Week 12 Prompt

 I think I work in an odd library. Most of the staff really values YA and loves promoting it to any age and at least half of us often read YA, graphic novels, and children's books. We actually just started putting staff recommendations at our desk and part of them are YA choices or YA movies. I also just got one of my fellow librarians to try out a YA series and she is loving it! I also know that many of our YA books get checked out by adults. It is a reason why we have made a point of keeping them separated from the children's area. It creates less of a stigma that they are only for kids and teens. As for NA I think that is a little harder to promote for patrons who have not thought about reading it before. I think YA, graphic novels, and NA are viewed as a niche and that many people do not want to be categorized as "those kind of readers." Doing passive readers' advisory, having conversations with patrons about these genres, and educating people about how diverse these genres are can help adults be more on board with reading YA, graphic novels, and NA. They are worth the money and time that is spent curating the collections or marketing the materials. 

Graphic novels are great. They can get readers interested in art, different genres, and authors. Many YA authors are starting to continue their stories with a couple graphic novels and I think it is a great way to get new readers. For adults I think it is important that graphic novels get displayed more and are not just shoved in a far away area. One thing I have noticed about our library is that we put almost all of our graphic novels over in the YA section. So, unless you already know they are there you may never come across them. I also have noticed that people assume they are only about superheroes. I just read a nonfiction one and have read many nonfiction graphic novels that are better suited for this format because the pictures enhance the character's emotions and set the tone of the book without any words in some panels. I think if we start to put them in highly trafficked areas and start conversations about them then patrons would give them a go. I also am really confused as to why people don't consider them real books or good reads. They are fine with watching film adaptations so what is so bad about reading them.

I think YA is a valuable set of books that should be in libraries. It shows us what is trending among teens and some adults as well as allows us to have a little bit more fantasy and bizarre elements to the story. Many YA books I see have magic, vampires, or the typical teen romance. I ate these up as a teen and love being able to recommend books that I found fun or that I have read recently. I see both New Adult and YA as the transition periods for readers. I am not saying that only certain people should read them but I know it is usually people who are in that age range that these stories appeal to. I also know many moms and grandmas who are excited that our library is getting more New Adult books because they used to have to interlibrary loan them all. They really appreciate that their library is taking the interests of all patrons into account. Both these writing styles have something different in my eyes than the other books readers view, they have a part of a story that the reader can relate to more. Yes, in YA and NA there tends to be more of another world or magical elements but readers can relate to the awkwardness of a first love or reading about someone who is going through a divorce or getting bullied. The topics are ones that readers want to see from another perspective besides their own.

A big way these "genres" can gain more appeal in libraries is by actually displaying them, making those genre bookmarks that you see at many libraries, and doing some passive readers' advisory with them. Free bookmarks are a great way to get patrons to get interested in a new author or series. Librarians could have eye turning bookmarks for YA, graphic novels, and NA books that get people interested. They could put 3 words that describe the book beside the title or 3 words that describe the author's works. At my library we have always shied away from putting the New Adult books on display shelves because we have a lot of kids come into the adult areas with their parents. I think if we started displaying them in our new book section that we could get a more diverse group checking them out. If a library is not comfortable displaying them maybe try putting small placards* by NA suggestions within the new books section. The YA books have never had an issue because we display on top of shelves and no one has ever complained. I think one thing that could be beneficial is starting a book club at a library that is purely YA and NA. Right now it could be virtual but I think librarians could serve a new group of people by doing this.

Another way I think libraries could really promote YA, graphic novels, and NA is by putting them as suggestions on their apps, social media and newsletters. Our library has a new book newsletter that gets sent out once a month that has an array of different genres. One could be set up for these three styles to get people intrigued. If the library has social media then do staff recommendations or books that appeal to different readers a couple times a week. During the pandemic many libraries started doing YA pick of the day and that would be great to promote books at anytime. I also think if there are staff recommendations or curated collections on Overdrive and Libby then people who like to read ebooks and eaudiobooks would try them out. When we are giving our new patron spiel we like telling them how to access graphic novel books through our apps and even tell them a few titles if they show interest.

Our library has been trying to think of ways to promote books with the summer reading program. I had suggested going into the children, YA, and adult areas and doing displays or posters that say things like, "If you liked these books or authors as a kid try these YA or adult authors" or "Is your kid reading this right now, try this series out and have a conversation." This could easily be adapted to promoting YA, graphic novels, and NA books and authors. There could even be displays around the library that have the poster in the middle or a flow chart that asks different questions and ends with a different genre in these formats. Librarians could also take this poster idea into the DVD area to make suggestions of books that readers would enjoy if they liked a movie adaptation with that style of book.

I have one patron who I adore and for the first 3 years of me working at the library I was petrified of her. She is super sarcastic (I did not realize this. She is great with her deadpan delivery), in her mid-70s, and loves New Adult. At one point she decided to make some of the employees and patrons blush by pronouncing, "Don't suggest anything unless it has sex and someone I can get all hot and bothered about." She said a lot more but I think she has the right mindset with books. She will try about anything even though she tells us to make sure it has sex. She loves reading and NA is her favorite because she can read so many different genres. It can be fantasy, general fiction, romance, and more. She likes expanding her horizons and she sees NA as the way to do that. It leads to her reading new genres. She is also getting her teenage granddaughter to read some of the same style of books in the YA section. I say all this because it is a great story about how patrons can influence other patrons to read things. Get some patrons talking if they are both checking out and you think they'd like to give each other suggestions. Let others join in on suggesting books if a patron is asking you for book suggestions. It could get more patrons to try these "forbidden" books.

*I cannot think of the word for the little sign that hangs off shelves that gives suggestions or book limits. If anyone knows the word feel free to put it in the comments section. :)