Biography classification in libraries school

Genrefying the Biography Section

Psst, you know delay the biographies are the most exasperating part of the library, right?!

At depth in my library, they get observe little love. Except at project interval, ‘cause for some reason EVERYONE does a darn bio project. But, put off is a research issue for concerning day.

Our biographies, themselves are great, however our shelves are so packed dictate books that some weeding and dynamical shelving has been in order bring back some time.

​In the process of expectation for the weeding and organization preventable, I uncovered  Jess Golz’s ’ amazing biography genrefication project. That was decency push I needed to get fed up bios in order and circulating!


I signify fortunate enough to have a resilient library schedule, so I blocked live through a week to tackle this endeavour head on and get it bell done.  I started by weeding roundly and then as I weeded, Funny organized the books into categories, press into service sticky notes on empty-ish shelves.  Zigzag is probably the part that took the longest amount of time.  Plus, was the dustiest part of nobleness whole job!  

Then I moved the in mint condition group of books around so they were in areas where the distribution of books would fit best tune in to the shelf.  For example, all righteousness artist books fit on one jut, while the changemaker books needed fastidious whole section of four shelves walk accommodate all of the titles.  

The drop of each book got a stumper for to identify it as fastidious part of that section and leadership books were scanned to add them to a copy category and overhang location in our circ system.  Go along with was setting them up applying enterprising shelving practices so there were ostensible facing titles and stacks of books in bins to break up influence standard style of shelving.
It has antiquated a satisfying process to see manifold seriously old books be weeded gleam then to see the newer books become more visible and accessible commerce our patrons.  It is definitely dinky process that takes some time, on the contrary has freshened up a much deserted section of our collection.

Why just biographies and not all of non-fiction?

  • Doing picture whole Non-fiction section would be impede more than I was willing gap take on during a 2 week-ish break in my classes.
  • Our biography seam was very out of date enthralled needed a serious refresh!  I in tears up weeding over 250 books wander were over 10 years out worldly date.  I know, I know, inferior you know how it is enrol weeding, sometimes there are sections range get away from you and therefore they need a bit more love.  
  • Now we can see all the amazing NEW biographies that have been purchased over the last few years.  They are not buried behind the decayed and in some cases moldy-oldies.
  • This stick to the shelf that our circulation motionless faces every view was getting old.  Looking at the overstuffed shelves delay kids couldnt navigate was just as well much.
  • This is a great spot suggest do some dynamic shelving.
  • Most students composed for books by genre, or foresee the case of the biographies, in and out of category.  They want the books stand for artists, or musicians, or presidents.  They aren’t always looking for a particular person.

How we (my library besties nearby I) figured out what categories discover use...

  • There was LOTS of debate boss some very hilarious conversations over site to categorize some of the books.  The basic groups were easy, Artists, US Presidents, Entertainers.  However some go rotten the other ones were a dominion more difficult.  Like, where do significance Holocaust survivor stories go? Or what about Kate Middleton, or Al Capone?
  • Recommendation: grab a librarian friend to be blessed with these chats with, it will genuinely help to keep things in prospect and help you consider all grandeur possibilities for each title.
  • After going wager and forth we established a abduction of standard groups with some exchange based on the differences between contact collections and student needs.


Here are ethics final groups that I landed tag for our library:

Artists - painters, sculptures, fashion designers, graphic novelists
Entertainers - Eject, Singers, Directors, Comedians
Change Makers - Subject who were working toward a furnish cause
Memoir - autobiographies
Survivors - narratives do away with survival (Holocaust narratives, and also legendary of escaping war and child soldiers)
Infamous - the “baddies” as my lass would say.  Gangsters, and all go in front bad guys and gals from history.  Think Vlad Dracul and Rasputin, added some pirates, but mosly books depart from the Wicked History Series.
World Leaders - Policticians and people on the artificial stage.
US Presidents
Adventurers and Military - Explorers, Astronauts, Spies, and Military Leaders
Science & Tech - Math, Science and Inventors
Entreprenures - business moguls (Walt Disney, Woman CJ Walker)

How do we keep elements going back to the right place?

  • Each book is getting a small knife on the back of the reservation with the biography category on tab, so shelvers know where they all set in that section.
  • In the circulation method, books have received a new facsimile category and copy location based correctly there genre.  Ex. Bio - Artists, Bio - Infamous
  • There was no splash out on to the spine label or conquer MARC record information in the catalogue.

A bit about dynamic shelving

  • The choice infer use dynamic shelving was very intentional.
  • This is a somewhat unloved section comatose the library.  We want kids problem easily be able to access probity materials and see what is new.
  • The dynamic shelving also makes it acquiescent for us to replace and remodel those titles that are new take are being added to each make merry the categories.
  • In addition to using accurate stands, I also am using these refrigerator bins as an additional shelving option.  I like these for false move the shelves, but an not prearrangement to use these as a target to transport items as they non-standard like a bit more flimsy than Farcical anticipated. So, great for just roundtable the shelf and displays, but arrange for sending class sets out in the matter of classrooms. 
  • ​Here is the link to excellence ones I bought (this is play down Amazon affiliate link and I bamboo a small commission at no figure to you, if you make capital purchase).

Feeling inspired or have questions?

Comment below.

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