End of Dewey Decimal System

for Libraries?
By Jessica Morris
LIS 5043 Organization of Information and Knowledge Resources
Professor Rhonda L. Taylor

This paper represents my own academic work and has not been previously submitted for
credit in any other course. I have utilized the spelling and grammar check functions of my
word processing software and The Chicago Style Manual, 16th edition.

Signed___________________________________

Jessica Morris LIS 5043

Introduction
Information is a chaotic thing and this world is overloaded with it. This is why proper
organization is important so it is not lost. In 1876, a man named Melvil Dewey developed a
classification that is still used all over in aiding information organizers or Librarians for many
years with organizing this widespread worlds growing information. In 2007, a public Library in
Arizona takes a bold step for its customers with discarding the Dewey Decimal Classification
(DDC) for a bookstore system called Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC).
This small step has brought forth unknowing a dilemma of Libraries keeping the old DDC and
what has worked or moving onto the next step, the BISAC, with the fast pass of society?
The Dewey Decimal Classification, is used in over 135 countriesand is translated into
30 languages. (Rowley and Hartley 2008, 207) This system uses a numeric range using three
digits ranging from 000 to 999. A notation system that organizes material in ten classes that
group similar subjects together. This classification makes it possible for every piece of
information to have a place, is accessible for seekers, and can be shelved correctly so to be found
again. These reasons making this system a favorite among Librarians.
Book Industry Standards and Communications is a standard developed by the book
industry to help bookstore businesses organize their materials. The BISAC system, is
maintained by the Book Industry Study Group, which classifies books into 52 broad categories,
each with additional levels of specificity. (Fister 2009, 22) These categories are set by the
publishers of the material. The reasoning behind this system is to save processing time for staff
and to make it easier on customers to browse. If a customer is looking for a specific book they
may have to consult with a staff member to find it.

Jessica Morris LIS 5043

This organizing dilemma has put a strain on the library world. Both of these two systems
have pros and cons concerning how information is organized and how the end user looks for it.
This paper will explore different published literature examining this new wave of overture of the
Dewey system for the BISAC. Author Barbara Fister is one of the main sources used in this
paper that gives statistics of surveys conducted on patrons and interviews conducted on the
Library community of their experiences. And the paper will conclude with an assessment of the
importance of this dilemma and the implications on the Library world.
Current Research on Topic: Literature
Who knew that one Librarian in the eighteen hundreds would revolutionize the
organization of library materials still used to this day? Are Librarians holding onto a too complex
for this day and age system because there is a sentiment attachment to the Dewey system? This
system is a beloved Library favorite that keeps order and BISAC is a browsable system. Both
sides of this organization dilemma have pros and cons to them that are explored in Barbara
Fisters article, The Dewey Dilemma. She surveys this topic, examining opinions of both users
and staff, and a possible solution for both sides to come together.
Fister takes a look at the DDC and questions what users are having trouble with it. Her
results with big numbers on 68% users having trouble understanding the catalog, 66% they feel
intimidated by classifications, 63% they want to browse first, 50 % complicated call numbers
and last 33% categories too spaced apart for browsing. Others believe Dewey is doing its job of
organizing materials of large groups and grouping them together so that the seeker will be able to
locate what they are looking for. For example, travel books get grouped together getting broken
down by region and country making it browsable. (Fister 2009, 24) Dewey is still a useful tool

Jessica Morris LIS 5043

for the Library and its classifications can help that seeker find exactly what they are looking for.
It provides consistency pattern that is used worldwide and has been translated to many other
languages. This repeated pattern provides a scheme that can be remembered for the future.
A Library wants to be an open inviting environment for its users and this BISAC system
could bring that bookstore experience that users want to the library. Many librarians feel
BISACs relative simplicity and user-friendly language have an advantage over Deweys
complexity. (Fister 2009, 22) But is this turning to a retail thinking a betrayal of library
values? The BISAC is a business industry schema made to meet the market demands of their
customers but arent so are we? The implementation of BISAC in Libraries is to give the user a
more comfortable feeling where they dont need complicated codes and encourages users to
browse easily from one idea to the next. By having this system, time from staff can be devoted to
concentrating on talking with students about books, teaching critical thinking and assessment
skills. (Tali Balas Kaplan, 2012)
In 2007 a brave little Library in Arizona made a bold move and opened its doors to a
Dewey-less Library system similar to the BISAC style. This was reported by author Debra
Whelan that the customers didnt seem to be fazed at all but instead they appeared excited and
eager to come back. Now this bold move is sweeping the nation and many libraries are
transforming their Dewey shelving to be more browsable as seen in bookstores. Authors of Are
Dewey Days Numbered illustrated how many school libraries are escort(ing) the 136-year old
system partway out the door. The BISAC seem a good fit for this Library and others like it
because of its flexibility to grow with their customers and collections. Were finding that our
new system supports the library program so well that we are better able to collaborate and
support the school wide curriculum. (Tali Balas Kaplan 2012, 28)

