Fiction_L Archives Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order Dates: 2/11/02,4:24 PM  through  2/25/02,3:45 PM  (22 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to February 2002 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "White, Amy S." <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
REC'D: 2/11/02, 4:24 PM

I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways of
organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction strickly
in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
etc. and why...Many thanks!

Amy White, Media Center,
Central Library, Tulsa, OK
I

FROM: Kathleen Stipek <[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us>
REC'D: 2/11/02, 4:24 PM

We break out the Mystery, Romance, Western, and Science Fiction/Fantasy
genres. Everything else is in regular fiction in author order.

........................................................................
Kathleen Stipek, Adult Services/Interlibrary Loans, Alachua County
Library District (FMG), 401 E. University AV, Gainesville FL 32601
[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us)
352-334-3938 (v) 352-334-3948 (f)

"Non, merci."--Cyrano de Bergerac


-----Original Message-----
From: White, Amy S. [[removed]@tulsalibrary.org]
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 5:14 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways of
organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction strickly
in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
etc. and why...Many thanks!

Amy White, Media Center,
Central Library, Tulsa, OK
I

FROM: "Joy Tofteland" <[removed]@ankeny.k12.ia.us>
REC'D: 2/11/02, 4:45 PM

We are a medium-sized public library, holding 70,000 volumes. We classify
some fiction by genre due to patron demand. Genre sections are Science
Fiction, Mystery, and Westerns. Other fiction is filed together, but we do
stick on Romance, Short Story, and Large Print spine labels.

HTH,
Joy Tofteland
Reference/ Technical Resources Librarian
Kirkendall Public Library
Ankeny, IA

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of White, Amy S.
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 4:14 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


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I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways of
organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction strickly
in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
etc. and why...Many thanks!

Amy White, Media Center,
Central Library, Tulsa, OK
I

FROM: "SHARRON SMITH" <[removed]@kpl.org>
REC'D: 2/11/02, 5:06 PM

We separate out Mystery, SF, Fantasy, and Western. The rest of the
collection is organized by author/title, with romance receiving spine
labels.

-----Original Message-----
From: White, Amy S. [[removed]@tulsalibrary.org]
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 5:14 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different
ways of
organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction
strickly
in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction
section,
etc. and why...Many thanks!

Amy White, Media Center,
Central Library, Tulsa, OK
I

FROM: "Marijane Reich" <[removed]@dhfs.state.wi.us>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 8:17 AM

Mine is a small library [fiction is about 5,000 titles], and when I first being working here the mysteries and sci fi, etc were all shelved separate from the fiction. It drove me nuts so I changed it and shelved all fiction together and put subject labels on the spines. That way people can browse and still find genres they are looking for. And after almost 29 years in the same library, I still happy with my decision.
mj

Marijane Reich
Patients' Library
Mendota Mental Health Institute
Madison, WI

>>> [removed]@tulsalibrary.org 02/11/02 04:14PM >>>
I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways of
organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction strickly
in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
etc. and why...Many thanks!

Amy White, Media Center,
Central Library, Tulsa, OK
I

FROM: "Laurel Goodgion" <[removed]@portland.lib.ct.us>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 8:28 AM

Amy,

We organize our fiction by genre: romance, mystery, westerns, science
fiction. We do this to make our library "reader friendly".

Readers are very appreciative of this and it is based on research done by
Prof. Shay Baker.


Laurel Goodgion, Director
Portland Library
20 Freestone Ave.
Portland, CT 06480
email: [removed]@portland.lib.ct.us
phone: (860) 342-6771
fax: (860) 342-6778


----- Original Message -----
From: "White, Amy S." <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 5:14 PM
Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


> I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways
of
> organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction
strickly
> in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction
section,
> etc. and why...Many thanks!
>
> Amy White, Media Center,
> Central Library, Tulsa, OK
> I
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 9:31 AM

>From: "White, Amy S." <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order
>Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 16:14:24 -0600
>
>I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways
>of
>organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction
>strickly
>in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
>etc. and why...Many thanks!
>

At our library the mysteries are off by themselves, but other genres are
intermixed with mainstream fiction. The paperbacks and the Large Type are
in a corner by themselves; the former can usually be genre-typed by their
covers, while the latter have stickers on their spines. Why this is done
I'm not sure, unless it's that mysteries are the genre most in demand.


