Children's books are variously shelved and classified in the UNC-Chapel Hill libraries. Most are shelved in the juvenile collection in the School of Information and Library Science. Fiction in this collection is designated J or JE (primary and picture books) and shelved by author while non-fiction is arranged by abridged Dewey Decimal Classsification. Subject headings are assigned as instructed in the Library of Congress's microfiche publication Subject Headings for Children's Literature. Children's books are also shelved in Main, the Undergraduate Library, and, rarely, other departmental libraries where they are arranged by Library of Congress Classification. Juvenile belles lettres are normally classed in PZ, although some may be found classed in the regular literature schedules. Juvenile non-fiction is classed with the topic in the regular subject classes. Children's books shelved in Main, the Undergraduate Library, or other departmental libraries are assigned standard Library of Congress subject headings with the subdivision "Juvenile literature" as required.

Bibliographers and departmental librarians offer the following guidelines for shelving and classifying children's books in the UNC-Chapel Hill libraries:

School of Information and Library Science:

The SILS juvenile collection is intended to represent a working school or public library collection of children's books. For a number of years SILS accepted children's books inadvertently ordered by other departmental libraries, including Main, which were judged inappropriate for the particular collection. In addition, SILS also accepted gift juvenile titles. This policy is no longer in effect. Children's books found inappropriate for other collections should be offered to SILS, but will be added only at the discretion of the librarian on a title by title basis.

Another change in policy that may affect shelving is the use of the SILS cage. Previously, fragile, rare, or older materials not useful in a contemporary collection or needing protective shelving were stored in this cage and given the additional designation H (for historical, e.g. JH or JH Dewey). It is now the policy to discourage the use of this cage because it is not seen as either particularly secure nor aiding preservation. Rare, expensive, or special children's materials should be offered to the Rare Book Collection, and if they are not wanted by the RBC, can be cataloged for Wilson Annex.

Occasionally juvenile materials are cataloged for the SILS regular collection and given an LC call number. These are usually special materials of more interest to scholars of children's literature than useful in a working children's collection and include anthologies of children's literature, facsimile reprints of children's classics, and oddities such as shape books. Detailed instructions for cataloging children's books in the SILS juvenile collection are provided separately.

Main Collection:

English language: literary works for children by established authors are preferably classed with the authors' other literary works in the regular literature schedules, but may be classed in PZ in accordance with LC practice. Local treatment has been inconsistent over the years with the result that editions of the same title may be classed in both places in the Main stacks, e.g. collections of Oscar Wilde's fairy tales are shelved in PZ8 and PR5818 and editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass in PZ7 and PR4611. Such inconsistencies are inevitable and do not require correction since both numbers are technically correct. Works for children by authors known primarily as children's writers are brought to the attention of the humanities bibliographer for a decision. In cases where they are found suitable for the Main collection, they can be left in PZ7-8 in accordance with LC practice, since in most cases no other numbers will have been established for these writers. If the bibliographer finds a book unsuitable for the Main collection but wishes it added, it may be offered to SILS, and if not wanted by SlLS, cataloged for Wilson Annex, usually in PZ7 or 8.

Authoritative collections of folk and fairy tales that support scholarly research in literature, linguistics, and folklore are usually classed with the national literature in Main. Some important collections, however, are classed in PZ8, including Jacobs' collections of English and Celtic fairy tales and English translations of Perrault and Asbjornsen. English editions of Grimm are classed both in PT921 and PZ8. LC practice has varied over the years as has local treatment. As a rule, the cataloger should try to establish and follow current LC practice. Titles judged unsuitable for the Main collection but worth retaining are offered to SILS for possible inclusion and if rejected are classed in PZ8 or PZ8.1 in Wilson Annex.

English language non-fiction should be brought to the attention of the appropriate bibliographer who will determine whether a particular title is worth keeping and if so whether it should be classed in the general schedules with the topic and assigned standard subject headings with the subdivision "Juvenile literature" or offered to SILS. If unwanted for either Main or SILS, juvenile non-fiction in English should be classed with the topic, assigned standard subject headings with the subdivision "Juvenile literature" as required, and shelved in Wilson Annex.

Occasionally British imprints are ordered that are preparatory material for O (ordinary) and A (advanced) level exams. As a general rule, O level materials should be brought to the attention of the appropriate bibliographer for possible return to Acquisitions as they are usually not wanted in a research collection, while A level materials can be routinely cataloged for Davis or an appropriate departmental library. Other elementary and secondary textbooks received through regular channels are usually not added unless they support curriculum studies and should be brought to the attention of the appropriate bibliographer.

Western European languages (French, German, Italian): all juvenile belles lettres as well as works of non-fiction should be shown to the Western European resources bibliographer for a decision.

Non-western languages: pass on to the appropriate cataloger or bibliographer.

Undergraduate Library:

While treatment has at times been inconsistent, generally class works by well established literary authors (e.g. C.S. Lewis, J.R. Tolkien, Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll) with the author's other literary works in the regular literature schedules. For children's works by obscure authors or authors known primarily as children's authors, bring the book to the attention of one of the Undergraduate librarians as he/she may want it transferred to SILS or Wilson Annex. Editions of fairy tales, folklore, and legends with substantial text can be left in PZ8 and PZ8.1 if so classed by the Library of Congress. Editions of fairy tales, folklore, and legends intended for younger children should be brought to the attention of a librarian as should any juvenile non-fiction title.

Art Library:

Art occasionally receives picture books. Contact the librarian who may wish these classed with the illustrator in Class N, left in PZ, or transferred to SILS or Wilson Annex.

Other departmental collections:

Contact the librarian for a decision as to the suitability of any children's title received.

Wilson Annex:

Juvenile titles judged unsuitable for other collections but worth retaining should be classed in PZ or if non-fiction with the topic and shelved in Wilson Annex. This includes titles transferred from departmental collections including the SILS juvenile collection which will require reclassing from Dewey to LC. Subject headings assigned to materials in Wilson Annex can either be LC juvenile headings or regular LC headings with the subdivision "Juvenile literature" or both.

Rare Books Collection:

The RBC is interested in children's books published before 1870 and some editions, particularly first editions, of important 20th century children's authors if they are in good condition. Additionally, any rare, expensive, or highly unusual item can always be submitted for RBC consideration if the cataloger has reservations about shelving it in Davis or Wilson Annex. These materials can be placed in the safe in Acquisitions for RBC review.

Summary: Juvenile materials considered worth retaining but unsuitable for Davis or departmental libraries should be offered to the SILS librarian for possible inclusion in the juvenile collection. If unwanted by SILS, they can be cataloged for Wilson Annex. With the exception of works by well established authors where the regular literature schedule may be preferred, generally try to establish and follow current LC practice. Editions of a single work classed both in PZ and one of the regular literature schedules do not require recataloging. Works classed in the LC schedules are treated as children's books in a general collection and are assigned regular LC subject headings with the additional subdivision "Juvenile literature" as required. Works shelved in the SILS juvenile collection are assigned subject headings as instructed in the microfiche publication Subject Headings for Children's Literature.