This is an issue that I deal with all the time: YA or Adult titles for
the High School Library. I tend to weigh in heavily on the side of
Adult titles. But, I need to add, it depends on the genre you are
considering. Here are my thoughts:
Non-Fiction: I choose mostly Adult titles. I include titles from all
the current lists: NYTimes Bestsellers; all the National and
International Award books, Best in Science, etc. YA titles are usually
too juvenile for High School and the "sets" are mostly repetitious facts
that can be found on the Internet. I try to include the latest adult
biography titles. Our history instructors have favorite current
historians and they usually request the latest history/current events
titles as they are published. I keep current on new adult titles
concerning politics and world events.
Fiction Genres: I have a basic foundation of classical adult works in
American Fiction as well as classic World Literature. If you don't have
those, start with a good Reference work that includes major American and
World Authors and make sure the authors are on your shelf. We use the
Accelerated Reader program, and own most of the quizzes on the classics
and these titles also appear on English teacher's reading lists, so
classics do not gather dust on our shelves.
Fantasy: Adult and YA: Whatever is bestselling and continuations of
Series. Students often suggest titles in this genre.
Romance: I prefer Adult over YA for a simple reason: YA titles are
usually MORE problematic, sexually explicit, and unacceptable than Adult
Romance. You have a wider choice when choosing Adult Romance. Authors
like Nicholas Sparks, JoAnne Oke, Beverly Lewis, are authors that young
women just love and they are totally acceptable in the library. Even
Adult romance novels that are more explicit, depict situations between
adults - in my mind more acceptable than sexual scenes involving minors.
Literary: Adult titles: I include all the award winners (Pulitizer
Prize, National Book Award, etc.) The high school literature texts are
good sources for titles; I check the authors studied and add other
titles. Our literature classes study adult literature and our English
teachers want the students to read "quality literary works" so I include
most of the current writers: Roth, Smiley, Oates, etc.- whatever they
have written that is reviewed and recommended.
Science Fiction: Both Adult and YA
Westerns: We have a following for this genre and there are not many YA
titles out there. Our readers usually want the latest out by their
favorite authors so I read the reviews and buy what is current.
General, Popular Fiction: 9th graders almost across the board want to
fall back on their middle school titles - perhaps for security in their
changing world - so they ask for YA titles that were in their Jr. High
School. However, I try to move them onward to higher levels of reading
so I buy some award winning YA titles but mostly adult titles. I
include lots of popular adult authors like: Tom Clancy, Cussler, etc.
I imagine about one-fourth of my time is spent on duties connected to
collection development: reading reviews online and in selection
resources, etc. It is a time consuming and difficult part of the job.
Good Luck!!
Sharon Slaney, Librarian
Timberlake H.S. Library
5973 W. Hwy 54
P.O. Box 909
Spirit Lake, Id. 83869
208-623-6303
sslaney@lakeland272.org
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Nicole Sette
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 5:53 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: TAR: HS Adult vs. YA titles in the media center
Hi All,
Starting in January I am going back to work in a high school media
center.
The school is in an urban area with a mostly minority population and
high
dropout rate. Reading scores on tests are very low. The media center
greatly
needs to be updated and there isn't a huge budget to work with. I'm
wondering how other high school librarians balance having adult level
titles
with YA level titles. I can remember being in high school and starting
to
get into authors like Danielle Steel and VC Andrews. I don't think those
kinds of books will appeal to these kids. In the last high school I was
in,
I had very few adult level titles and it seemed to work well. If I had
more
than one book on a particular subject they would always pick out the
shorter, which generally meant the YA level, of the two. The students
did
like the urban adult level fiction by authors such as K'wan or Zane but
I
didn't really think they were appropriate for a school library (just my
humble opinion). I know what may work in one school might not work in
another but I'm just curious how others handle these decisions. Thanks
in
advance. I will post a hit if there is interest.
--
Nicole Sette
School Library Media Specialist
Woodcliff School
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
nsette@woodcliff-lake.com
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