Defining Fiction versus Non-Fiction
The Athenaeum categorizes novels and short stories as Fiction.
Murder mystery books are separately categorized as Mystery. All other fiction genres are shelved with general Fiction.
Literature such as literary criticism, essays, and poetry are considered Non-Fiction and are shelved via the Dewey Decimal System in the 800's.
New Books
New Books are kept separate from the general collection. All new titles can be found on the New Book Shelves, found in the Main Room in front of the Circulation Desk.
The designation of "New" varies depending on genre. However, in general, books published in the past year will be found on the New Book Shelves. Please consult the online catalog or see a staff member if you have a question about a particular title's location.
Types of Books
Please select the kind of book you are interested in finding: