Creating a Tween Collection

A Practical Guide for Librarians

Karen M. Smith

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781538116944
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Library & Information Science
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Specialized collections for tweens, or middle schoolers, are relatively new and becoming increasingly popular. This Practical Guide gives librarians everything they need to create such a collection. Beginning with a brief description of the early adolescent brain and developmental stages, and a history of youth and teen services in libraries, Creating a Tween Collection provides a solid foundation on which librarians can build support for such a collection. In addition, librarians will be given specific criteria for what constitutes "tween literature," guidelines for forming parameters that will work for their community, and suggestions for using reviews and other sources in selecting appropriate materials and dealing with controversial titles. Finally, readers will learn how to re-allocate spaces and budgets, and how to market their new collection to patrons. This is a must-read for librarians who are looking to build a middle school collection in order to better serve their patrons.

This book:

- Provides rationale about the importance of a specialized Tween Collection.
- Gives specific examples for both fiction and nonfiction books, databases and websites.
- Provides guidance for creating diverse collections and tips for dealing with possible challenges.
- Includes numerous case studies and booklists

Table of contents

• List of Figures
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1 Who Are “Tweens” and What Do They Want?
• Chapter 2 Why Create a Tween Collection?
• Chapter 3 What Is Tween Literature?
• Chapter 4 Beyond Print Materials
• Chapter 5 Evaluating Current Collections
• Chapter 6 Carving Out Space
• Chapter 7 Controversy in Tween Literature
• Chapter 8 Should You Add Nonfiction?
• Chapter 9 Budgets
• Chapter 10 Marketing Your Tween Collection
• Appendix A Selected Titles: Fiction
• Appendix B Selected Titles: Nonfiction
• Appendix C Tween Collection Case Study: Eton Academy
• Appendix D Tween Collection Case Study: Geneva Public Library
• Appendix E Tween Collection Case Study: Loutit District Library
• Appendix F Tween Collection Case Study: Novi Public Library
• Bibliography
• About the Author