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FYS 1008: Finding Voice; Making Noise

Resources and information relevant to the topics discussed in FYS 1008.

Organizing Books. Library of Congress or Dewey?

Used with permission. © Helena Söderberg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftcreativity/3539093117/)

How do you organize a collection of stuff?  In this case, books?

There are many ways you can organize books, by color, by size, or by subject. Public libraries and high-school libraries often organize their books using the Dewey Decimal system.

The Library of Congress system is the standard system for most college and university libraries. Below are a couple links if you want to learn more about this system.

The Courtright Memorial Library uses both the Library of Congress system AND the Dewey decimal system. The library owns a lot of children's books, and children's books are traditionally organized by the Dewey decimal system. The library uses Library of Congress for most other material.

The most important thing to understand about the library's systems is that similar things are shelved together--if you find a great book on the shelf, check the books around it for more about the same topic.

Things You Should Know

  • The library has computers on the basement level, on the first floor, and in two classrooms on the second floor.
  • The library lends games--"Settlers of Catan," anyone? No? "Apples to Apples"? "Twister"? Chess? What about "Yahtzee"?
  • The library has TV shows and movies on DVD, and music on CDs.
  • The library lends BICYCLES! (Ask about the Otterbike program.)
  • The library lends digital cameras, laptops, flip video cameras--and more.
  • All you need to borrow a book, a DVD, or a laptop is your Cardinal Card. (Borrowing a bike takes a little bit of paperwork and a sign-up fee the first time.)
  • The library has a cafe right inside the doors (the Otter Bean Cafe)--grab a snack and come on in.
  • The library has children's books, and you don't even need to be an education major (or a child) to read them.
  • The library has friendly librarians who want to help you.
  • The library has friendly student employees who want to help you.
  • You can email the reference librarians: library@otterbein.edu.
  • You can text a question to the librarians: 614-259-7404.

Subject Librarian

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Jane Wu
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