WLS Teens

Non-Fiction Section Poll

We're trying to get a feel for how many libraries in the system have their own separate YA non-fiction section and how many integrate their YA NF with Adult non-fiction-- Also, does anyone have fiction only YA sections?

Please send me an email & let me know how you're YA section is set-up.  Thanks everyone!

Erin Schirota
Bronxville

esenig@westchesterlibraries.org

Weeding in YA

I like weeding because I like buying new books and I have a finite amount of space. I try to weed at least 5 books per week from the YA section, because I purchase at least 20 new books per month (replacing a gross book with a new one doesn't count here).

The books that go usually have unappealing covers, low circulation, and/or, most importantly, I can't sell them. I feel that if I don't feel comfortable giving a book to a kid, not because of the content but because of the writing or presentation, and it is a book that doesn't sell itself, it is taking up space where I can put a book that I do like and can sell. So books like Eragon, which really needed an editor stay and books like Fifteen Love by Robert Corbert don't.

I feel a little guilty when I decide to get rid of books that might go with a push, but that are on a crowded shelf. When I started this post yesterday, I was looking at about 20 books to delete (it is at least 5 per week) and I worked through it and made 15 go away. I figure if I am ambivalent and they don't circulate widely, they can go.

Thoughts?

Graphic Novels

Kelly Czarnecki just posted some good links on the YALSA blog about graphic novels and in particular info. that helps librarians deal with challenges to graphic novels.  In general, and of course I'm a bit biased, the YALSA blog is a good place to go to find out about what's happening in the teen and teen library world.