Arranging library fiction by genre
Rearranging your library fiction by genre can reinvigorate your collection, help students make new connections with reading and resources, and be a catalyst for active promotion of the library.
Traditionally, fiction in a library is arranged by the author’s surname from A to Z. Another approach worth considering is to arrange fiction into smaller genre sections then alphabetically within these sections.
Benefits of arranging fiction by genre
There are a variety of potential advantages to arranging fiction by genre. We have identified some of them below.
Helps students finding the 'right book'
Arranging fiction by genre can help students find what they want to read for pleasure more easily.
Successfully browsing, previewing and selecting is a critical first step towards reading engagement, and choosing 'the right book' to borrow can be a challenging first hurdle to overcome.
As readers, we all have reading preferences. Helping students understand and articulate what they like to read, and why, will:
develop their sense of self as a reader
give them strategies to find reading material they enjoy
lead to reading mileage and growth.
Arranging books by genre can provide a scaffold, or short cut, in the selection process. It doesn't suggest that students limit themselves to reading within a genre, as establishing real reading preferences will come from wide reading experience.
There was an increase in the borrowing from the library, but the biggest change was in usability for the students – they loved it, and found it so much easier to get at the books they wanted to read.
— Miriam Tuohy, Russell Street School
Encourages confidence and peer-to-peer recommendations
Arranging fiction by genre can encourage peer-to-peer book recommendations, conversations and reading mileage within a genre.
Fiction arranged by genre can also help students:
find books if they are encouraged or required to read across genres
identify and articulate their own reading preferences
independently find 'read-alikes'
find books they want to read more easily and quickly
students make the transition from junior fiction series into fiction genre, for example, 'Boy vs Beast' to 'Beastquest' to 'Fantasy' genre, or 'Puppy Place' to 'Pet Vet' to 'Animal stories'.
It can also help less confident, less experienced readers select books from a smaller, more tailored sub-collection.
For teachers and librarians
Arranging fiction by genre has advantages for teachers and librarians. Genrefication:
provides opportunities to discuss genres with students, and demonstrate what different genres are by their obvious physical arrangement
gives librarians a new perspective on collection strengths and weaknesses with the physical arrangement of the collection
shows librarians areas of high demand and areas to be promoted
provides librarians with statistics on collection use by genre
refreshes the look of the library, relocates authors that have 'always been in the same place' on the shelves
could provide a focus for book club discussions and activities
increases borrowing according to libraries that have switched to genrefication.
In the last two libraries I have been in I have done genre shelving for fiction. It has worked really well. I know we think it will make students lazy and stay in their own genre. But everywhere I have done genre shelving the issues figures have increased. The students find it easier to get the books they want and often read widely in that genre then move towards other genres.
— Karen Clarke, St. Patrick's College, Wellington
Disadvantages of arranging fiction by genre
There are potential disadvantages of arranging fiction by genre including:
rearranging your fiction is a big project to undertake — assigning genres, labelling, cataloguing, signage, physically rearranging, leading library users through the changes
difficulties in assigning a title to a specific genre
potentially books by the same author in different genre sections
students reading only within a single genre
the library’s physical layout may not be conducive to smaller genre collections
increased complexity in terms of shelving, may be more challenging for younger student librarians
resistance to change from some library users.
Ways of defining genres
As much as fiction traverses a range of subjects it can feel rather arbitrary and restrictive to 'classify' a book into a single genre. But, generally speaking, it is possible to categorise books through shared characteristics of:
themes
content
setting
character
plot
tone, or
mood.
Another way of defining genres within children’s literature has traditionally been by format and length such as picture books and graphic novels.
The short, easy-reading fiction for younger readers category is often published and promoted by series. They are not included in this discussion, as they are most effective in helping younger students transition from picture books to fiction or supporting less-confident readers when they are in a stand-alone collection, shelved and displayed by their series name.
Similarly, picture books and sophisticated picture books are not included, while graphic novels are in their own genre.
Identifying genre headings in your library
Your choice of genre headings will typically reflect your students' reading interests and school level. However, our 'Genres for young adult and young fiction' page lists some commonly used genre headings.
Genres for young adult and young fiction
You may want to consult with students about genre labels and options for terminology or make it part of student's learning, as outlined on the 'Mrs ReaderPants' website. This site also explores series, authors and titles within a genre in ‘Genre section spotlights’.
Genrefication — Mrs. ReaderPants
Librarian Carina — has advice about identifying genre categories.
Before you change your collection arrangement
Before you make changes to your collection you could think about the following.
Evidence-based practice
If you are going to make changes to how your collection is arranged, it would be useful to gather some statistics about current usage of the collection beforehand. This allows you to measure, compare and report on the impact of the changes you make.
Your library management system (LMS) will give you data about borrowing information. And you may like to do a quick survey about how students currently choose books looking at:
level of confidence and success
strategies they use
what the issues are for them, and
their reading preferences.
Before and after photos of the library fiction can form part of the story you share about the process and results.
How, when and why considerations
How, when and why you approach making changes will depend on various aspects, such as:
input and endorsement from students and teaching staff — in secondary schools it will be important to consult with the English faculty staff
the collection size and strengths
the amount of time and support available
the configuration of your library layout.
