewey number on the binding but left it on the book card. The books can be checked out by the women if they so choose, because they do browse.
We had a bunch of those Stories for the Heart books- and collections of short devotional type stories and poetry by Frances Ridley Havergal, and Ruth Bell Graham. We made the decision to put that type of literature in the 800 section. I think we mostly used 808. People will not be looking for T. Davis Bunn or Karen Kingsbury in 800 section. Totally different genre.
I just automatically go to the F when looking for that type of book. Because I taught school for so long, I guess I think of "classics" or literature you might study in school in the 800s. However, I think you should ask your patrons and see what they would like best and go with it as long as you are more than just okay with it.