Prompt #7: YA and Graphic Novels for Adults

A library stands to serve all patrons of the community and to provide them with the resources that they desire. This includes those adults that find entertainment within the pages of Young Adult literature or graphic novels. Reading ,regardless of genre or target age group, is still reading and if patrons enjoy these “genres”, then they are legitimate literary choices. The library must ensure that patrons understand that their preferences are of importance to the library and do so by promoting and providing these materials.

First and foremost, the library has a responsibility to provide resources that reflect community needs and wants, as well as unbiased responses to these desires. The American Library Association’s (ALA) Code of Ethics states, “We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests (2008).” The library strives to provide appropriate resources for its patrons. If adult patrons desire Young Adult or graphic fiction novels, then it the library’s duty to do so in order to continue to provide the highest level of service. If the library chooses to not spend their budget on these “genres”, then they are not truly meeting the needs of the community.

The only way that the library can provide the resources that the community desires is by assessing the community on what they want. Informally interview your patrons, mail out surveys, run quantitative tests to see what collections are being checked out; do a variety of assessments to develop a real understanding of your community.  If asked, many adults may admit that they prefer Young Adult novels and can give insight into what sub-genres they prefer which can help the library build up the collection. After the collection is built, then staff can start to promote it.

Library staff can also combat the biased opinions regarding adult enjoyment of Young Adult and graphic novels by taking the time to promote the materials to adult audiences. If the library shows that they feel this is a legitimate literary choices, then patrons too will feel comfortable engaging with these materials. Dunneback & Towner (2010) write, “Your patrons want to read these books. What do they think if we consider romance unimportant and not worthy of our effort (p. 223).” Replace the word romance with Young Adult and graphic novels and the message remains the same: don’t denigrate your patrons reading choices, rather embrace them. Cataldi (2015) suggests that displays, book lists, and bookmarks can all help to promote collections within the library. Taking time to make these displays/tools can show patrons that you feel like there is literary value in Young Adult and graphic novels to adults and increase the positive opinions to the public.

Resources:

American Library Association. (2008). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/tools/ethics

Cataldi, E. (2015). Betwixt and Between: New Adult Fiction. The library journal. Retrieved from https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=betwixt-and-between-new-adult-fiction-collection-development-september-1-2015

Dunneback, K. & Towner, M.W. (2010). Everything romance. Integrated advisory services. Denver, CO: Libraries Unlimited.