Tracy, Anna
INFO 266, Fall 2016
Juvenile science
collections of public libraries
This article posed 6
questions to determine the differences and similarities between three public
libraries within the same county but that have varying demographics and
locations from a rural, suburban and urban. The proportion of J 500s to overall
nonfiction were looked at, as well as the type and caliber of science materials
offered at these three different locations. A good portion of this article
discusses the importance of nonfiction, not only for school work but for
leisure reading and how different libraries do their nonfiction selection and
weeding.
I chose this article
because it sounded similar to what sections I had chosen for our collection
mapping project. Just as I mentioned in my infographic, this article relates
the importance of nonfiction science sections to schools and the natural
relationship between schools and public libraries in offering a valued service
to their community. It suggested a partnership with local science teachers to
bridge the gap in knowledge for librarians who, more than likely, do not have a
scientific background, to cease any discomfort in lack of knowledge and the
ability to order effectively.
Approximately 20%
percent of the three libraries nonfiction sections was dedicated to Science. I
thought this was interesting considering 20.02% of my nonfiction collection is
dedicated to STEAM materials which I consider to be too low, given their high
circulating nature.
Colom, H. M. (2010).
Juvenile Science Nonfiction: A Comparison of the Collections of a Rural, a
Suburban, and an Urban Public Library. Current Studies In Librarianship,
30(1/2), 79-94.
