This week on the OZTL-NET Message board, I queried about how various schools catalogued their DVD collections using the Dewey System
I have been in schools where DVD films are generally given F [Insert first three letters of title) with documentaries etc classified as non fiction.
One school however has insisted that every DVD be cataloged with a Dewey number from 000 to 999.99.
I have found that it makes the process of cataloguing much more difficult. I find that the line between fiction and non-fiction items is not clear.
I got responses from a number of schools, especially those that went on a different path. I thank those contributors for sending their responses.
So, what if you end up appointed to a school where every item in the DVD collection is subjected to receiving a Dewey decimal number.
The long term goal is to split it into fiction and non-fiction, and following the Dewey classifications for both
One respondent at a school currently places the DVD's at 791.43 (Films) and 791.45 (Television Shows). Movies based on books or relevant to English are classed in the 800's and foreign language films in the 400's. Historical films are classed in the 900's.
In my view that system based on the respondent's school is a suitable short term fix, as the existing system is retained but allows for a gradual transition.
What do you think?
