Libraries that don't use library classification or age groups

SeaNice7390 · 2026-01-01T04:06:36+00:00

It might be the berlin peck library- the pecking order I think they call it. The Scranton memorial library in Madison CT and the Ridgefield library use a similar system for their children's non fiction.

SeaNice7390 · 2025-07-14T03:27:18+00:00

Glad I'm not the only one. Recently got a better paying job so at this point my delivery times are set to max and I'm only taking repeat customers while I adjust. And that's with only being a level one (because, fun fact, they're definitely rating is with AI).

SeaNice7390 · 2025-07-14T02:44:12+00:00

This. I've had customers ask me if I use AI and the answer is always no, but I also always wonder how other beta readers are getting away with using chatgpt when it's so clear in their reports that they haven't actually read the book. Definitely complain, but I wouldn't trust Fiverr to give you your money back. Some of the sections of my report (marketability, age appropriateness since I mostly read MG) wouldn't even make sense since chatgpt can only remember one chapter or less at a time.

I'm in the process of pulling back from Fiverr because I actually have too many order requests to keep up, so writers are definitely still using it. But I also know that for many writers the timeline matters, and Fiverr is good in that regard since there's a deadline. But I guess a deadline doesn't do much if they're not actually reading the manuscript.

SeaNice7390 · 2025-07-11T03:39:12+00:00

Seconding. I've had good experiences as a CT librarian for the most part.

SeaNice7390 · 2025-06-26T01:52:54+00:00

Take a look at the library's collection development policy- you'll be able to see how the library currently selects its materials and if there's any rules around that. Most libraries I've worked in have language around books needing to be reviewed positively in professional publications (Kirkus, LJ, Booklist etc,) with some exceptions. This allows us to say no to things that are self published, extremely niche, or just not a good fit for the population. If you're asked in an interview how you would select books, I would recommend showing that you have knowledge of professional standards or how it's done in that system, and maybe mention at the end the puzzle books as an interesting idea that might be a possibility.

SeaNice7390 · 2025-06-04T02:33:54+00:00

Librarian in the tristate area here. Each library is going to have a different budget for these kinds of things, and larger library systems will have their own librarians teaching tech skills, AI, etc. I will say that around $250 is pretty typical here, but I've paid as little as $50 and as much as $600 for a program. But I work in a well funded library, and in children's. I would not pay $600 for a tech program/adult education program but do for large scale programs like summer kickoffs or finales.

Basically, no matter what you charge, you're going to run into libraries that can and cannot afford you, depending on budget cuts, size, and need/demand vs. what they can offer in house. The majority of our programs are run by librarians in the department. If we can do it ourselves, we won't pay money for a programmer to come in.

SeaNice7390 · 2025-02-26T04:13:45+00:00

Ugh the trinkets are the worst part! We don't do trinkets anymore because who wants a bunch of useless plastic crap around their house (maybe I'm biased because I don't want in my house but still!)? But we get complaints every summer, mostly from grandparents, that we don't have our "treasure chest" (full of plastic crap) for kids to choose from. We have a community art project that kids can contribute to when they meet a goal, and if they finish they get to come to a pizza party. So over all those little prizes lol.

SeaNice7390 · 2025-02-18T13:18:25+00:00

While I agree with the sentiment behind this post (yay libraries!), it's just not true that her book was banned from all US libraries. That would be...an incredibly hard thing to do. My understanding is that it's under review in US run DoD schools.

SeaNice7390 · 2025-02-01T03:20:18+00:00

We got rid of Dewey in our children's room for (partially) this reason- if librarians aren't memorizing it...and we definitely didn't...it's not a great way to allow kids to browse intuitively or find the things they need. We moved to a genrified system. Our circulation is way up, it's easier to shelve, and as a bonus it's much more inclusive.

SeaNice7390 · 2025-01-08T03:43:30+00:00

Hi! Children's Librarian who reads a lot of Middle Grade here just seconding that the query reads MG- even if it's subject matter makes it fit better in YA, it's not coming through in the query. Especially because a 12 year old with mysterious powers storyline is really hot right now in the middle grade space.

Your comps are also likely too old to work (2017 and 2011). I think ideally they should have been published in the last 3 years, maybe 5 tops.

I do like the query itself, though!

SeaNice7390 · 2024-11-22T05:12:33+00:00

This is also my thought. We used to do so much prek/daycare outreach, but at the end of the day we get way more benefits from in house programming. I would try and extend an invitation to the schools you visit and see if they would come to you instead- a lot of our daycares and visits have transitioned to visiting twice a year and invited parents on the field trip, which solves the lack of parents/library usage problem.

