"Genre-fication"

What is it...
Why...

When...

Where ...

How to use technology to implement it

 Genre-fication - Perspectives

The Urban Dictionary definition:

"the process or idea of classifying music,

film, literature, or other such mediums into
specific genres or categories."
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=genrefication
Genre-fication: Bookstore Metaphor

FICTION / Historical FICTION / Mystery & Detective FICTION / Sports

Genrefication discussions often use

bookstore subject signage and store
publication groupings as an example
 Genre Authorities?
Library of Congress
Genre/Form Terms
(LCGFT)
ex.Horror films horror
is the genre and
films is the form
https://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/g
enre_form_faq.pdf
 Genre-fication Authorities?
BISAC - Book Industry
Standards and
Communications
BISAC Subject Heading list
is an industry-approved list
of subject descriptors used
in many bookstores &
publisher catalogs
http://bisg.org/page/BISAC
FaQ
 Why Genre-fy?
Advantages of FictionGenre-fication
Help readers find favorite reading genre
Genre classification immersion
Facilitates fiction collection topic
browsing & genre bridging
Encourages an increase in borrowing
 Genre-fication Caveats
Genre assignment some titles might fit
several genre terms
Time required to address all of the
logistics (genre designation, cataloging,
labeling, genre aggregation, signage)
Resistance to change
 When to Genre-fy?
Choosing when to genrefy an operating
library depends on a number of factors
Curriculum synchronization
Community literacy considerations
Scope of project
Human resources
Library services schedule
 Where to Genre-fy?
Evaluate reading preferences
Account for reading levels Gather and
archive current circ statistics
Prioritize popular community genre
preferences... Focus on a few
Strategize a phased implementation
Evaluate technological tools available to
synchronize OPAC and display genrefied
resources
 Where to Genre-fy?: Library & OPAC Factors

Evaluate library layout

Consider where to display Genre-fied
resources
Consider signage and labeling identifiers
Identify promotional library portals,
homepages, where genre / topic walls
could be displayed
How to Genre-fy? - Planning for consistency

Select a genre authority source as a

general guide for selecting & using terms
ex. BISAC http://bisg.org/page/BISACEdition
If part of a region, try to coordinate and
standardize on an authority source
Establish alternative genre term
selection policy for terms not in the
authority list
How to Genri-fy? - Cataloging
Genre Cataloging = Virtual Genrefication
Focus on Fiction
Identify a popular genre in your library
Select a recognizable genre term
Use ILS utilities to add this term to
relevant records
These edits will enable readers to
browse & view this genre, virtually
How to Genre-fy Virtually: Use an ILS Genre List Editor Utility
(a) Search & select relevant items or (b) Upload a list of scanned
barcodes
 Virtual Genre-fication
Feed Genre Lists to a Topic Wall editor
Creates Virtual, Visual Topic Browser
 Virtual Genrefication: Cross References
Genre list edits also insert term cross references into each record
assigned with a genre category. When clicked, OPAC's display all other
resources to which these terms have been assigned.
 Virtual Genre-fication:

If there is not enough time to physically group

fiction books, readers can at least view and
browse them virtually while planning and
incrementally organzing them
Virtual genrefication of non fiction resources
and their records is an ideal hybridization
using technology to create a digital genre
rendering, while retaining all the advantages of
the Dewey Decimal System
 Fiction Genre-fication: Getting Physical

Changing the Old Order

Consider visual book labeling options:
ex. color coded dots, graphic labels,
descriptive text or alphabetical codes

Labeled resources facilitate browsing

...Facilitate re-shelving books left on
reading tables or returned by borrowers
Fiction Genre-fication: Arrange & display books
Consider how best to group and display a
fiction genre with a view to adding more
Consider genre shelf & section signage
 Reader Engagement
Explain the genrification project to
readers (without using that term)
Inform readers as soon as the initial
categories are completed
Keep a diary of genrification events
Run and archive weekly genre category
statistics
Poll and record reader response and
observations
 References
National Library of New Zealand
Arranging Library Fiction by Genre. National Library of New Zealand Te
Puna Mtauranga o Aotearoa, 22 May 2017,
natlib.govt.nz/schools/reading-engagement/libraries-supporting-
readers/arranging-library-fiction-by-genre

BISAC Subject Codes FAQ

BISAC Subject Codes FAQ - Book Industry Study Group. BISAC
Subject Codes FAQ - Book Industry Study Group, Book Industry Study
Group, 12ADAD, bisg.org/page/BISACFaQ. Accessed 22 May 2015.

Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms

Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms PDF Files. Library of Congress
Genre/Form Terms PDF Files, Library of Congess, 27 Apr. 2017,
www.loc.gov/aba/publications/FreeLCGFT/freelcgft.html. Accessed 22 May
2017.