The Park Meadows Library Media Center contains thousands of books! Finding what you need is easy, if you know how to use the LMC.
 

Types of Books
Non-fiction: books that are about real things - animals, countries, space, etc.
Biographies are located in 921 by the subject - Abraham Lincoln would be found in 921 LIN
Fiction: books are made up by the author
Everybody: books that everyone can enjoy
Everybody non-fiction: generally, non-fiction books for grades K-3
Beginning Chapter: fiction books for grades 1-3
Reference: books that are not allowed to be checked out but may be used in the LMC for research

Every book in the LMC will have a spine label located on the book's spine, easily visible when on the shelf. It contains the book's call number. This is the book's "address." This address will identify to the reader what type of book it is and where on the shelf it belongs relative to the other books. Using a shelf marker is very important to keep books shelved properly so that other students may find them.

Non-fiction Organization

Non-fiction books are organized using the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). This system was developed by Melvil Dewey, one the greatest librarians of all time. He used 10 numerical categories to organize books by their subject matter. This graph of a caveman considering himself and the world around him, makes remembering the Dewey system a little easier. While the number identifies the category, the first 3 letters of the author's last name are also used for further classification.

Examples:
Believe It Or Not: Space Facts by David Baker - 501 BAK
Cats That Roar by Kimberly Weinberger - E 599.75 WEI (Everybody Non-fiction)
Arizona the Beautiful by Herb McLaughlin - REF 917.91 MCL (Reference)

Fiction Organization

Fiction is organized by using the first 3 letters of the author's last name.

Examples:
The Giver by Lois Lowry - FIC LOW (Fiction)
The Hat by Jan Brett - E BRE (Everybody)
Afternoon in the Amazon by Mary Pope Osborne - BC OSB (Beginning Chapter)

Reference Materials

Reference materials include encyclopedias, dictionaries, multi-volume sets and research related books. They are organized using the Dewey Decimal Classification system and will have REF before the number. Reference materials are located in a special area of the LMC. They may NOT be checked out but may be used for research within the LMC.

Games

Check out these great sites to improve your library skills!

These sites offer more information about the Dewey Decimal Classification System and challenging games and activities to test your knowledge of library skills.

Can You do the Dewey?

All about the Dewey Decimal System!

Doin' Dewey with Mr. B - Challenge I

This site has a great overview of Dewey as well as a challenging 25 question review, but only if you're ready!

Doin' Dewey with Mr. B - Challenge II

Now that you've master Level I, how well can you do with this challenge?

Doin' Dewey with Mr. B - Challenge III

The third and final challenge!

Mrs. Roy's Library Skills Links for Kids

A wide assortment of library skills games to help students learn how to use the library and its resources.

Ordering Books on Library Shelves

How well can you order books on a shelf?

It is very important to shelve books correctly. Some important things to remember:

• The spine of the book should always be facing out so that the call number is visible and readable.
• Occasionally, a book is too tall to fit on the shelf properly. In this case, the spine should face up and out toward the reader.
• Shelf markers help to hold a book's place when the book is removed to look at. Replacing the shelf marker with the book ensures that it is properly shelved for the next patron.
• Call numbers for non-fiction books begin with numbers, followed by the first 3 letters of the author's last name. For example: Believe It Or Not: Space Facts by David Baker - 501 BAK
• Decimals are used to further refine the location of non-fiction. In this case, they should be shelved as follows:

• Fiction books have call numbers that contain letters, using the first 3 letters of an author's last name. For example: The Giver by Lois Lowry - FIC LOW
• There are two sections for Everybody books - picture books and non-fiction. The call numbers for both types of Everybody books are the same as fiction and non-fiction, except they will both start with E.
• Beginning Chapter books have call numbers like Fiction, except they begin with BC