Promoting Nonfiction Literature for Youth
created by Janice McArdle, Granby Public Library
December 2006

Throughout this class I became more aware of quality nonfiction books for youth. The question for me remains “How do I increase circulation of the wonderful nonfiction books?”

Some resources can be found but are far and few between. I have made a list of my book and online findings.

Aside from library displays featuring great nonfiction, I feel that word-of–mouth, booktalk - “readers’ advisory” is one of my best tools as a librarian.

The best tool that I found is an online search for Nonfiction Series -searchable by age, audience and topic created by Booklist. The URL is listed below.

Books geared towards adult and youth literature:

Burgin, Robert. Nonfiction Readers’ Advisory. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2004.

Cords, Sarah Statz and Robert Burgin. The Real Story : A Guide to Nonfiction Reading Interests. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2006.

Dreyman, Sharon, The best of Bookfinder : a guide to children's literature about interests and concerns of youth aged 2-18, American Guidance Service, c1992

Gillespie, John Thomas, Juniorplots 3 : a book talk guide for use with readers ages 12-16 New York : R.R. Bowker Co., 1987

Online resources

Barnes and Noble Newsletters- sign up for E-newsletters –children’s books: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/newsletters/newsletters_send.asp

Booklist’s On-line Nonfiction Series Roundup:
http://www.ala.org/ala/booklist/youthseriesroundup/SeriesRoundup.htm

**Really neat! Search by Audience or Subject

Creating and promoting a true crime library that can encourage students to read more nonfiction:

Investigating Nonfiction Readers' Advisory
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/kqweb/kqarchives/volume35/KQW35_1Belben.pdf.

http://www.ala.org/ala/pla/plaevents/nationalconf/program/thursdayprograms/thursdayprograms.htm