Fiction Classification: A brief review of the research

by Gay W. Shepherd and Sharon L. Baker
Public Libraries Vol. 126, No. 1, Spring 1987, pp. 31-32.

This two-page article summarizes the findings of seven studies on fiction classification. "Fiction classification" is dividing fiction into genres (e.g., mysteries, westerns, romances, etc.) Implementing fiction classification can be done a number of ways.

• Genre subject headings in catalogs
  
• Genre spine labels
• Shelving genre separately
  
• Some combination of the above
  

The introduction summarizes Gail Harrell's 1984 survey on the way 49 US public libraries are currently classifying fiction. 26 libraries (53%) were combining distinct shelving, spine labels, and notation in the catalogs. The three most popular categories were science fiction, westerns and mysteries.

Four studies suggest classifying fiction may increase circulation of the fiction classified. In 1909, William Borden moved detective stories and historical fiction off the regular fiction shelves onto separate shelves. Patrons who had primarily only browsed the new books shelves began browsing, even preferring, this two sections. In two 1980s studies, 69% to 88% of patrons claimed fiction classification made finding books easier.

Librarians have long debated whether fiction should be shelved separately by genre or whether titles should remain shelved alphabetically by author with spine labels indicating different genre. According to David Spiller's 1980 survey, 59% prefer separate shelving and 24% prefer author name shelving.