Jessica Morris LIS 5043

Assessment: The Impact on Organizing

I grew up with and now work in a Library that organizes by the Dewey Decimal system. I
was a little surprised to read that some libraries were changing from the Dewey system we all
knew to something made for retail. Is this a betrayal of our library values? (Fister) My first
reaction was no way could we do this but after reading what other library staff and customers had
to say I was certainly intrigued. As author Loretta Gharst of Librarians Forever! article, states,
The core of library service is organizing, providing access, and guiding others in the use of
materials. (Gharst 2010, 27)
This is a big change for any library. This is why it is important that we as information
service providers not be afraid of change and find a collaboration of both worlds for our users.
Both systems have the same goal of providing good customer service with a system so users will
be able to find what they are looking for. As information leaders, it is crucial to have unbiased
decisions about the information we hold at our libraries. The Dewey system is an example of
this. If a Library chooses to use a BISAC system they need to keep in mind that the book
publisher pre-determines which category their book falls into.
Fister found a mashup solution from the staff at a new Darien Library. They are
working with the Dewey system instead of giving it up. We wanted to retain the findablity of
Dewey while encouraging and enabling browsing. (Fister 2009, 24) They made eight broad
categories of similar material areas of Dewey such as travel and language. They still use Dewey
though to help organize the shelves so material can be specifically located but can also be
browsed. Doing this brings similar topics that are not normally placed nearby together and
creates an easy environment for users. As an example used above of combining travel and

Jessica Morris LIS 5043

language books to help people that want to travel can grab some useful language books without
having to go very far to find them. This library calls this section Places but they are still
tweaking section names upon customer suggestions.
This mashup solution does take long processing hours and does have some hiccups.
They need to create new signage for shelves, stickers for books, and work with problematic topic
areas that end up everywhere. The childrens section was a major change and took some thought.
Dariens library customers search childrens books not like adult books. The users request books
by reading levels or by age and what the childs interest is. They had to create color coded
categories and different age group levels. They have seen an increase in circulation but are still
working with users to fine-tune the childrens collection.
As we can see, the Dewey system and the BISAC can be friends. As the authors have
explained that this change is not a bad one and BISAC can be a useful system to help library
users experience libraries in a new way and encourages them to return. According to DDCs
(Joan) Mitchell, We have a mapping under way between BISAC and Dewey to support the
association of Dewey numbers with metadata early in the publication stream. (Fister 2009, 25)
Conclusion
In any era, information was an important thing needed. Now we can search the World
Wide Web to find it, before internet there was the television, before that was the radio and so on.
Everybody needed or wanted information. Where there is a need or want there is a demand and
with information that demand was organization. Librarians like Dewey realized that and made a
system that libraries use to this day. The question here is is it outdated, has Dewey grown too old
and needs to retire? The answer is no. Dewey is still strong in our library world and is used all

Jessica Morris LIS 5043

over the world. Yes, granted we have seen some libraries trade in old Dewey for a new BISAC
(bookstore) system but some have found ways to interweave the two to help fit to their library
user needs. Fister mentions David Weingberger that wrote, Everything Is Miscellaneous which he
states that Dewey cant be fixed. You can see at www.metisinnovations.com about their move
towards this BISAC system and how it has changed their library. Both systems have their pros
and cons but as long as customers are kept in mind, a library cannot go wrong. This paper has
explored different views of this new wave of organizing. It has had implications on our Library
world but only for the goodness of our customers.

Jessica Morris LIS 5043

References
Annoyed Librarian. 2012. Get Rid of the Libraries or Just the Books?, The Library Journal
Blog, August 29th, 2012. (Accessed October 4, 2012).
http://blog.libraryjournal.com/annoyedlibrarian/2012/08/29/get-rid-of-the-libraries-orjust-the-books/
Donovan, Sandy. 2010. Bob the Alien Discovers the Dewey Decimal System. North Mankato,
Minnesota: Picture Window Books.
Fister, Barbara. 2009. The Dewey Dilemma. Library Journal. 134, 16: 22-25. EBSCO host
(Accessed October 4, 2012).
Gharst, Loretta. 2010. Librarians Forever!. Computers In Libraries. 30, 10: 6-11. EBSCO host
(Accessed October 4, 2012).
Rowly, Jennifer, and Richard Hartley. 2008. Organizing knowledge : an introduction to
managing access to information. Aldershot, England: Burlington, VT : Ashgate.
Tali Balas Kaplan, Andrea K. Dolloff, Sue Griffard, and Jennifer Still-Schiff. 2012. Are
Deweys Days Numbered?. School Library Journal. 58, 10: 24. EBSCO host (Accessed
October 18, 2012).
Whelan, Debra Lau. 2007. Arizona Library Ditches Dewey. School Library Journal. 53, 7: 14.
EBSCO host (Accessed October 4, 2012).