Approaches to changing your collection arrangement
There are a range of approaches for arranging fiction by genre from simply labelling the books to complete physical reorganisation including:
genre labels on books within an alphabetical arrangement
a feature genre on display drawn from the collection, for example, changing each term
some books arranged in genre sections and retaining an alphabetical sequence for general or crossover titles
complete rearrangement of the fiction collection into genre categories.
No need to change the collection all at once
Changing the fiction arrangement doesn’t need to be done all at once. The genre labels and catalogue information could be done as new books come in, or a particular genre could be collected together, labelled and displayed, working through the collection one genre at a time.
I noticed a group of girls were keen on horse stories, so I decided to feature them as a mini-collection all in one place to make the most of their enthusiasm. I went through the fiction and pulled out all the horse stories – there were more than either I or the students realised — and created a 'feature genre' display. Borrowing shot up, and the girls were reading more widely too – classics like 'Black Beauty' and 'My Friend Flicka' as well as all the series books like 'Pony Pals'. Next, I’m going to choose another genre to focus on — war stories, or historical stories maybe.
— Kris Robinson, Kerikeri Primary School
While handling your collection in this way, you may also like to do some weeding.
Practical considerations of fiction arranged by genre
We've noted some practical things to consider if you decide to arrange fiction by genre.
Labelling
Once you have decided on your approach, considered your users’ needs and reviewed your collection to identify possible genre categories, then you can label the books. Options for labels include:
purchase specific, standard genre labels from suppliers
create your own easy to 'read' intuitive and distinctive genre labels using clip art or your own images.
use colour coding, connecting coloured labels for each genre to relevant coloured shelving signage. In your catalogue record refer to the colour of the relevant genre section. Note that labelling genres by colour is very specific to your library, whereas genre names is probably more applicable to how a book is arranged in other libraries.
You may like to recruit student librarians or a student book club to help with the labelling.
Label placement on book
Some schools put the genre label directly above the spine label, others at the top of the book spine.
Adding the genre to the spine label means replacing existing spine labels, and can create quite a complicated looking label. For example, if you already have the first three letters of the author's surname and F for Fiction, NZ for New Zealand, adding a further labelling element risks obscuring vital wording on the spine.
Updating the Integrated Library System
When your fiction is sorted by genre, it’s a good time to update the Integrated Library System (ILS) information. You can scan the barcodes of your genre piles and do a quick 'replace or update' function in your ILS.
Contact your ILS supplier for information about your system:
Does your system have a genre field? A genre authority file will ensure consistency.
How does the genre location show up in the search results page?
What are the options for searching by genre?
Would it be useful to add the genre as a subject heading or keyword?
Shelving
Once labelled, you will need to consider the physical arrangement of the genre books. It may help to take the books from the shelves and group them by genre so you can see the relative sizes of the 'mini-collections' and consequent shelving requirements.
Arrange the books on the shelves alphabetically within the genre. Label the shelves, bays, sections with appropriate signage with as much of it facing outward as possible.
Examples of the genrefication process
For some examples of the genrefication process, visit:
Good Keen Librarian — search for genre to find information about shelving
Help your readers understand genres
If you decide to arrange your library's fiction by genre, make sure your readers understand what the changes mean for them. You might use your school's newsletter, social media or library web page to share this information with your school community.
Readers will also need to know:
which genres you're using and an explanation of each
where to find books in each genre, including how labels, signage or your catalogue can help
ways to discover their favourite genres or new genres to explore.
Show how your genres work
Here are some ways you can help students and staff find their way with genres in your library.
Talk about genres often. Mention a book's genre when you're reading aloud to students, or during book talks with classes.
Create materials that focus on a genre, such as displays, posters or bookmarks. Include a description and show books that highlight features of this genre.
Update your signage so readers can see where to find their favourite books.
My library signage (& free downloads) by Kelsey Bogan (author of the blog Don't Shush Me).
Ditching Dewey: Signage by Tiffany Whitehead (author of the blog Mighty Little Librarian).
If your library software can create a map of your collection, update it to show each genre's location.
Be consistent with the words, icons or images that describe or represent each genre — from spine labels and shelf signage, to catalogue records.
Help readers explore different genres
Some readers already know their favourite genres and may revel in being able to find these more easily. Other readers may need help figuring out what genres appeal to them.
Here are some ways to help readers discover and explore genres they'll enjoy.
Create read-alike lists — match TV shows or games to genres, or use the format ‘Like … try … why’. See Epic Reads for ideas: Like Try Why #1.
Make genre quizzes — ask questions that lead to a genre suggestion. Mrs ReaderPants (Leigh Callazo) has a range of resources you can use or adapt: Mrs Readerpants genre quiz resources.
Play ‘reading bingo’ — create a bingo card using your library's genres and offer rewards for completion.
Set a genre challenge — see an example from Michelle Simms, Library Manager at Te Totara School: Library Skills Session — Year 5–6s.
Related content
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Library staff and teachers create engaged readers by helping students understand their reading interests and how to find a ‘just right’ book. Find tips to help students know what they like to read, and how to browse and select books to read for pleasure.
