Organization of Printed Adult Fiction in the Public Library

Introduction

Organization is an important factor in any given institution, particularly one where professionals are

trained to find and satisfy information needs. In a public library, the organization of the shelves can

dictate how easily it is for patrons to find materials, as well as determine the materials that are checked

out. When items are difficult to find, patrons can become frustrated, losing their drive to find the item

and potentially leaving empty-handed. Conversely, when items are easily located and organized in a

manner that makes logical sense, then a patron might leave with even more than originally planned. If

items are organized in a way which makes sense to a patron’s personal browsing patterns, then this will

also dictate the items that are checked out. The decision on how to organize the fiction materials at a

public library is a difficult one, as there are studied and analysed benefits and drawbacks from a variety

of approaches. Also, each community will have preferences and will respond differently to organization.

A library must think about the unique needs of their patrons, the size of their collection, the existing

popular genres, authors who write under multiple genres, if a change is needed, and if the community

has been made aware of future changes (Lyttle, & Walsh, 2015). Additionally, it must be determined

that a library has been organized for the convenience of the patron, and not the librarian (Huff, 2006).

For the purpose of this study, take a library that recently made a change with the organization of

printed, adult fiction. The decision was made to separate multiple genres from the fiction collection,

specifically mystery, science fiction, and inspirational fiction. The main fiction section still exists, but now

it breaks off into these other genres. This is felt to be more beneficial for patrons, as they largely like to

browse based on their favorite genres. However, drawbacks also exist concerning this change, making it

worth analyzing. Patrons should enjoy using their local library, know where to look for books, and to
have positive browsing experiences. The question exists if patrons like the change that was made to the

fiction section, if they have an easier time browsing, and if they feel less overwhelmed with the amount

of materials. If this is not the case, then it must be determined if the old format was preferred. Printed

fiction is the most popular collection for the adult demographic, therefore the circulation numbers for

this collection must be as high as possible. If a certain organization technique exists that would increase

circulation, then this technique should be followed. While literature on this topic abundantly exists and

will be reviewed, each individual community is different in how they respond to their public library and

collection. Additionally, good circulation data is crucial as a performance metric, and finding patterns

concerning dramatic increases or decreases in regard to a particular genre are vital to maintaining a

popular, rounded, and well-organized collection. To ensure all of this, a study must be designed to

address the main questions at hand.

Research problem and hypothesis

The problem to be resolved is whether the frequency of circulation of printed fiction books

separated by genre, specifically fiction, mystery, science fiction, and inspirational fiction is

different from the frequency of circulation of printed fiction not separated by genre. The

subproblems and research questions in this study are:

What is the frequency of circulation of printed fiction materials separated by genre, specifically

fiction, mystery, science fiction, and inspirational fiction?

What is the frequency of circulation of printed fiction materials not separated by genre?

What is the difference in frequency of circulation between the two groups?

Do library patrons have a preference in the two organization techniques based on how they like

to search and browse?

The Hypothesis is that there will be a positive relationship between the frequency of circulation

of printed fiction materials separated by genre, specifically fiction, mystery, science fiction, and

inspirational fiction. To answer the research problems and attempt to prove the hypothesis, a

complete literature review must first be conducted.

Literature Review

The concept of genre as a form of knowledge organization and its individual characteristics has been

studied extensively and at a broad level. Bazerman (1994) found that genre becomes a recognizable

social label that easily categorizes and makes something available. Similarly, Beghtol (2005) found that

genre provides a framework causing user expectation and also structure. This allows for

approachability, but genre can only ever be as good as the classification system in general. Lee, & Zhang

(2013) used these studies to analyze genre in anglo-American cataloging, in order to understand how

individuals search in a catalog computer setting. They were interested in if users referred to genre in

their keyword searches, and on if the catalog system retrieved their desired results. This study further

helped to show data favoring classification systems.

With reference to classification systems and refining the research lens toward libraries, Haines (1938)

studied a humanistic approach toward librarianship. This approach was preferred over a machine-driven

approach, and suggested that a responsiveness toward the organization and discussion of books helps

to humanize libraries and move with human experience and user-driven service. The humanistic

approach entails organizing the library in a way that puts a user first, and not the system. Therefore, give
the patrons what they want and place the emphasis on service and the collection. This parallels the idea

of learning what organization each community prefers in their public library, and making the collection

fit that preference. Huff (2013) focuses heavily on organizing a public library with consideration for the

patron, not the librarian. The collection should be manageable and the information digestible. The same

has been found concerning digital documents and the importance of creating something recognizable

that a user will be able to interpret (Toms, 2005). The structure and purpose of an online document act

in a similar fashion as genre, providing stability in the digital world by conforming to logical patterns

(Toms, 2005).

