From: Gale W. Sherman <gale>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 23:44:09 -0700

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        To write Worth A Thousand Words: An Annotated Guide to Picture Books for Older Readers (Libraries Unlimited, 1996) Bette Ammon and I used collections in libraries around the country! We certainly noticed a variety in shelving decisions! However, I don't think there is any one answer for all.

        

        My library has changed a few things- (probably so they don't have to hear my ideas as often)! However, the system is still imperfect.

(1) The picture book signs have been changed to "Picture Books for All Readers."

(2) Books with clearly sophisticated themes like Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti (Creative Education, 1985) and Yukio Tsuchiya's Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People and War (Houghton Mifflin, 1988) have been moved to the "Children's Fiction" area.

(3) Non-fiction picture books are shelved in those areas.

        

        I've pulled some of what we wrote (before final editing) from the introduction about this topic:


"Picture books for older readers have earned a place in many libraries and classrooms but are often overlooked by the audience they are produced for when they are shelved in a single picture book collection. So, of course, most library users mistakenly regard all these books together as books for young children.

...

The result is librarians and teachers taking another look at these books and providing space for special collections of picture books for older readers. They can be placed adjacent to fiction collections or near circulation desks, and identified with a special spine label. The appropriate nonfiction titles can be cataloged with those books.

        Bringing these books out of the traditional picture book collection ensures that they will be used and enjoyed by the audience they are intended for. Teacher, parents, and librarians can determine creative and innovative uses and promote this special collection of books for all ages.

        One public library has pulled these picture books for older readers and houses them in a collection called "Picture Plus." They have spine labels which read JP+. Another public librarian labels these books
"Picture Books for All Ages." In a school library one librarian places these books on a shelf close to the novels and puts a star on the spine
- she calls them "Gold Star Picture Books." Another suggestion is to add another line to the call number designating these books as a collection separate from picture books for younger children.

        There seems to be no one answer. Each library needs to assess how picture books for older readers can be highlighted in their collection. Computer cataloging allows location information, and special lists and bibliographies are useful and worth compiling."


        Please share how you are housing your collection with the members of this listserv. I'm interested in finding out what everyone else is doing!


Also, please send us any suggestions OR new links you have for our picture books for older readers web site
 .


Gale





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               Children's Literature: Beyond Basals

                   http://www.beyondbasals.html

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 Gale W. Sherman / gale at poky.srv.net
 

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    Beyond Basals, Inc. * Early Childhood Librarian

    4685 Flora Drive * Marshall Public Library

    Pocatello, Idaho 83204 * 113 S. Garfield
                                              

                             * Pocatello, Idaho 83204

    PHONE (208) 233?17 * PHONE (208) 23263

    FAX (208) 232603 * FAX (208) 232?66

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Received on Wed 19 Nov 1997 12:44:09 AM CST