_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

FROM: Julie Roberts <[removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 9:41 AM

Amy - In my current Library, we keep the Fiction section in alphabetical
order by author, and have genre stickers on the book spine. In my previous
Library I worked at, we had regular or general fiction, then separate
Mystery, SF and Fantasy, and Western areas.
I think I prefer separating the genres, because then it's easier to browse
and pick out like books/authors. Julie A. Roberts
[removed]@rolling-meadows.lib.il.us
"My opinions are my own."

-----Original Message-----
From: White, Amy S. [[removed]@tulsalibrary.org]
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 4:35 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order

I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways
of
organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction
strickly
in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
etc. and why...Many thanks!

Amy White, Media Center,
Central Library, Tulsa, OK
I

FROM: "ROBIN BEERBOWER" <[removed]@mail.open.org>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 10:23 AM

Our library has Westerns, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mysteries, and Fiction collections and all are shelved by author. I know many libraries interfile them all and we have discussed that but our patrons would probably riot if we did!

Robin Beerbower
Salem (OR) Public Library


>>> [removed]@tulsalibrary.org 02/11 2:14 PM >>>
I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways of
organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction strickly
in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
etc. and why...Many thanks!

Amy White, Media Center,
Central Library, Tulsa, OK
I

FROM: "Melissa Norton" <[removed]@bridgton.lib.me.us>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 11:05 AM

At Bridgton PL (24,000 volumes), we separate mysteries, science fiction,
westerns and large print. All LP goes together, regardless of genre. I
cannot imagine what would happen if we interfiled mysteries. I *am* very
careful about what gets tagged 'MYS' -- thrillers and suspense are
definitely in the Fiction stacks.
I am not a sticker person -- spine labels alone work well for us, though I
am considering stickers for the large print books.
Melissa
-----Original Message-----
From: White, Amy S. <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Date: Monday, February 11, 2002 5:19 PM
Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


>I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways
of
>organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction
strickly
>in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
>etc. and why...Many thanks!
>
>Amy White, Media Center,
>Central Library, Tulsa, OK
> I
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: "Quillen, Christine" <[removed]@camden.lib.nj.us>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 12:36 PM

Amy,
There are quite a number of articles that find that circulation increases in
medium to large size libraries when fiction is separated out by genre. I
cited a number of them in my master's paper when I wrote it last year and
I'd be happy to send you a list of articles if you'd like.

C. L. Quillen, Librarian
South County Regional Branch Library
Atco, NJ 08004

-----Original Message-----
From: Laurel Goodgion [[removed]@portland.lib.ct.us]
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 10:30 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


Amy,

We organize our fiction by genre: romance, mystery, westerns, science
fiction. We do this to make our library "reader friendly".

Readers are very appreciative of this and it is based on research done by
Prof. Shay Baker.


Laurel Goodgion, Director
Portland Library
20 Freestone Ave.
Portland, CT 06480
email: [removed]@portland.lib.ct.us
phone: (860) 342-6771
fax: (860) 342-6778


----- Original Message -----
From: "White, Amy S." <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 5:14 PM
Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


> I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways
of
> organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction
strickly
> in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction
section,
> etc. and why...Many thanks!
>
> Amy White, Media Center,
> Central Library, Tulsa, OK
> I
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: [removed]@nwlink.com (Janice Burwash, Burlington Public Library)
REC'D: 2/12/02, 12:47 PM

A message for C.L. Quillen

I would appreciate a list of the articles you mentioned. The small library
I'm working at used to separate genres, but interfiled everything about 10
years or so ago. We might not have the room to go back to it now, but are
looking at possible expansion in the future, and it might be worth
considering then. So articles on the topic would be a good resource to have
on hand. TIA Janice


There are quite a number of articles that find that circulation increases in
>medium to large size libraries when fiction is separated out by genre. I
>cited a number of them in my master's paper when I wrote it last year and
>I'd be happy to send you a list of articles if you'd like.
>
>C. L. Quillen, Librarian
>South County Regional Branch Library
>Atco, NJ 08004
>
Janice Burwash, Resource Coordinator

Burlington Public Library
900 East Fairhaven Ave
Burlington, WA 98233
Phone (360) 755-0760 Fax (360) 755-0717
[removed]@nwlink.com

FROM: "Jana Fuller" <[removed]@smlnet.sml.lib.la.us>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 1:20 PM

I would like to see the list of articles about fiction and increased
circulation.
Thanks, Jana

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Quillen, Christine
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 12:22 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: RE: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


Amy,
There are quite a number of articles that find that circulation increases in
medium to large size libraries when fiction is separated out by genre. I
cited a number of them in my master's paper when I wrote it last year and
I'd be happy to send you a list of articles if you'd like.