As far back as 1907, a study was published that watched patron browsing habits through unaware

observation (Rippel, 2012). This study found that patrons are drawn to what is new, as well as sections

which are smaller and stand apart from others, therefore appearing more enticing (Rippel, 2012). Trott,

& Novak (2011) heavily discuss the benefits of separating adult printed fiction by genres. They conclude

that genre is an important organizational device that allows librarians to understand stylistic elements

and help patrons with reader’s advisory. Separating by genre allows patrons to find books quickly, acts

as an access point to browse if they feel overwhelmed by their amount of choices, and helps mirror the

approach that bookstores and other shopping venues, such as Amazon, which consumers are

accustomed to. Genre seperating is seen as a more user-driven approach instead of favoring the

preference of professionals in the field. Baker (1998) felt much the same way, conducting an experiment

that correctly hypothesized genre separation would increase overall fiction circulation in larger libraries.

This was due to the same argument about an access point for overwhelmed patrons, as well as simply

being an easier way for patrons to find books, as the individual sections are smaller when seperated. The

study did find that separating by genre did not provide much of a difference for smaller libraries. While

drawbacks were not heavily discussed and the study used surveys where details concerning the
questions and responses were left entirely out of the paper, this has still been used as a starting point

for similar studies for libraries to conduct for many years. It acts as a great foundation point with

potential to change, in order to fit each unique community.

Regarding drawbacks, Trott, & Novak did discuss several. Separating fiction by different genres can

prove confusing when authors frequently write under more than one genre (2011). There is also room

for more human error, as cataloging librarians may incorrectly label a book a certain genre when it has

been officially categorized as another, however, this error would also exist in the overall record.

Additionally, some readers may use genres not only to select books, but also to dismiss them. In this

way, genre creates an accidental hierarchy, ostracizing certain readers and therefore somewhat going

against what libraries strive to do for readers. Maker (2008) also analyzed some of these problems. She

also felt that this was not a new trend in libraries, can prove confusing, and will most likely create the

law of diminishing return, being a creation of too many categories with no end in sight. The article

concludes that separating genre does, in fact, increase circulation, however Maker feels her other points

outweigh this added benefit. Looking at these articles and the potential benefits and drawbacks of genre

seperation, I believe further proves that a similar study needs to be done for each individual community.

Many factors can come into play, and the size of the library certainly helps to determine if this approach

would be helpful. However, the increase of circulation and preference of patrons should be kept as the

highest priority, in order to continue a user-centered system.

Tom and Novak’s (2011) study acts as an ideal blueprint, allowing for an understanding of the types of

positive and negative drawbacks of genre separation, and studying circulation to derive data and study

patterns. Additionally, the study implemented surveys, which are used as a secondary source of data.

They survey questions were not provided, but the questions involved patron satisfaction based on the
current organization of the library, and if the organization fit that particular community. Overall, the

literature review shows that each community is different, and therefore these studies cannot answer

the initial research problem and hypothesis on their own.

Research Design/Methodology

A mixed methods research design will be used for this study. This method is appropriate as both

qualitative and quantitative data is needed to answer the proposed research questions. A large

amount of data, quantitative, will be needed to answer questions dealing with the frequency of

circulation and the difference between the two organizational techniques in the circulation

patterns. Then, qualitative data will be needed to answer the research questions dealing with

patron preference of how their fiction collection is organized. The study will involve adult patrons

at the Beavercreek Community Library. They will have to come in to the physical institution in

order to be considered for the study, and the first portion of the study will be conducted with a

random time sampling.

The initial problem statement to focus on will be whether the frequency of circulation of printed

fiction books separated by genre, specifically fiction, mystery, science fiction, and inspirational

fiction is different from the frequency of circulation of printed fiction not separated by genre. The

data to collect first will be from performing an unobstructed observation at the library, of patron’s

browsing behaviors (Gorman, 2005). This is molded after the highly used study conducted by

William Borden over a period of two years, in which he observed patron browsing behaviors

(Rippel, 2012). Observation will be performed by sitting behind a personal laptop computer,

towards the middle of the library where patrons can be observed browsing books. Working and

taking notes on a laptop will ensure patrons do not realize an observation is occuring. From this
location, patron inquiries to the reference desk can also be heard. These inquiries will be tallied

whenever they make reference to genre, such as a patron asking if genre is separated, asking

for assistance in finding a good book and mentioning a favorite genre, ect. During the

observation portion of the study, special notice will be taken regarding if patrons tend to stick to

one area of the adult fiction, if they go directly to a particular area, or if they walk around the

entirety of fiction. Categories will be created on an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of this data,

as well as the information gained from inquiries to the reference desk. This will be done using a

simple tally system and random time sampling, similar to Baker’s original study (1998). This

approach will allow for analysis of different patrons at different times of the day and throughout

the week (Connaway, & Radford, 2017). This portion of the research design will help to evaluate

the research question concerned with patron preference for their browsing habits.

