2019-07-26 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 3, Issue 10

Featured Story

Designing shelf labels

Often libraries fall into the trap of designing shelving schemes, call numbers, and spine labels to match a single shelving style. This is not always the best way for patrons to find materials in the library. By looking at how patrons use a collection we can better design how to shelve those items, and what to put on the spine labels and call numbers.

One example of shelving a collection of books by the rules instead of by use is graphic novels. When Nampa Public Library started a graphic novel collection, we shelved those items according to our fiction shelving rules: Author and then Title. This worked when the collection was small and easily browsable. Once the graphic novels collection started getting larger and more used, we noticed a trend in the type of requests that patrons were looking for. Our patrons were looking for characters, instead of authors. If a patron was looking for a Spider-Man book, with the original shelving pattern they could find them anywhere from A – Z. We looked at a couple of options, including shelving by title instead of author. This did not solve the problem, as graphic novels often have different titles for the same character. Amazing Spider-man was still shelved far from Spectacular Spider-man. The shelving scheme that we decided on was publisher, then main character (or group), and then author. This placed all of Spider-Man together as well as kept characters that connected with Spider-man in the same general location. An example of these call numbers is GN MV Spider Slott D – for a Marvel Spider-man book written bv Dan Slott. This has been a great success, and patrons are able to find what they are looking for faster and easier than before. Because of our experiences with graphic novels, we have expanded these types of shelving rules to other collections. In collections where an identifiable character is spread over multiple authors, we have started to shelve them under the character so they are easier to find.

Another example of adjusting labels and call numbers to a collection is in our large print collection. Recently, our Technical Services department found a group discussion asking a simple question: How do we treat the call numbers located on large print books? The discussion talked about the use of normal print sized labels on large print books. These books have larger type in order to be easier to read, so why are we placing regular sized type on the spine labels ? After some consideration, we decided that it made sense to adjust the size of the call numbers on the spine label for the collection, instead of forcing a standard label style on a collection that it does not make sense for.

These two examples are ways we increased the level of service to the patrons that used those collections. By placing ourselves in the shoes of the patrons that use those collections, we found ways to increase the value of the collection and how to make it easier for patrons to find the materials they want.

– Mike Sloan, Nampa Public Library

Fail Forward

We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.

If We Only Knew

I have been supervising a Great Reads for Girls program for about three years now. In the beginning it was the biggest youth program we ran besides summer reading. We had awesome turnouts, and moms and daughters that contributed and engaged in our program. I was excited because it was a minimal effort program with a huge response. However, our numbers have been slowly dwindling. Girls have moved away, others aged out and recruiting numbers are down from last year. Three weeks ago we had our GRG night and only three girls showed up. 3. I was devastated. All night I was thinking about how to terminate the program and replace it with another idea that might better serve our community. As the night was ending, I noticed that one particular sweet girl (it was her first night at book club) was struggling with the craft we planned, so I sat with her, quietly feeding her words of encouragement and convincing her to take her time and that her personal craft was the best craft of all. She and her mother were the last out the door, as I smiled and waved goodbye. About two minutes after they left, her mom suddenly poked her head back in and started gushing about how great the night was and that her daughter who was plagued with anxiety, depression and self doubt had had the time of her life. Her daughter was talking about how great the library was, and how she wished she could go every week. The mom hugged me and left. Bottom line? If we have a night that touches just one patron, helps one struggling reader, secures one unemployed person with a job, then our time isn’t wasted. So did we fail? Nope: count your little success, and just keep traveling forward.

– Rasheil Stanger, Valley of the Tetons Library

Crush Corner

Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!

Library History in Orofino

I really enjoyed the Library History page on Orofino’s Clearwater Memorial Library website. As someone who enjoys visiting libraries when I travel and knowing the local history of a place, background on the library’s history is really fun. Having context for the age of the building, renovations, and who was in charge right on the library’s website is a great idea! http://orofinolibrary.com/about-us/library-history/

– Jessica Martinez, University of Idaho Library

SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at splat.lili.org

SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-00-18-0013-18). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.