Posts in 2017

The Riddles of Collection Development Part 2

Posted on December 20, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Continuing where I left off last month, I will now address some common questions that are related to the publishing world.

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Selecting Spanish-Language Material

Posted on December 20, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Selecting Spanish material does not have to be a daunting proposition. Simply understanding how the Spanish language book industry works and how it differs from its English counterpart is half the battle. Here is a compilation of tips and insights to aid your Spanish selecting.

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The Riddles of Collection Development

Posted on November 22, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

When I volunteered to write a Collection Development FAQ, I thought it would be easy. After all, I have been answering librarians’ questions for 27 years. Then I sat down to write and was immediately overcome by the enormity of the topic.

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Decluttering

Posted on November 22, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Who is Marie Kondo and why does she want me to throw away all of my stuff?

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The Importance of Adult ESL Materials

Posted on November 22, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

In 1990, census data indicated that 7.9% of the population of the U.S. was composed of immigrants. The 2000 census revealed that the proportion had risen to 11.1%. In 2010, it was 12.5%. The latest estimate, for 2015, indicates the percentage is 13.5%. These figures are for legal immigrants only.

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Standardizing Age Ranges

Posted on October 18, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

We often hear questions about the differences in age rangers set by publishers and even review journals. Questions typically include variations of “Why are they so different?” and “How do we make sense of all the variations?”

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Demand-based Selection

Posted on October 18, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Demand-based selection, which can be defined as collection development that reflects the needs and perspectives of library patrons, is a major component of collection development in modern libraries.

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2017 Adult Fiction Debut Authors

Posted on October 18, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Many first novels are published every year. Each one battles for media buzz, bookstore placement, and positive reviews. While it's difficult to attract attention for new books, there's no shortage of budding authors who are eager to try. On the other side of the equation, avid readers are always looking for the next great thing.

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2017 Debut Authors for Young Readers

Posted on October 18, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

With the thousands of new fiction titles for young readers published each year, it can be difficult to keep track of new voices trying to break through. Young readers can only help you so much, as they are especially loyal to their favorite authors and series.

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How Does Your Collection Grow? An Uncoventional Toolkit

Posted on September 20, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Don’t you just hate it when you feel like the last person to hear about a popular new title — one that seems to come out of nowhere? Last month, I wrote a bit about more traditional review sources I like to use for collection development. This month, I’d like to share some of the less-conventional resources I always keep in my toolkit.

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Resource Sharing

Posted on September 20, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Sharing. It’s what libraries are all about: sharing resources with our own constituents and other libraries.

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Libraries and the Homeless

Posted on September 20, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Assisting the homeless population provides unique opportunities for libraries and librarians to reach out. Many homeless shelters are closed during the daytime, making libraries a comfortable, welcome haven for homeless patrons.

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The Sharing Economy

Posted on September 20, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Access is the new ownership. Who needs a car as long as you have a way to get where you’re going?

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Tender Topics

Posted on August 23, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

“From a very young age, we’ve got to make sure our children have access to books that reflect their world, reflect their lives … also books that show them the world that is outside of themselves.” ~Kwame Alexander, poet and educator who has published 21 books for children

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How Does Your Collection Grow?

Posted on August 23, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Public libraries must balance a wide range of needs and constraints when considering their collection development: physical space, budget, community interest, diversity, circulation targets. The list goes on and on.

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Graphic Nonfiction for Adults

Posted on August 23, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Graphic titles cover a much broader spectrum than just fantasy-themed fiction. In fact, nonfiction comics and graphic novels have been around for at least a century.

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New Adult Fiction

Posted on July 19, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Libraries and bookstores are filled with titles for young adults – identified as the group of young people in middle school and high school – and, of course, titles for adults. But how about the titles specifically aimed at the “crossover” group: those between ages 18 and 26?

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Serving the Transgender Population

Posted on July 19, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Most of you have probably noticed the recent increased national attention to transgender issues. When Laverne Cox appeared on the cover of Time in 2014, the magazine declared that it was the “Transgender Tipping Point.”

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Ready, Set, Code!

Posted on July 19, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Now may be the time to consider hosting your own coding program for younger patrons at your library.

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What Can You Do With Your Floorplan?

Posted on June 21, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

At one time, patrons had to visit the library in order to read or borrow. The physical space was paramount. To remain relevant, we librarians have been preaching for decades about how our libraries are so much more than brick and mortar buildings with books inside. So we welcomed the digital revolution.

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State Awards 101

Posted on June 21, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

If you open the Awards tab under List Filters in the left navigation area of Bibz Lists, you will see a section called State Awards. This title is somewhat of a misnomer, so a brief description of how the lists are compiled and the titles contained therein might be helpful.

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President Donald Trump

Posted on June 21, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

It should come as no surprise that with a new president in office, there is a rush to publish books about him. There is something for everyone, from every point of view.

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What's Everybody Reading?

Posted on May 24, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

A Community Reads project can be a great way to draw a community together by reading the same book at the same time.

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Furniture Selections and Arrangement

Posted on March 22, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Research shows that only one out of every four people goes to the library for something specific. Most spend only five to ten minutes browsing, and few ask for help. That tells us that we're missing out on opportunities to engage with patrons, spark their interest and get them to stay longer.

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Something to Chew On

Posted on March 22, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

March is National Nutrition Month. In addition to getting the ground ready for planting or scooping up the first produce of the season at the farmers' market, it is a great time to highlight food literacy inside and outside the library.

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Build a Better World

Posted on January 18, 2017 in Posts in 2017 by Brodart

Time to get ready for summer reading! Many adults think back fondly on the time they spent at the library in their younger days, filling out book logs and winning small prizes.

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