C. L. Quillen, Librarian
South County Regional Branch Library
Atco, NJ 08004

-----Original Message-----
From: Laurel Goodgion [[removed]@portland.lib.ct.us]
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 10:30 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


Amy,

We organize our fiction by genre: romance, mystery, westerns, science
fiction. We do this to make our library "reader friendly".

Readers are very appreciative of this and it is based on research done by
Prof. Shay Baker.


Laurel Goodgion, Director
Portland Library
20 Freestone Ave.
Portland, CT 06480
email: [removed]@portland.lib.ct.us
phone: (860) 342-6771
fax: (860) 342-6778


----- Original Message -----
From: "White, Amy S." <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 5:14 PM
Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order


> I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways
of
> organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction
strickly
> in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction
section,
> etc. and why...Many thanks!
>
> Amy White, Media Center,
> Central Library, Tulsa, OK
> I
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: "Kay Mahoney" <[removed]@tolland.org>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 2:13 PM

We put all fiction together, however, we mark mysteries and science fiction.
Paperbacks are in another area. Kay Mahoney

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of christine jeffords
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 10:22 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order

>From: "White, Amy S." <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: Organization of Fiction - Author or Genre order
>Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 16:14:24 -0600
>
>I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways
>of
>organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction
>strickly
>in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
>etc. and why...Many thanks!
>

At our library the mysteries are off by themselves, but other genres are
intermixed with mainstream fiction. The paperbacks and the Large Type are
in a corner by themselves; the former can usually be genre-typed by their
covers, while the latter have stickers on their spines. Why this is done
I'm not sure, unless it's that mysteries are the genre most in demand.


_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.

FROM: Lynne Kobayashi <[removed]@lib.state.hi.us>
REC'D: 2/12/02, 5:23 PM

We are a Carnegie library (1911) and have to deal with the original iron
shelves, so everything is in author order, with genre labels on the
spines, and signs asking patrons to look for the labels when seeking out a
particular genre.
I have worked in a smaller library that separated out mysteries, westerns,
and sci-fi/fantasy novels. I think patrons prefer the genre separation
because it makes their browsing more efficient.
Lynne Kobayashi / Hawaii State Library

On Mon, 11 Feb 2002, White, Amy S. wrote:

> I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways of
> organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction strickly
> in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
> etc. and why...Many thanks!
>
> Amy White, Media Center,
> Central Library, Tulsa, OK
> I
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: "Laurel Goodgion" <[removed]@portland.lib.ct.us>
REC'D: 2/13/02, 3:05 PM

Hi,

After reading the recent mail on genre shelving, I went through my files and
thought the following might be helpful:

Information on genre shelving


Baker, Sharon. Guiding the Reader to the Next Book. Neal-Schumann, 1996.

Chapter Six: "A Decade's Worth of Research on Browsing Fiction
Collections." Excellent bibliography at the end of the chapter.

Dr. Shay Baker. " Research Related to Client-centered Collection
Development", speech given at the Connecticut Library Association Annual
Conference, 1989.

"Dividing collection into reader interest areas that are easy to use
and not time consuming can increase use of previously poorly
used titles."

Dr. Sharon (Shay) Baker. "Fiction Classification: outline of major points".
Handout.

"Fiction classification does make it both easier and quicker for
browsers to select the type of book they feel will meet their
needs.

"Both major methods of classifying fiction increase circulation of
classed titles, although physical separation
increases use SUBSTANTIALLY MORE [author's caps] than simple labelling of
genre fiction titles."

Laurel Goodgion, Director
Portland Library
20 Freestone Ave.
Portland, CT 06480
email: [removed]@portland.lib.ct.us
phone: (860) 342-6771
fax: (860) 342-6778

FROM: "Bruce Bumbalough" <[removed]@grapevine.lib.tx.us>
REC'D: 2/13/02, 8:04 PM

Our library separates mystery, science and western and large print fiction. We
interfile large print western fiction with western fcition. We do it that way
because our patrons find it easier to locate the genre materials they seek.
I'd like to interfile because it would lead people to different authors and
genres and expand their reading horizons.

