CCBC-Net Archives
availability of award winners
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Karen Vollmar <KVOLLMAR>
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 11:21:35 -0600
As a public librarian, I would like to respond to Julie's concern about not finding the newest award winners in her public libraries collection:
"I was amazed to find that my county library has Freedman's book about Marian Anderson and Schmidt's
_Lizzie Bright._ on order.but no copies presently available."
I, too, would question why Freedman's book, since it was published and well reviewed in Spring, would not be in a Washington DC area library. Perhaps there was a shortage at the publisher...perhaps, as we find at our library, the summer club, programming and story times, kept the librarians from getting to the reviews in a timely fashion. Since the age range spans both Children's and YA, there may have been mis-communication between departments. I would ask, because it does seem to be an egregious omission.
Although my library did have almost all the major award winners in our collection (I think THE RED BOOK was still on order at announcement time), I can understand why some libraries, especially those with small budgets, may not have all the titles at the time of announcement. Some titles take us by surprise. (As well as publishers...I've heard that there were not enough copies of KIRA_KIRA, in stock when it won the Newbery.) Some well reviewed books we know will be shelf sitters. By the time the award buzz/mock discussions take place, the budget may have been spent (have to get those books in the building by December 31st!).
As a taxpayer, you certainly have the right to request a book your library does not own, or at least to satisfy your curiosity about why it has not been added to the collection. Most public libraries welcome patron input. It gives us a heads up about titles that may not be reviewed and might slip through the cracks. Keep asking. Our patrons are another collection development tool!
Karen Vollmar Waukesha Public Library Any opinions expressed herein are my personal opinions and not necessarily those of Waukesha Public Library.
Received on Mon 14 Feb 2005 11:21:35 AM CST
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 11:21:35 -0600
As a public librarian, I would like to respond to Julie's concern about not finding the newest award winners in her public libraries collection:
"I was amazed to find that my county library has Freedman's book about Marian Anderson and Schmidt's
_Lizzie Bright._ on order.but no copies presently available."
I, too, would question why Freedman's book, since it was published and well reviewed in Spring, would not be in a Washington DC area library. Perhaps there was a shortage at the publisher...perhaps, as we find at our library, the summer club, programming and story times, kept the librarians from getting to the reviews in a timely fashion. Since the age range spans both Children's and YA, there may have been mis-communication between departments. I would ask, because it does seem to be an egregious omission.
Although my library did have almost all the major award winners in our collection (I think THE RED BOOK was still on order at announcement time), I can understand why some libraries, especially those with small budgets, may not have all the titles at the time of announcement. Some titles take us by surprise. (As well as publishers...I've heard that there were not enough copies of KIRA_KIRA, in stock when it won the Newbery.) Some well reviewed books we know will be shelf sitters. By the time the award buzz/mock discussions take place, the budget may have been spent (have to get those books in the building by December 31st!).
As a taxpayer, you certainly have the right to request a book your library does not own, or at least to satisfy your curiosity about why it has not been added to the collection. Most public libraries welcome patron input. It gives us a heads up about titles that may not be reviewed and might slip through the cracks. Keep asking. Our patrons are another collection development tool!
Karen Vollmar Waukesha Public Library Any opinions expressed herein are my personal opinions and not necessarily those of Waukesha Public Library.
Received on Mon 14 Feb 2005 11:21:35 AM CST
