Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Creating a Tween Collection: A Practical Guide for Librarians: 57

Product Description Specialized collections for tweens, or middle schoolers, are relatively new and becoming increasingly popular. This Practical Guide gives librarians everything they need to create such a collection. Beginning with a brief description of the early adolescent brain and developmental stages, and a history of youth and teen services in libraries, Creating a Tween Collection provides a solid foundation on which librarians can build support for such a collection. In addition, librarians will be given specific criteria for what constitutes "tween literature," guidelines for forming parameters that will work for their community, and suggestions for using reviews and other sources in selecting appropriate materials and dealing with controversial titles. Finally, readers will learn how to re-allocate spaces and budgets, and how to market their new collection to patrons. This is a must-read for librarians who are looking to build a middle school collection in order to better serve their patrons. This book: - Provides rationale about the importance of a specialized Tween Collection. - Gives specific examples for both fiction and nonfiction books, databases and websites. - Provides guidance for creating diverse collections and tips for dealing with possible challenges. - Includes numerous case studies and booklists Review Creating a Tween Collection: A Practical Guide for Librarians is the how-to manual librarians need to serve the in-between patrons--feeling too old for the children's room, not ready for the teen room. From understanding the tween mind and needs to the practical collection building and space making, Smith has covered it all, including real-life case studies that illustrate how tween services in libraries work.--RoseMary Ludt, editor-in-chief, VOYA Magazine About the Author Karen Smith graduated from Wayne State University in 1997 with a B.A in Psychology and 2001 with a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Services to Children and Teens. She worked as a teen librarian for a number of years before becoming the Head of Children’s Services at the Livonia Public Library in Livonia, Michigan. Over the years, she has hosted successful programs, created two tween collections, and advocated for tweens and teens in library spaces. Karen reads a variety of tween literature and reviews for Library Media Connection regularly. She lives in southeastern Michigan with her husband, Brian.