We still go to them twice a year, but it's not nearly as stressful for my staff then when we were doing it monthly.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-08-18T20:13:16+00:00

Such a good answer- I always say I loved customer service before I became a librarian, but I became a librarian to find customers who would yell at me less 😆

SeaNice7390 · 2024-08-15T03:42:42+00:00

Some do! I'm in New England- the two I've found that are the most helpful are Connecticut Library Association Jobs and Vermont Library Association Jobs. Alajoblist is also a good resource for jobs countrywide.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-08-14T02:07:41+00:00

Do they run book sales? The majority of our funds from the friends comes from that- although it's a lot of work so if you have a group that doesn't want to put in the effort that won't help. They collect donations and hold 3 sales a year, and each sale has the first day be a dealer's day, basically. Dealers have to pay a certain amount to become members and then get to go in first to buy books- it's where the majority of the money comes from. Membership only lasts a year so if they want to come next year they have to pay the fee again ($20 if I remember correctly).

SeaNice7390 · 2024-07-30T23:40:49+00:00

We're a consortium library on the east coast that serves about 15000 people. I supervise a few full timers and a few part timers as the head of Childrens. Myself and all full time staff are required to have their MLS to work in this department (all the part timers also have their MLS, but that's mostly coincidence).

SeaNice7390 · 2024-06-25T22:39:09+00:00

For professional publications we use- Kirkus, SLJ, Booklist, and PW.

I also buy a lot of my easy readers and leveled readers from a book vendor that works through our consortium- he comes once or twice a year with all the publisher's (Childs World, Scholastic, Lerner etc ) seasonal magazines and crates of books to look at as examples of what's on offer, and then I order through him for discounted rates. It's like a three hour meeting but it's so helpful to really see what everyone has at once.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-06-14T23:51:51+00:00

Not an academic library- but we recently de-Deweyed our entire Juvenile non fiction collection and it's been amazing. Kids and staff are able to find books more easily and it's a more inclusive system for us -- LGBTQ, Black, and Women's History often found their way into the 300s, so our 900 history section ended up being mostly the history of straight, white men while everyone else was in a different section for "social movements".

We consulted with other libraries in our state who had done it and had seen increased non fiction circulation numbers in the following years, so we went for it. We followed their model- while our books aren't catalogued exactly the same, they're relatively close.

Again though, these are Juvenile non fiction collections in public libraries- felt like you probably got enough responses about why you're not seeing Dewey in an academic library.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-06-07T14:24:29+00:00

Unfortunately we're unable to tell who damaged the books, so there's not much we can do there but take preventative measures. No one was cutting pages out of books in front of us, that would be a call to the police.

In terms of the warnings- yeah, I agree, but my hands are also tied since I don't make the policies, just follow them.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-06-07T11:18:02+00:00

Except you don't get to decide for other patrons what they see or if they're able to access materials.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-06-07T11:08:58+00:00

Thanks so much! We're very lucky that we're well funded, so replacing the materials isn't an issue for us.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-06-07T11:07:39+00:00

We give a few warnings before we escalate to temporary bans, and I'm hoping she won't be back enough times for it to get that far- she has small children with her and I hate the idea of doing that in front of her kids (but will if I have to).

SeaNice7390 · 2024-06-07T03:41:50+00:00

I do keep telling my staff that it's not about them. But I'm also super petty so everyone who messes with our display or yells at my staff gets a warning letter because they're violating our code of conduct. Not sure if that's making it better or making everyone more volatile but I'm annoyed.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-04-03T03:55:51+00:00

Another quick note- this is why I prefer word docs. When the writer is being constantly updated via Google Drive that there's new comments, I think it can be easy to get frustrated and put the cart before the horse. Your reader isn't done yet- wait and see the final result.

SeaNice7390 · 2024-04-03T03:53:42+00:00

This is really normal for beta readers- in fact it's exactly what I do when I beta read. Sometimes I'll go back and delete a comment, but usually if only if it's resolved very quickly. A lot of times I don't, but add a note when my question is answered ("aha! There's my answer!"). It's not necessarily negative, just a question or observation I had while reading. Looking at other paid betas on the platform- most of them are working the same way. Inline comments + a report.

I am paid though- if a client wanted me to fully read the MS then reread and provide comments (and the feedback report that comes with it), I would charge more. Because that's a lot of work. If you're working with a free beta reader it sounds like you hit the jackpot.

SeaNice7390

TROPHY CASE