Easy
Fiction/Picture Books
General Comments
This collection consists of children's easy fiction,
picture books, and board books. The Easy Fiction collection bridges
the gap between picture books and juvenile fiction. This collection
serves the needs of children who are just learning to read through
those completing grade two. These fiction books have controlled
vocabulary, large print, and, in some cases, short chapters. The
picture book collection is a large, popular section in the Children's
Department. Picture books ideally should be books with illustrations
on every page. These illustrations should be so detailed that the
story can be understood by studying the pictures alone, without
the accompanying text. This broad category includes alphabet books,
counting books, animal books, seasons and holidays, etc. The board
book collection is comprised of smaller cardboard books whose format
is geared to the youngest child. These specialty books are not cataloged
but given accession numbers due to the short duration of circulation.
These books are kept in a separate area.
Development Plan
The primary goal of this collection is to provide
an introduction to literature that meets the educational and recreational
needs of the community. In order to meet these goals, the Library:
- strives to provide a wide range of reading levels from birth
to second grade.
- strives to provide a balanced collection of current popular
titles and core materials.
- evaluates patron requests either through reviews, or knowledge
and popularity of the author or title. Patron requests are given
serious consideration and added to the collection as warranted
and as budget allows.
- purchases multiple copies of popular titles where patron demand
warrants and as budget allows. Multiple copies of Caldecott award
winners are purchased.
This collection offers as wide a variety of topics
as possible. Attention is given to holiday, concept books, problem
stories, beginning readers, series, and core recommended children's
literature.
Influencing Factors
Purchases and buying patterns are determined in large
part by:
- visual appeal.
- new works.
- budget constraints.
- circulation statistics.
- patron requests.
- shelf space.
- titles in a series.
Retention/Weeding
- Books are kept as long as they are in readable condition and
continue to circulate.
- Titles are replaced and supplemented as needed based on demand.
- Books are withdrawn due to damage and loss.
- Titles with multiple copies are checked for usage, and duplicate
copies are withdrawn as demand decreases.
- Caldecott award winners are retained in duplicate.
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