Is It Time to Move the Books?

Stephannie Tornow
Fall 2016

Citation
Pattee, A. (2015). Is it time to move the books? Young Adult Library Services, 13(4), 13-17.

Summary: YA books are becoming increasingly popular among adult readers. Thus, are YA books still an age-designation or a meta-genre? Pattee explores the idea of YA as a genre and considers how libraries can move their collection to reflect this. Pattee discusses how moving the collection so that YA is a genre within the adult collection might allow patrons to find books easier.  

Evaluation: Despite Pattee's strong argument for YA as a genre rather than an age-designation, Pattee doesn't fully explore the possible complications of moving collections around. The article glosses over how this situation would effect Teen Centers/Rooms, stating these collections are better suited for materials that only relates to teens (i.e. study guides, college prep, etc.) whereas YA fiction and graphic novels need their own space within the collection at large. Pattee doesn't address how YA being a meta-genre would affect reorganization. Would the YA genre encompass horror, sci-fi/fantasy, mystery, etc.  (as it does in bookstores)? Wouldn't this lead to the same issues bookstores face, where people don't know whether to look for a book under YA or fantasy? That being said, Pattee poses some interesting questions about our current methods of categorizing books, designating collections, and what it would mean to reorganize.

Use of Collection Development Policies in Electronic Resource Management

Pozzebon, S. (2012). Use of collection development policies in electronic resource management.

            Collection Building, 31(3), 108-114. doi: 10.1108/01604951211243506

Pozzebon provides an analysis of collection development policies in academic libraries. Many policies are not equipped to address e-resources. Many policies, surprisingly, only address specific portions of the collections held. The reason for the tendency to create incomplete collection development policy is to avoid constantly changing policies to accommodate changing content. The author suggests that policy should be made complete and updated as much as possible because of the changing content.

Remember Me? Content Development in a User-Centered Services Library

Bailey, Rachel

Morris, S.E. & Currie, L. (2014). Remember me? Content development in a user-centered services library. Collection Management, 39, 96-109. doi:10.1080/01462679.2014.891493.

Summary: Because of strategic planning and the need for budget cuts, the University of Kansas libraries restructured their collections’ department. The libraries went from thirty librarians working on collection development to seven working on materials selection. The old structure had librarians that were specialists for a particular academic discipline. The new structure has the librarians working together to gather materials for all the disciplines. The article also mentioned how they were able to cut down on serials collections after looking at usage data.  Surprisingly, there were many advantages noted for this new model. Obvious disadvantages were noted as well.

Evaluation: Since much of a library’s materials are supported through funds, it was interesting to see how KU handled the situation. As a graduate of the University of Kansas, this article was of personal interest to me. I always thought the university had top-notch libraries and it seems like it will continue to do so.