HTH.

"White, Amy S." wrote:

> I am looking for some current information covering these 2 different ways of
> organizing fiction titles. Does your library organize your fiction strickly
> in author order or by genres, ie. Mystery section, Science Fiction section,
> etc. and why...Many thanks!
>
> Amy White, Media Center,
> Central Library, Tulsa, OK
> I
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

--
Bruce L. Bumbalough
Reference Librarian
Grapevine Public Library
1201 Municipal Way
Grapevine, Texas

Voice: (817) 410-3404
Fax: (817) 410-3084
email: [removed]@grapevine.lib.tx.us

The opinions are mine.

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 2/14/02, 3:30 PM

We separate Westerns, Science Fiction, Mystery, and Romance from our general fiction and put a genre sticker on the spine. In Large Print we file by author, but still put the genre sticker on the spine.

Joyce M. Simowski
Canton Public Library
1200 S. Canton Center Road
Canton, MI 48188-1600

FROM: "Debbi Mullen" <[removed]@went1.wepl.lib.oh.us>
REC'D: 2/15/02, 9:53 AM

Our library does have genre sections, i.e. Westerns, Sci Fi, Romance,
Mystery. We also separate classics in paperback (students use those the
most). We have Oprah books in a separate section (fiction and
non-fiction together.) We used to have an Inspirational Fiction section
that was extremely popular, but the powers that be decided to do away
with that.
We have found that keeping the fiction separated by genre is generally a
help for staff and patrons alike.

FROM: Lynda Whitton-Henley <[removed]@ccpl.ci.corpus-christi.tx.us>
REC'D: 2/16/02, 11:43 AM

Hi Amy,

I think we have a thread on this discussion from about a year ago, that said
I'll give you my personal opinion...

I find that my public loves the fact that I have pulled our Western's into one
section and last year I put the Large Print Westerns in with them and
immediately my LP circ stats went way up and have stayed up. I put genre labels
on a lot of the fiction about two or three years ago.

Cataloguing only labels Westerns, Mysteries, and SciFI. LP has it's on
section. I got a special grant for classic videos and put a Classic label on
them and then I went further and did the same with the books. I took it upon
myself with some negative comments that this could create bad PR if people went
into the other branches and said things like NW has their ??? labeled or a spec.
section why don't you? Well....there has been a little of that but not enough
to create a real problem. I often tell my new customers that we have it this
way because I did it and our collection is smaller (adult fiction is 8063). It
took about 3 months to put labels on Historical Romance, Historical Fiction,
Short Stories, Horrow, Fantasy, Native Americans, Christian Fiction (often
combined with one of theother labels). While I was doing this I freshed up the
old Western, Mys., * SF labels (often faded very badly).

If I had the space and cataloguing would go along with me, I wouldn't hesitate
pulling out Mysteries, Romance, and Fantasy. The biggest problem is often which
genre does it really go in. ie Sandra Brown has gone from pure romance to
romance with mystery or intrigue mixed in with it and the men are reading her
now. Our lib. aides and staff know that a few Louis L'Amour's are still in the
fiction but the vast majority or in Westerns. Splitting up an author's works
when not catalogued by the genre creates a shelving problem and a problem for
the patron...BUT it works here and my people love the labels as an alternative
to making spec. sections.

When I started labeling, my children's librarian thought it would be a good idea
to put Accelerated Reader labels on those books in Juvenile and YA. Then the
idea grew to put colored coded dots on each book (some books have 6-8 dots on
them) to link it to each school's list (the lists varry from school to school).
Again this was something that was doable for us because we primarily serve 2
sch. districts, where in town they have a dozen schools (or more).

It took a long time and some volunteer help...plus after getting started she
decided why not just put the Reading Level & Points inside each book. The
parents bowed down and called her Blessed...really, they absolutely loved the
ease of finding a book and the kids felt more like the choice was their's rather
than just having to pick from a list, then look it up in the catalogue and then
find out that we didn't have it or it was out and having to start the process
all over. One hitch on the Reading Level & Points...they went and changed some
of them last Spring.

You've had more than my four bits worth so I'll cease.

Lynda Whitton-Henley, Br. Mgr.
Northwest Br., Corpus Christi, TX

My opinions and methods are definitely my own and do not reflect the opinions of
the library system.

FROM: Bradley A Scott <[removed]@juno.com>
REC'D: 2/25/02, 12:27 AM

>We generally choose at least one light book for the summer and perhaps a
>foray into genre fiction, which we usually avoid.

