Rethinking How We Organize Teen Spaces and Collections

Laudato, Maricar

Pattee, A. (2014). Rethinking library collections for young adults. Young Adult Library Services, 15-17.

Summary

In this article, Amy Pattee wants her readers to reconsider how young adult library collections are organized. In regards to the physical space, Pattee feels that placing literature that is deemed as “young adult” in the teen section is preventing adults who like reading ‘YA” books from accessing those materials. The same thing happens to teens who may like readings books that are in the “adult” collection. Pattee argues that this problem would be solved if librarians interfiled the young adult and adult print collection together. If libraries put the YA print collection with the adult collection, Pattee argues that it would free up the teen space for other opportunities, such as creating a Makerspace or create a computer lab.

Amy Pattee also discusses the importance of promoting the library’s eBook collection to teens. According to a Pew Internet Study, less than a 1/3 of adults own ereaders, and even fewer young adults. It is unclear whether teens are using their cell phones to access eBooks. Because of this, Pattee argues that librarians must actively enable and promote access to the library’s eBook collection to teens.

Evaluation 

I agree with Pattee that we should rethink how we organize our print collections because it is restricting our patrons to certain sections of the library and making them feel unwelcome in certain areas, or even discouraging patrons from accessing different genres of literature. In addition, if libraries interfile their YA collection into the adult collection, libraries can transform their teen spaces into a Learning Commons. Then, instead of merely inhabiting a space, teens would be using the space; thus making libraries more relevant in their lives.

In regards to eBooks, I personally feel that teens still prefer the print source when it comes to reading for fun, and I remember reading about it in a recent survey. When it comes to schoolwork, students prefer online eTextbooks. Students do not like reading on their phones because they equate that with socializing with their friends. But when it comes down to reading for pleasure/recreation, students seem to prefer holding the actual book in their hands.