I guess it seems that when public library patrons are looking for these
types of materials, its the medium they're seeking. And being able to
quickly spot the medium is desirable to the public. We have to think like
our users in making these decisions.
The other factor is the Barnes and Nobel affect. Seems that today's
patrons want a library to be more like a bookstore, with not only mediums
separated but genres. I get asked regularly where are the African
American authors, where are the romance novels and so on. And while we
still need a classification system, we also need to be user friendly. I
always thought public libraries should have a twist of uniqueness in
approaching their own clientele's needs. (my apologies to the catalogers
out there!)
Wasn't LOC recently talking about warehousing materials by size?
-- Holly Sammons, Librarian Onondaga County Public Library 447 So Salina St Syracuse NY 13202 315-435-1894