Young adult fiction is a common cross-over genre that many
adults enjoy as well. It is the librarian’s role to become familiar with the appeal
of the young adult collection and include it in readers’ advisory services. Our library has a
designated young adult fiction section so it could be offsetting for some adult
patrons to feel comfortable browsing. Passive readers’ advisory such as displays
and bookmarks can highlight the YA fiction collection and make it more inviting
to adult patrons to explore a new section of material in the library. With the emergence
of New Adult fiction, the appeal to all audiences is even broader. According to
Becky Spratford, Reader’s Services librarian at the Berwyn (IL) Public Library,
“NA (new adult) books are circulating well, but to all adults under 40, not
just the 20- to 30-year-olds we thought they would appeal to. Specifically, the
romances are hugely popular with my under-50 romance readers.” (Enberg, 2014)
The next question in my mind, is whether the NA books or in a separate area or
have classification stickers. Incorporating these authors and books in readers’
advisory services is crucial to ensuring that the collection will circulate and
will be easy to justify new acquisitions.
The appeal of graphic novels is very versatile. Librarians
must encompass the graphic novels in offering readers’ advisory services. In my
limited experience, those patrons who enjoy graphic novels tend to read them
exclusively and will seek them out no matter where they are in the library. It
is also important to keep the collection current and that all books in the
series are held in the collection. Our library has a designated section in the
youth area and a separate adult collection. The collection is thriving in both
areas.
I don’t believe that the question of holding and adding
material to the collection of YA and graphic novels as even a sustainable
thought or consideration. It is important to use all material in the collection
as a resource for providing patrons with readers’ advisory services. As long as
there is interest in a subject, format or genre and it is circulating, it
should be supported. If a collection is waning in circulation, it should be
promoted more. If the interest is not there, then the collection does not need to
expand. Each patron base is different and it is essential to provide patrons
with the material they want.
References
Enberg, G., Seaman, D., & Vnuk, R. (2014). What Is New
Adult Fiction?. Booklist, 110(22), 5.
Macdonald, H. (2013). How graphic novels became the hottest
section in the library. Publishers Weekly, 260(18), 20-25.
While we are very encouraging of anyone and everyone to read YA at our library, including it in our adult bookclubs and mentioning it in our RA interviews, we too have it set apart in a teen area in our collection. I have worried many times that this makes adults uncomfortable searching for it, and have feedback stating exactly that. I think the solution is to have a teen hang-out area but keep the collection in the main area.
ReplyDeleteLaurie, great answer! As I was reading through this I started thinking about how YA is not only an important genre to have in the library, but it is also so important that librarians become familiar and comfortable with it, as the individuals reading YA now may transition into adult books soon. With the New Adult category, there are some stepping stones to "traditional" adult fiction, but it would be great if librarians could do RA based upon YA books that a patron previously enjoyed. I don't know why this didn't come to me until now, but reading your post prompted that thought!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, great answer! As I was reading through this I started thinking about how YA is not only an important genre to have in the library, but it is also so important that librarians become familiar and comfortable with it, as the individuals reading YA now may transition into adult books soon. With the New Adult category, there are some stepping stones to "traditional" adult fiction, but it would be great if librarians could do RA based upon YA books that a patron previously enjoyed. I don't know why this didn't come to me until now, but reading your post prompted that thought!
ReplyDelete"As long as there is interest in a subject, format or genre and it is circulating, it should be supported. If a collection is waning in circulation, it should be promoted more."
ReplyDeletehttp://media2.giphy.com/media/b9aScKLxdv0Y0/giphy.gif
Couldn't agree with you more. Even when weeding, books should be given another chance to find an audience.
I am going to start putting books up for weeding on a cart with a flyer stating that any book not checked out in the next week will be weeded.
DeleteIn today's diverse popular culture (especially since the popularization of the social Internet), there should be at least a sampling of diverse tastes in film, music, and especially reading materials in every public library.
DeleteGraphic novels most certainly have a place in the library. They are the source material for most of the blockbuster films over the past decade. And due to the cost of publication, I believe that the quality of graphic novels on average is even superior to the quality of the average novel published in this new era of self-publishing for Kindle.
The "weeding cart" is a great idea! We did a zero circ display a few moths ago and material did circulate. Our graphic novel section has really expanded in the youth and adult sections. Unfortunately, I have noticed that they are often the books that end up missing and need replaced as it is essential to read most in order.
Delete