Weeding outdated materials, adding signage, trying dynamic shelving – none of it worked. Despite my efforts, students still found our elementary school’s non-fiction section unintuitive and overwhelming. They couldn’t find what they wanted, so they stopped looking.
Then I discovered “Ditching Dewey.” After researching the concept, I decided to replace the outdated classification system of Melvil Dewey with a student-centered organization by topic. Launched in late 2024 and completed by spring 2025, here is how we transformed our space:
Step 1: Ruthless Weeding. Be merciless. I removed any title that hadn’t circulated in five years or was published before 2010 (unless the info, like dinosaurs, was evergreen). This also ensured any culturally insensitive or visually dated materials were removed.
Step 2: Engaging Students. I formed a Student NF Committee of volunteers from Grades 3–8. Meeting twice a week, we pulled everything off the shelves and grouped books into categories that made sense to them. For example, they grouped Remembrance Day, WWII, and the Canadian Military together, rather than leaving them scattered across three different Dewey sections. Titles that weren’t immediately obvious, were set aside for a later date. It was a messy, but essential step.
Step 3: Categorizing. This step proved to be the easiest one, and the topics naturally evolved into seven major umbrellas: Language & Arts; Social Studies; Science; World History & Geography; Canadian History & Geography; Biographies & Memoirs; and General. Once these were set, we started reshelving the piles.
Step 4: Visual Rebranding. I used Canva to create color-coded spine labels and signage. Each spine label now features a topic icon and name that matches the shelf signage. While printing and stickering every book took about four months (a few books at a time), the visual clarity was worth the effort.
Step 5: Launching. Don’t forget to promote the new section. After a mid-year orientation to introduce the new layout, the response was immediate. Students loved the autonomy of the new system. Our non-fiction circulation spiked instantly and has remained steady a year later.
Ready to Ditch Dewey? If you’re considering a similar shift, I recommend the following resources to get you started:
- Podcast: School Librarians United with Amy Hermon (search for NF management episodes).
- Blog: Don’t Shush Me by Kelsey Bogan, specifically her three-part series on Ditching Dewey.
- Instagram: @CanuckClassroom – I do a detailed walk-through of the newly remodeled space on my teachergram (look for the Ditching Dewey highlight reel).
If you are interested in using the signage featured here and in the Instagram video, you can find the Canva files here: Section Topic Posters; Spine Labels; Shelf Labels.
Ultimately, every library is unique, so feel free to adapt these steps to your community. Whether you follow these steps or create your own, if your students are actually excited to browse the shelves, you’re doing it right.
Meet the Author
Aggie Gasior
Aggie Gasior is a dedicated YRDSB Teacher-Librarian in Thornhill, Ontario, passionate about connecting every K–8 student with the perfect book to spark their love of reading.
For more information about The Teaching Librarian, please refer to the Terms of Reference.
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