Hmmm

[az2tx]

When was the last time you heard someone mention the dewey decimal system? Literature grad students excluded.

Seriously?

Do they still teach kids how to do library research? Do they teach them about the dewey decimal system?

I must ask my kids if they know what the dewey decimal system is.

Comments

[ellisbell]

it's funny that you posted this - my research class was just in a tutorial for researching in our university library and I was commenting on how much things have changed from when I was in elementary school. My mom was a librarian; technology has been tough for me.

I don't know if the dewey decimal system is still around or not - there was no card catalog in the high school where I taught, although the non-fiction books were arranged the same (300s, 400s 500s, etc.) I never WAS clear about how the students were supposed to find things in that library on their own, except to ask for help from a librarian. I was very dismissive of that librarian, who didn't seem to do a thing (including help the students when I had a class in there - I was the one who showed them where stuff was). So I don't know if that is typical of high schools nowadays.

My university library is all online, and pretty simple, actually. It's learning the databases and research capabilities that befuddle me.

[az2tx]

It's funny that you responded. I almost edited the post to disqualify you too!

Card catalog...that is what I should have written about. I think the card catalog is now online at our local library, but the system is still the same.

But still, if my kids come to me for research, I point them to the internet and dictionary.com.

[ellisbell]

Tell them to be very wary of their internet sources when researching. It is best if you can verify where the information actually came from. Not all are accurate.

[ytterbius]

I heard it referenced about 2 months ago, in relation to a question on the gameshow "are you smarter than a 5th grader."

[az2tx]

Ha! I bet that was the last time most adults heard it.

[ytterbius]

The question was "are fiction books assigned numbers in the Dewey Decimal System." I didn't know the answer.

[az2tx]

Well my gut says yes, but I wouldn't bet money on it.

[springheel_jack]

Who still uses Dewey? I thought everyone was on some variant of the Library of Congress.

[az2tx]

Well that is a good question. I believe that our local library still uses it but I wouldn't swear by it. Of course, we live in the middle of the damn desert so you can't expect much out here.

Library

[clydelharris]

I miss the card file trays. I could find things fast with them.

Clyde Harris