BRINGING UP BABY BISAC:WORDTHINK

CLASSIFICATIONConverting a library collection to a word-based classification system

ANYTHINK:A Revolution of Rangeview Libraries

• Board-encouraged – OCLC study “From Awareness to Funding”

• “Experience” library model• Anythink brand roll-out

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?

• London’s Idea Store• Maricopa County Library(AZ) – 4

branches with BISAC classification• Frankfort Library District (IL) –

completed project September 2009• Arapahoe Library District (CO) –

Southglenn branch

NEW DIRECTION • 2005 independence from Adams County• 2006 Mill Levy approval by Adams County voters• 2009 Fine Free• New job titles and descriptions

4 new branches! Bennett, May 2009

Brighton, September 2009

Huron Street, February 2010

Wright Farms, Summer 2010

DESIGN WORDTHINK

• Collection Development team visited Maricopa county

• Used BISAC as a model

WORDTHINK GRID

BISACSPINE

LABEL #1 BISAC 2SPINE

LABEL #2

Relationships RELATION    

  RELATION Abuse ABUSE

  RELATION Dating DATING

  RELATION Divorce DIVORCE

  RELATION Family FAMILY

  RELATION Marriage MARRIAGE

  RELATION Sex SEX

  RELATION WeddingsWEDDINGS

WORDTHINK TRANSLATIONFAM000000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / General RELATION  

FAM001000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Abuse / General RELATION ABUSE

FAM001010 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Abuse / Child Abuse RELATION ABUSE

FAM001030 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Abuse / Domestic Partner Abuse RELATION ABUSE

FAM004000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Adoption & Fostering RELATION FAMILY

FAM006000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Alternative Family RELATION FAMILY

FAM015000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Divorce & Separation RELATION DIVORCE

FAM017000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Eldercare RELATION FAMILY

FAM029000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Love & Romance RELATION DATING

FAM030000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Marriage RELATION MARRIAGE

FAM033000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Parenting / Parent & Adult Child RELATION FAMILY

FAM041000 FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Siblings RELATION FAMILY

HEA042000 HEALTH & FITNESS / Sexuality RELATION SEX

PSY016000 PSYCHOLOGY / Human Sexuality RELATION SEX

REF024000 REFERENCE / Weddings RELATION WEDDINGS

SEL001000 SELF-HELP / Abuse RELATION ABUSE

SEL034000 SELF-HELP / Sexual Instruction RELATION SEX

PLANNING • Spine Label examples:

DVDHOMEDIY

BIOGRAPHFAMOUS

TRUMP

HISTORYMILITARYWW2

MEDICALHRT DIS

COOKINGINTNTL

JPLACESUS

TEENRELATION

TEENGRAPHIC

SPIDER-M

BEHIND THE SCENES• Split up collection – 4 staff members

change item records for Dewey ranges Example: 636.7 = PETS DOGS – go through item by item• Every NF collection converted LP, Books on CD, J & E, Teen• Change catalog display

1 MONTH - 2 WEEKS BEFORE EACH BRANCH

CONVERSION • Collection Assessment with key staff

What do you need to weed?• Map shelving # of items per section Where will neighborhoods fit?• Print spine labels in bulk

1 WEEKS – 2 WEEKS BEFORE EACH BRANCH

CONVERSION • Print shelf lists• Match labels with

shelf lists• Type labels for item

specific materials – Spanish, Teen, LP, media, Graphic

AT THE BRANCH • Close branch for 1 week• Label shelves for

WordThink layout of collection

• Extra carts from Collection Development

• Each staff member gets a shelf list with labels

AT THE BRANCH, CONT.• Reshelve and shift

materials in their new location

By neighborhood, then by top level category, then sub-categories, and in title alphabetical order

• New signs from communications

AT THE BRANCH, CONT.• One person dedicated to

weeding/fixing problems – individual label-printer – SQL notes field into call number field

• Change cataloging problems

• Convert materials upon check in

PLAN! PLAN! PLAN!• Work with vendor to plan processing• Ordering Dewey and BISAC

simultaneously• Create grids, translation keys• Ask other branches/departments for

help – extra hours for part-timers• Cross-train staff at converted branches• Communication with all staff• Support from all levels

RESULTS

• Jump in circulation for Biographies & Teen NF

• Staff likes the change• Customers find what

they want on their own• Tours/media/presentations• Merchandised

collection

WHAT’S NEXT?• Publish guidelines for staff• Clean up conversion changes• Spanish WordThink FAQ• BISAC Teen translation• Continuing education for staff

and customers• Work with other vendors• Northglenn/Huron Street

conversion – December• Wright Farms opens with

WordThink ODC – Summer 2010

CONTACT USRACHEL FEWELL303-405-3292rfewell@anythinklibraries.org

LOGAN MACDONALD303-405-3293lmacdonald@anythinklibraries.org

LORETTA MAINOCK303-405-3297lmainock@anythinklibraries.org