Changing Your Classification

***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS ON-DEMAND WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***

Clinton-Macomb Public Library (CMPL) started moving away from Dewey Decimal Classification in 2015. But with a multi-branch system and a variety of stakeholders, transitioning from the successful pilot test to the entire nonfiction collections wasn’t easy. 

The project, called the Nonfiction Accessibility Assessment Project (NAAP), had two components—the first was to determine if the interfiled children’s and adult nonfiction at branch locations should be separated, and the second was to decide if the library would transition from the Dewey Decimal system to a hybrid, BISAC+Dewey classification. Over the course of two years and numerous assessments—including feedback from other libraries, facilitated staff discussions, a public survey and user testing, a spatial planning assessment, and a follow-up survey about the process for the staff—CMPL was able to create a classification system that most people bought into, was collaborative, and was scalable across all buildings. 

In this webinar, learn how CMPL changed its nonfiction collection classification, from initial conception through planning, research, and literature review. Various methods of generating input and feedback from staff and public, the execution of the classification change, and how success can be tracked through circulation data and anecdotal interactions with the public will be presented.

Recorded live on June 4, 2025.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will be able to:

• Recognize resources to help them develop their own classification system;
• Plan, execute, and assess a project that works for a variety of collection sizes and spaces; and
• Identify the importance of changing their classification system to meet the needs of the public they serve. 

Who Should Attend

This on-demand webinar is intended for all public or school library staff and technical services librarians. 

Panelists

C Mulder (they/them) is the head of adult and teen services at the Rochester Hills Public Library in Rochester, MI; and was previously the head of collection management and system administration at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library in Michigan. They received their MSI in Library and Information Services from the University of Michigan in 2018. After starting in reference, Mulder quickly transitioned to technical services where they enjoy discussing classification with anyone who will engage. They’ve served as the chair of the CMPL equity, diversity, and inclusion committee for the past four years. 

Important Registration Information

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Accommodations

This on-demand webinar is closed captioned in English (United States).

If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your access to this on-demand webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) prior to registering so we can attempt to provide appropriate accommodations.

Tech Requirements

To play this on-demand webinar you should use a browser with native HTML5 support. Please use the most up-to-date version available of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edge. A fast Internet connection and computer is recommended.

Contact

This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

If you have questions or problems accessing a recording, send a message to plawebinars@ala.org or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).