The Use of BISAC in Libraries as New Cases of Reader-Interest Classifications

Martínez-Ávila, Daniel; Manuel, Rosa San Segundo; Olson, Hope A.

doi:10.1080/01639374.2013.846284

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As collection sizes shrink and materials arrive cataloged and shelf-ready, technical service departments have all but disappeared, taking with them those large support staffs once needed for managing an intensely artifact-based service. Furthermore, in some jurisdictions, the move away from the Dewey Decimal Classification system to “Dewey-free” systems such as BISAC (aka the bookstore model) while affording customers more independence, has ramifications for a number of professional competencies, not the least of which is local cataloging (Martínez-Ávila, 2014). These changes need to be considered in conjunction with the growing interest in “demand-driven acquisitions” models for print and e-books, which clearly impinges upon collection development as professional practice.…”

Section: Section 2: Concrete Manifestationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Redeploying public librarians to the front-lines: prioritizing digital inclusion

Stevenson

Domsy

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose This paper aims to draw attention to the quiet, if inadvertent, disappearance of the front-line public librarian, as libraries make difficult organizational choices in the struggle to survive the relentless pressures to cut costs on one side while supporting a market ethos of customer service on the other. Design/methodology/approach Informed by the preliminary findings of a pan-Canadian study of labour in large urban public libraries and a review of professional and academic literatures dealing with contemporary service trends, four models/proposals [(1) participative, (2) community-led, (3) managerial/leadership and (4) digital inclusion] are critically reviewed with respect to their positioning of the front-line professional librarian. Findings The paper concludes with an argument in favor of one of these proposals because it supports the relevance of public librarians in service to their communities while remaining true to the democratic aspirations of this vital public service within our increasingly complex information societies. Research limitations/implications The implication of this work is that by drawing our attention to the contradictions inherent within contemporary and popular library initiatives, the disconnect between formal education and professional practice is highlighted, thus providing a foundation for new empirical research into the changing nature of waged work (professional and non-professional) in public libraries. Practical implications Failure to situate the professional public librarian strategically and unambiguously within the rapidly evolving roles of the public library has implications for LIS educators, employers and, as significantly, current and future students. Social implications Despite the high rates of connectivity among Western nations and the increasing sophistication of their populations, the digital divide persists among a growing urban and rural underclass. Building, maintaining and promoting a strong and accessible municipal information infrastructure, one could argue, is what public librarianship is all about. Originality/value This paper’s identification and critical review of the four dominant service models proposed for the present public library represents the first time that these literatures have been assembled together and critically interrogated for their implications for the work of public librarians. Given the importance of the question “what is the future role of the public library”, a critical analysis of the key contenders is a necessary exercise, as is shifting the subject of the conversation away from the customer and onto the professional public librarian.

show abstract

Section: Section 2: Concrete Manifestationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Redeploying public librarians to the front-lines: prioritizing digital inclusion

Stevenson

Domsy

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In accepting that the concept and terminology of readerinterest classifications has transformed and changed over time, despite its variations, it still shows an agreed-upon core of characteristics shaping its meaning and allowing its conceptualization. As pointed out by Martínez-Ávila (2012), some of these characteristics of reader-interest classifications include: dropping traditional practices like Dewey; using alphabetical/natural language categories for the physical arrangement of materials; organizing and representing knowledge according to topics of interest instead of academic disciplines; carrying out the classification process at the book selection service instead of the cataloging service and all that difference implies; and accepting the influence of bookstore practices in such diverse aspects as guiding, signage, and display. Among the alleged advantages of reader-interest classifications projects are: meeting the user's needs (by gathering together materials of interest that had been previously dispersed by Dewey), reversibility of the experiments, the possibility of putting different changes and innovations into effect at one time (although sometimes these are impossible to separate or even identify clearly and not always related to the classification scheme), the cost saving (including aspects such as the acquisition of cheap formats), greater shelving flexibility, improved adequacy for browsing, increase in circulation, and a good method of identification in the most demanded areas for stock control purposes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Reader-Interest Classification: Concept and Terminology Historical Overview

Martínez-Ávila¹,

Manuel²

2013

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

He has a PhD in library and information science and a background in computer science. His research interests include classification systems, the application of poststructural and critical theories to information organization, and free software philosophy.Rosa San Segundo has a PhD in information science and is a professor of classification and knowledge organization. She has been Secretary and Head of the

show abstract

“…Recent analyses of these reader-interest arrangements in relation to current bookstore-like classifications such as BISAC include Martínez-Ávila (2012), Martínez-Ávila and San Segundo (2013), and Martínez-Ávila et al (2014). In relation to BISAC, Martínez-Ávila also proposed the concept of "Market Warrant" (Martínez-Ávila, 2012Martínez-Ávila and Kipp, 2014). According to Martínez-Ávila (2016), "market warrant" would be "the justification for the inclusion of terms in a controlled vocabulary based on publishing activities and current market demands" (p. 658).…”

Section: Other Warrants In the Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Epistemic warrant for categorizational activities and the development of controlled vocabularies

Martínez-Ávila

Budd

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Emerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services. Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation.

show abstract

The Use of BISAC in Libraries as New Cases of Reader-Interest Classifications

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Redeploying public librarians to the front-lines: prioritizing digital inclusion

Redeploying public librarians to the front-lines: prioritizing digital inclusion

Reader-Interest Classification: Concept and Terminology Historical Overview

Epistemic warrant for categorizational activities and the development of controlled vocabularies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About