Abandoning the Dewey Decimal System in Public Libraries.

Within the last fifteen years, a growing number of public libraries throughout the United States have started to rethink how their materials are cataloged and arranged. While the Dewey Decimal System has dominated library catalogs to this point, an increasing number of libraries are choosing to replace Dewey with variations of the Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) model. This paper offers a case studies on four public libraries, two of which transitioned successfully, one in process of adopting a new scheme, and one that has since reverted to Dewey. It argues that libraries that successfully transition do so because they achieve staff embracement and public acceptance of the new system through effective communication and descriptive signage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]