The text above, clipped from a Fiction-L message from "Bookbitch",
illustrates one reason I never particularly liked separating "genre"
fiction from "mainstream" fiction. It perpetuates the stereotype that
"genre" books are inferior, formula hackwork, which "serious" readers
avoid by looking at the "real" books in the main fiction section. It
also encourages readers to limit their reading to the same well-trampled
paths that they've already traveled, and confuses patrons who look for
their favorite author in alphabetical order in the "fiction" section
without figuring out which genre the library may have classified his or
her books into.

I'll grant that there is a lot of hackwork in both genre and "mainstream"
fiction. But some of the best writing around has roots in those
genre-ghettoes. Consider Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer-Prize-winning
"Lonesome Dove", or Loren Estleman's "The Master Executioner", a
decidedly non-formula book by a western author. And that's only in the
Westerns.

And then you have the books that cross genre boundaries. Where do you
shelve a romance story set in the Old West? (Does it make a difference
if the book was written by a woman or a man? Or from the viewpoint of a
male or female character?) What about futuristic mysteries? Where do
Laurell K. Hamilton's books belong, anyway? SF? Fantasy? Horror?
Mystery? Erotica?

On the other hand, having worked in libraries that shelved their fiction
both ways, I have observed that some library users do prefer to browse
only in certain genres.

Just my $.02 worth, pointing out some problems with the Dominant
Paradigm. (Wasn't there a previous discussion of this topic on Fiction-L
about two years ago?)

Bradley A. Scott
(who notes that if Jane Austen were publishing today, she'd probably be
shelved in "romance".)
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.

FROM: BookBitch <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 2/25/02, 3:45 PM

>We generally choose at least one light book for
the summer and perhaps a
>foray into genre fiction, which we usually
avoid.

<<The text above, clipped from a Fiction-L
message
from "Bookbitch",
illustrates one reason I never particularly liked

separating "genre"
fiction from "mainstream" fiction. It
perpetuates the stereotype that
"genre" books are inferior, formula hackwork,
which "serious" readers
avoid by looking at the "real" books in the main
fiction section. It
also encourages readers to limit their reading
to the same well-trampled
paths that they've already traveled, and confuses

patrons who look for
their favorite author in alphabetical order in
the "fiction" section
without figuring out which genre the library may
have classified his or
her books into.

I'll grant that there is a lot of hackwork in
both genre and "mainstream"
fiction. But some of the best writing around has

roots in those
genre-ghettoes....

Just my $.02 worth, pointing out some problems
with the Dominant
Paradigm....

Bradley A. Scott
(who notes that if Jane Austen were publishing
today, she'd probably be
shelved in "romance".)<<

I never stated or implied that "genre" fiction
was in any way inferior to "mainstream" fiction,
only that the reading group that I facilitate
doesn't generally read genre fiction. Nor do we
read non-fiction or books written prior to the
1900's of any persuasion. The reason for that is
that it is a CONTEMPORARY FICTION READING GROUP.


One of the reasons that members attend is that
they want to read more "serious" fiction works
than is generally available in the genres. They
are looking to expand their reading horizons.
Occasionally we read a "popular" title, but as a
rule I try and find literate, interesting books
that most people would not have found on their
own. The ultimate goal, of course, is to find a
book that will generate a good discussion.

If you had bothered to visit the link I provided
further along in that post,

http://www.bookbitch.com/schedule.htm

you would have seen that the books we do read are
quite varied and very few that could be
classified as "mainstream". If you poked around
my site at all, you would have noticed that I
personally read quite a bit of genre books,
especially mysteries.

You'll get no argument from me that there are
genre writers who are far superior to some
fiction writers, and vice versa. Personally, it
has always bothered me that genre fiction is
never even considered for things like the
National Book Award, but that is another topic
entirely.

You might enjoy reading the interview with Nicola
Griffith on the Nan Talese site at
http://www.randomhouse.com/nanatalese/exclusive/griffithinterview.html

This was the first question:
"You've published several books and won a variety
of awards in various categories of genre fiction.
Stay is your first book with a "literary"
publisher. Is the book or your writing different,
or is just being regarded differently? "

You'll have to go to the site to read her answer.

And that's my $.02

Stacy Alesi

Southwest County Regional Library
Palm Beach County Library System

=====
I am the BookBitch
www.bookbitch.com

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