A number of people have commented that this project may cause bookstore workers undue hardship by forcing them to put the moved books back. I suppose there is some truth to this. Given that the books are clearly marked by the bookmarks, I am not sure how arduous their task would be, but I concede the point. We would rather have people help out in a way they are comfortable with than not help at all.

As I wrote a couple of days ago, there was (is?) another reshelving project called the Ministry of Reshelving. They also addressed this concern, and we paraphrase (i.e. steal) their suggestions here:

• Talk to the bookstore manager about the problem. Feel free to point them to this web site. Be polite and explain why they should be considered SF. You never know; it might work.
• Use one of the alternative bookmarks that we will make available (today, I hope). These just point out that the books belong in SF, but you leave them where they are. No work for the employees, but the end consumers still get the message.
• Move the books, take a picture of them where they belong, and then move them back. You can use the picture to promote the correct shelving (send us a link, please!), which not causing anyone distress (except maybe Margaret Atwood).
• Create a notecard (maybe we’ll do this for you, too) for the SF section explaining that the book (fill in the name) may be misshelved under “Fiction and Literature” and apologizing for the inconvenience. Place the card in the SF section where the book should be.
• Help put away some of the many books left out by other customers and then do our dirty work. It makes it more of a net wash.

I hope this helps people who agree with our complaint but want a less Calvin-and-Hobbesy solution to the problem.

Other suggestions are welcome.