To answer the research questions dealing with frequency of circulation, data from circulation

reports of the fiction section will be used. The circulation data will come from two different years,

from circulation reports in 2015 when genre was not separated in the Beavercreek library, and

from circulation reports in 2017 when genre had been separated for a full year. This data will be

viewed to determine if there was a significant increase in the amount of mystery, science fiction,

and inspirational fiction being checked out in 2017, compared to 2015. The numbers found from

the circulation reports will not simply be compared, as much of circulation depends on an author

and is not based on genre. The purpose is to determine if there is a significant increase or

decrease in numbers. Additionally, a portion of this data will come from patrons who have

requested titles online or at the desk, and therefore have had the books pulled directly for them.

This data will not help to answer the research question concerning patron browsing patterns, but

will assist in deciphering evident patterns. Once this data has been collected, it will be stored on

a separate Excel spreadsheet. Regarding concerns with ethics, this information is made

available as it is useful for performing collection maintenance. The specific titles of the books
will not be listed, and the data will not be linked to particular patrons. In this way, patron privacy

as well as any other ethical concerns will not be violated.

To further help in answering the research question dealing with patron preference, a survey will

be created and patrons will be asked at the desk if they would be willing to participate in the

survey. The survey will be for adults only, as only adult fiction is being analyzed. The survey will

be a structured format, will be in print, and a small incentive will be offered (Bhattacherjee,

2012). Offering a survey in print may not gather as many respondents as an online survey

would, but it does make the survey a more optional experience than sending out links or emails

to patron’s contact information. The focus will be on improving service. The incentive will be a

small piece of candy or a decorative bookmark, and will hopefully entice participants to respond

to the survey questions right away. This form of gathering data will be helpful in analyzing if

patrons enjoy the organization of fiction as it stands, or if they miss it being interfiled. This will

support the quantitative data from analyzing circulation by providing more qualitative data. A

separate Excel spreadsheet will be created to keep track of this data. The survey questions will

be straightforward and the survey will be kept short, making it easy to analyze and avoiding the

potential to frustrate patrons. The surveys will be handed out with a timeline dictating the

participants have three weeks to complete and return the surveys. Below is the appearance of

the proposed survey. They questions have been designed based on Baker’s 1998 study, but

created to reflect the particular community of this public library.

1) What is your age?

2) How often do you use your public library in person?

3) How do you like to find fiction books at your public library?

4) Do you find browsing the library easier by separating fiction into genres?

5) Do you often stick to the same genre when reading fiction?

 6) Do you like the fiction section of your public library to be separated into genres?

7) Would you suggest a change in how we have organized the adult fiction section of the

library?

In summary, the rest of the research design will use the following methods:

● Unobstructed observation of patrons at the library with a random time sampling

● 2015 and 2017 circulation data

● Basic survey results

The instruments used to track and analyze this data will be:

● A laptop computer

● Three different Excel spreadsheets

● A simple tally system

Due to the nature of this data, coding will not be necessary. With the unobstructed observation,

tallies will be counted to determine if patrons largely stick to the genres they are accustomed to.

The amount of inquiries regarding genre will also be counted. With the circulation data reports,

a comparison of the numbers in 2015 and 2017 will be analyzed to determine if there is a

change over time and if evident patterns exist. Then, with the survey results, the responses will

be counted and the averages compared. Based on all of these data collection techniques, the

answers will be rather easy to compile. If the majority of data yields support for the separation of

genre in adult printed fiction, then this will be evident. If the opposite is true, then this will also be

easy to detect. Once everything is compiled, a Word document will be created to analyze all of

the results. The Word document will be split into three sections, indicating the three different

stages of the research study. The first section will present the results with a simple table, while

the second and third section will use a bar graph to show the patterns the data has made

visible.
Once everything is completed, this data will be more useful for the individual library the study

was conducted for. While the study may bring new ideas and angles into this particular area of

research, each individual library has different needs and patron preferences. The organization

of a library collection is of utmost importance, and the rate of circulation is vital in understanding

if a collection is meeting the information needs of the community. Due to this, this study is

extremely important for collection development and serving patrons with a user-centered

system. Detailing the unique questions of the survey may help other researchers develop their

own surveys and overall studies.

Timeline

This study will last 7-8 weeks. It is not an overly large study, therefore the time spent conducting

it will be limited. The first portion of the study, unobstructive observation, will be a three-week

long time sampling. In this way, patrons will be studied during different times, different days, and

throughout different weeks. The data will be recorded while the observation is taking place.

