Young Adults and Public Libraries: A Handbook of Materials and Services

An up to date comprehensive text that responds to the needs of those serving young adults in public libraries. Contributors - many of whom are nationally known YA advocates - are from a variety of public libraries around the country and cover topics such as programs conducted jointly with schools or community agencies. Addressing the full spectrum of library services aimed at teens, this handbook is intended for use by novices as well as experts. It is suitable for specialists and generalists in small, medium, and large public libraries, and addresses the full spectrum of library services to teens. Young adults comprise 25% of library patrons, yet nationwide only 11% of libraries have a young adult librarian. By offering services specifically for young adults, libraries will fulfill their responsibility to provide services to the entire community, rather than ignoring this fast growing segment of the population. The book focuses on topics related to young adult collections, including reader’s advisory, genre fiction, non-fiction, magazines, non-print materials, trends, publishing, censorship, and restricted access to materials and services based on age. Teens’ use of technology, especially the Internet, is covered as well. Other aspects include homework assistance centers, youth participation, servind underserved populations, and cooperation with other agencies. The book concludes with a comprehensive annotated bibliography of professional resources to aid readers.