Most local libraries seem to put the first 3 letters of the title on the visible spine so they are shelved alphabetically by title.  I plan to do this, but also think that I need to establish broad categories and identify those on the spine label and then shelve alphabetically within each category.  My question is:  what categories do you suggest for a church library?  Do you have a better way to shelve and organize DVDs?  Exactly how do you do it?  My thinking is to use maybe MUSIC, BIBLE STUDY, DRAMA/MOVIES, SCIENCE, SERMONS  Not sure what else would be helpful.  Seems like if a patron wants to see what movies we have, they can go to that section and look rather than having to browse them all.  I really just need to know how you organize your DVDs.  Does anyone assign Dewey numbers to them?

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  • Yes, we catalog our DVDs by Dewey.  We simply put DVD at the top of the spine label.  We catalog by age level, just like the books.  This is also how we catalog CDs.

  • We have three separate DVD sections: Kids', Instructional, and "regular".  The "regular" contains basically movies.  the "instructional" area contains DVD's that are, well, instructional - dvd's about historical topics or Creation or taped sermons, etc. 

    This level of division works well for us.

  • All of our DVDs are shelved according to type: creation/science; adult non-fiction; adult movies; family movies; children. Within the children's movies, like series are grouped together (Veggie Tales, Cherub Wings, etc), by episode or alphabetically within the group.

    No DD used, just the data base #. Keeps the spine simple.

    Just putting out DVDs #569-576 this weekend.

    • Is that the complete list of the categories/types you use?  It sounds like you assign them a number numerically as received.  Is that correct?  Or...  what do you mean by database number?  I'm still not clear on how you identify the types on the DVD and how you shelve within that type.  Thanks for your reply.  I'm getting closer to making a decision on this.  Seems like every library does it slightly different.

  • We organize our DVD collection by the following subject areas:

    BIBLE, THEOLOGY AND THE CHURCH

    CHRISTIAN HUMOR

    CHRISTIAN LIFE

    CHRISTIAN MOVIES

    COUNSELING

    CREATION AND SCIENCE

    CULTS

    FAMILY MOVIES

    FINANCES

    HOLIDAYS (CHRISTMAS, EASTER, INDEPENDENCE DAY, ETC)

    MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

    MATURE AUDIENCE MOVIES (meaning not of interest or appropriate for children)

    MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM

    MUSIC VIDEOS AND CONCERTS

    SOCIAL ISSUES

    EDUCATIONAL (HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, ETC.) 

    SPORTS AND FITNESS

    TEENS

    TRAVEL

    The movies are shelved alphabetically by title except series are all together under the series title.

    • Thanks for your response!  I'm not clear on how you do this, tho.  How do you identify the subject area on the DVD spine?  Are they alphabetically by title within the broad subject area or is the entire collection Alphabetically by title.

      • We had stickers made for each subject area and put them on the spine. The DVD's are cataloged for our OPAC by title, subject, author, series, etc. and given a number. The 

        DVD's are on the shelf numerically and you get the number after you make your search in the computer. Movies, however, are arranged alphabetically on the shelf. See the attached picture. There are a lot of ways it could be done but this was our choice. 

        DVD%202.jpg

        DVD%27s.jpg

        • I probably should know this...  but what is OPAC?

          • OPAC stands for On-Line Public Access Catalog.  Basically your card catalog on computer. Sorry, I should have written it out.

  • We dont shelve ours by the DD number. The first line on the spine label is the DVD number like DVD100, DVD101 etc. Second line is the DD mostly we use F for Fiction, B for Biography, CE or whatever the appropriate DD is. Third line is the first three letters of the title. 

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