Then, the circulation data comparison can be done during these three weeks, or while waiting

for the survey results. The survey will be handed out and requested to be returned in another

three-week period. This will give participants plenty of time to complete the surveys. This means

that the study will last around six weeks, with a week or two to analyze the data. This will allow

for time to understand what has been found, and to interpret and present the data in the Word

document. This makes for a reasonable and also efficient timeline.

Potential Limitations

This study has potential limitations. One of the limitations is inherent in the study itself, being

that the data collected is largely only relevant to the library it has been conducted in. While the

study can be used as a guide for other researchers, it has been mentioned that this type of data
will be the most beneficial for an individual library, as each one has a different population size,

different collection, and different patron needs. Additionally, the circulation data will have to be

regarded as only relevant if there is an evident pattern found and a large difference in the

circulation numbers. This is due to a few reasons. One reason is that books are selected for

more than just their genre. In many situations, books are selected because they are written by a

certain author who has proved to be popular. James Patterson, for instance, is an author who is

frequently sought out and who happens to write largely mystery novels. Just because a patron

decides to select a James Patterson book, this does not mean they necessarily prefer the

mystery genre, as they might just read anything James Patterson has ever written. Additionally,

a number of the books that will be present on the circulation data reports have been requested

by patrons online or pulled by a librarian or aide. In this way, these books do not account for

patron browsing patterns or their preferences for how the adult printed fiction is organized.

However, both of these situations only account for a percentage of the circulation data. If there

is a huge difference between the amount of mystery novels checked out in 2015 compared to

amount checked out in 2017, then the obvious reason would be the change in how the fiction is

organized. Finally, there is not a huge difference in time between 2015 and 2017. It would be

beneficial to compare multiple different ranges of years, however the change in organization has

only be implemented for a few years. The data will still be beneficial to show a difference in

circulation and patron preference.

Research Quality

Trustworthiness of research is vital. To ensure the research study will reflect accurate data,

credibility will be guaranteed throughout the different stages. To begin, the unobstructed

observation will be kept unaware to patrons. By using a laptop computer to keep track of

observation notes, blending in with the environment will be easier. Patrons will not likely notice a

study is being conducted. Additionally, the observation will be ethical. No personal information
will be present in any notes, and as little notice as possible will be regarded toward specific

patrons. Nothing about the study could ever come back to harm a patron in any way, as they

are merely being observed regarding how they like to browse the public library. If a patron

questions any portion of the study, then honesty will be given. However, this will likely never

become necessary.

For the circulation data portion of the study, understanding the limitations and only looking for

obvious patterns will account for remaining ethical and delivering quality research. The data will

be recorded honestly, and if no obvious patterns exist in the records, then this will be recorded

and presented truthfully.

For the survey portion of the study, patrons will not feel required to participate. It will be

immediately indicated that the survey is optional, and the reason for the survey will also be

immediately evident. The privacy of library patrons will always be respected, as the survey will

be in print as a mass email of the survey will not be sent to patrons regardless of their

permission. Patrons will be informed that none of their personal information will be asked of

them, and that they do not need to indicate who they are in any way on the survey. If they ask to

see the survey questions before they agree to take the survey, then the information will be

made available to them. The questions have also been designed to ensure no bias is shown

toward one type of organization for the adult printed fiction collection. The results of the survey

will be recorded honestly, even if they do not agree with the original hypothesis of the study.

Overall, an open mind will be kept during the entire process and little to no bias will be shown

toward the results.

Conclusion

The best form of organization for a library is unique for each location and community. It is

important to understand what this organization should be, as the circulation of materials is
dependent on these materials being easily found and the experience of the patron being an

enjoyable one. Conducting a literature review indicated that a study such as this needs to be

conducted for the Beavercreek Community Library in order to ensure changing the adult fiction

section to reflect genre separation was a beneficial decision. Based on the literature review, the

designed study, and the results of similar studies, the anticipated results find the hypothesis to

be true. In this particular library, there will likely be a positive relationship between the frequency

of circulation of printed fiction materials separated by genre, specifically fiction, mystery, science

fiction, and inspirational fiction.

References

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Association, 3(27), 366-376. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org.proxy.library.kent.edu/stable/25828092

Bazerman, C. (1994). System of genre and enactment of social intentions. New York, NY:
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Beghtol, C. (2005). The concept of genre and its characteristics. Bulletin of the Association of
Information Science and Technology Banner, 27(2), 19-17. doi:10.1002/bult.192

Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social science research: Principles, methods, and practices. New
York, NY: Global Text Project. Retrieved from
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Connaway, L. S., & Radford, M. L. (2017). Research methods in library and information science.
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Maker, R. (2008). Finding what you’re looking for: A reader-centered approach to the
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Toms, E. (2005). Recognizing digital genre. Bulletin of the Association for Information and
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Trott, B., & Novak, V. (2011). A house divided? Two views on genre separation. ALA Journal,
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