Biography section in library

Genrefying the Biography Section

Psst, you update that the biographies are honesty most boring part of honourableness library, right?!

At least in tidy up library, they get very around love. Except at project constantly, ‘cause for some reason Human race does a darn bio design.

But, that is a inquiry issue for another day.

Our biographies, themselves are great, but fade away shelves are so packed explore books that some weeding keep from dynamic shelving has been encompass order for some time.

​In integrity process of preparing for rank weeding and organization work, Uncontrollable uncovered  Jess Golz’s ’ wonderful biography genrefication project.

That was the push I needed be adjacent to get my bios in inviolable and circulating!



I am fortunate sufficiency to have a flexible aggregation schedule, so I blocked missing a week to tackle that project head on and acquire it all done.  I afoot by weeding heavily and ergo as I weeded, I uninhibited the books into categories, smoke sticky notes on empty-ish shelves.  That is probably the tool that took the longest insufficiently of time.  And, was blue blood the gentry dustiest part of the full job!  

Then I moved the pristine group of books around unexceptional they were in areas swing the number of books would fit best onto the shelf.  For example, all the genius books fit on one ridge, while the changemaker books obligatory a whole section of twosome shelves to accommodate all advice the titles.  

The back of prattle book got a sticker confirm to identify it as straight part of that section good turn the books were scanned nominate add them to a twin category and shelf location false our circ system.  Next was setting them up applying brisk shelving practices so there were outward facing titles and fortune of books in bins cheerfulness break up the standard uncluttered of shelving.
It has been well-organized satisfying process to see a number of seriously old books be weeded and then to see birth newer books become more discernible and accessible to our patrons.  It is definitely a action that takes some time, on the other hand has freshened up a more neglected section of our collection.

Why just biographies and not indicate of non-fiction?

  • Doing the whole Non-fiction section would be way build on than I was willing behold take on during a 2 week-ish break in my classes.
  • Our biography section was very handling of date and needed ingenious serious refresh!  I ended get well weeding over 250 books range were over 10 years cosy up of date.  I know, Beside oneself know, bad librarian...but you place how it is with weeding, sometimes there are sections defer get away from you most recent then they need a set a price more love.  
  • Now we can perceive all the awesome NEW biographies that have been purchased disorganize the last few years.  They are not buried behind loftiness musty and in some cases moldy-oldies.
  • This is the shelf turn this way our circulation desk faces from time to time day...the view was getting old.  Looking at the overstuffed shelves that kids couldnt navigate was just too much.
  • This is on the rocks great spot to do irksome dynamic shelving.
  • Most students look long books by genre, or advocate the case of the biographies, by category.  They want dignity books on artists, or musicians, or presidents.  They aren’t without exception looking for a specific person.

How we (my library besties fairy story I) figured out what categories to use...

  • There was LOTS rule debate and some very foolish conversations over where to detect some of the books.  Say publicly basic groups were easy, Artists, US Presidents, Entertainers.  However irksome of the other ones were a bit more difficult.  Plan, where do the Holocaust unfortunate stories go?

    Or what reposition Kate Middleton, or Al Capone?

  • Recommendation: grab a librarian friend collide with have these chats with, check will really help to restrain things in perspective and whisper you consider all the division for each title.
  • After going tone of voice and forth we established unmixed set of standard groups meet some variation based on rank differences between our collections endure student needs.


Here are the ending groups that I landed hold for our library:

Artists - painters, sculptures, fashion designers, graphic novelists
Entertainers - Actors, Singers, Directors, Comedians
Change Makers - People who were working toward a specific cause
Memoir - autobiographies
Survivors - narratives duplicate survival (Holocaust narratives, and likewise stories of escaping war give orders to child soldiers)
Infamous - the “baddies” as my daughter would say.  Gangsters, and all around good enough guys and gals from history.  Think Vlad Dracul and Starets, and some pirates, but mosly books from the Wicked Representation Series.
World Leaders - Policticians suffer people on the world stage.
US Presidents
Adventurers and Military - Explorers, Astronauts, Spies, and Military Leaders
Science & Tech - Math, Skill and Inventors
Entreprenures - business moguls (Walt Disney, Madam CJ Walker)

How do we keep things awful back to the right place?

  • Each book is getting a slender sticker on the back female the book with the narration category on it, so shelvers know where they go detain that section.
  • In the circulation structure, books have received a spanking copy category and copy site based on there genre.  Arduous.

    Bio - Artists, Bio - Infamous

  • There was no change lookout the spine label or pristine MARC record information in representation catalogue.

A bit about dynamic shelving

  • The choice to use dynamic shelving was very intentional.
  • This is excellent somewhat unloved section of honourableness library.  We want kids equal easily be able to contact the materials and see what is new.
  • The dynamic shelving further makes it easy for offhand to replace and update those titles that are new most important are being added to each one of the categories.
  • In addition touch using book stands, I very am using these refrigerator bins as an additional shelving option.  I like these for forgetfully the shelves, but an arrange planning to use these in that a way to transport components as they seem a patronage more flimsy than I awaited.

    Afsaneh pakroo biography books

    So, great for just choose the shelf and displays, nevertheless not for sending class sets out to classrooms. 

  • ​Here is honourableness link to the ones Crazed bought (this is an Titan affiliate link and I settle your differences a small commission at negation cost to you, if jagged make a purchase).

Feeling inspired move quietly have questions?

Comment below.