How to organize/classify fiction?

[Linda S]

One area I'm focusing on this year is the Adult Fiction section with some incomplete series and a need for new books. As I update the Adult Fiction series, I believe it beneficial to classify our fiction section differently. That is, in a more specific way -- but not too specific. 

 

We just went online with our library, and so we can enter more specifically  into the computer. But when people browse in our library room, I'd like to make it a bit easier to find their taste of fiction. 

 

What are your thoughts/experience/opinions on genre-related subdivisions in relation to adult fiction? 

I wish to keep it a bit simple, but allow for more growth in the future. 

 

My thoughts at this time .............. 

So what if I use the following 3 time-related terms for subdivisions on our shelves?

1. Historical -- I'd include Biblical fiction here as well as others. Almost 1/2 of the fiction? 

 

2. Contemporary -  We've a number of these books, including Amish, Kingsbury series and more. Almost 1/2 of the fiction? 

 

3. Futuristic  -- would this cover books like the Left Behind Series or Sci-Fi type books?  A smaller portion of the fiction.    Would another term work better? 

 

What am I missing or not thinking of? What works in your church library?

By the way -- if it helps.... our library size involves about 2,400 items. 

[Pam Grady]

Me too on a pdf of the tri-fold flyers!

[adair elwing]

posted couple photos in The Circle

[Cathy Smith]

I suggest that you not do it! Alpha by author is the standard, and it works well. Some authors are knows for writing a certain type fiction, some write several. You could always put stickers at the top of the book to give an idea as to what type of fiction it is. There is a huge discussion going on in school libraries about "genrefying" collections and as a library consultant, I always warn against it. What do we have such great online catalogs only to lower to the "least common denominator" of subject arrangement? Not only is it very subjective, but confusing, if you don't think like the librarian who grouped them. Just my take, for what it's worth!!!!

[Debbie Dehart]

I also agree. It seems unnecessarily complicated to me, especially when it is so easy to put a genre label on the spine of the book as you catalog it (and create your own labels if you don't want to buy them or want to use genres for which you can't find a label). Traditional libraries are set up the way they are for good reasons, and in general I tend to think doing it at least roughly the way they do is a good idea - tweaking it to fit your own collection, of course.
I am aware that some libraries do have some of their fiction arranged by genre; for example a library in our area has a separate section for science fiction, and another for mystery. However, for a church library, which tends to be much smaller, I'm not sure it's helpful and possibly makes things more complicated for the staff.

[Denise A Roberts]

I think I have to agree with you. We have always had our fiction by the author with the subcategories in labels that were an added benefit but never in place of the Alpha by author. With as many books as we have, it would be a madhouse to do it any other way. My assistant (Debbie Dehart) has always done a great job explaining to me why I can't do things the way I see it, because it may not be the way others see it. She has always been right....or almost always. :-)

[Denise A Roberts]

Debbie Dehart has already commented here, July 22, 2018 but I can add to her comment. We have worked hard with our fiction categories as well. We have been adding labels on the top of the spine so people know at a glance that there are more in a particular series. We label it with the series and order number. we also have added labels on the lower part of the spine for historical, mystery, suspense, sci-fi, fantasy, classics as well as making our own labels for "good reads." A good read would be a book that is not necessarily labeled Christian but is quality writing, quality characters and solid morality. We currently have about 11,000 books in our library and as we are putting them into our online catalog we are also tagging them with labels that will help future book challenges or contests, i.e. one word titles, seasonal, and specific topic. We are doing this for both fiction and nonfiction. Time consuming but we are seeing an increase in the use of our online catalog and I think it is because it is so easy to put in a topic or description that we have included.

[Linda S]

Thanks, Mary. I would love to see your library! I bet I could find some great reading!

I understand the process of handwritten labels --- we do the same. It does take a lot to think thru what we put on those labels. 

Thanks for your helpful comments. I'm ever so grateful for this forum & specifically for people like you who share. May you be blessed for your attentiveness in your library. 

[Debbie Dehart]

I would find this to be a bit of a headache, but if you like the idea, morr power to you!

we just have one large fiction area, arranged alphabetically by author. However, i do add genre labels to many books (we get labels from demco) and i also type series labels ro put at the tops of the spines (the genre labels go at the bottom, just above the call number). These labels have made it much easier for our patrons to find specific items. 

[Linda S]

Debbie, I believe if I were in your library, I'd easily be able to find series or non-series books as well as the type of book (genre) I'd like to read. So in a sense, I believe we have the same idea. 

We continue to also alphabetize books according to author. Instead of using "series" stickers, we have 3 sections which sit quite close to each other in our little library: stand-alones, sets, and series. Call number indicates which area to place the book.  The historical, contemporary, and speculative all sit side-by-side.

[adair elwing]

There is suspense and mystery,  romance and sports I think Sci-Fi would work better than  futuristic and would cover thing because not all sci-fi is futuristic Might want to make Amish their own category But the problem I see with that is some authors write more than one style and then all of their books would not be together since you are computerized should be able to put the category in when you put the book in and then someone looking for valentines or penguins can find them by just typing in one or two words 

In the children's area we have used self sticking dot so while the books are in ABC order they know a green dot is sports lavender is New Testament story, red is Christmas it also makes it quick for us to pull  say Spring/Easter stories to put in daycare and children;s area without looking them up