by Annette DeFuso
There are thousands of new nonfiction books published each year, and it can be a challenge to find the best books for our collection. Fortunately, there are several resources to help with the selection process. The library system has a collection development policy that guides all of our purchasing decisions. For the nonfiction collection, I focus on acquiring bestselling titles and fulfilling requests from our patrons. I try to keep the collection up-to-date on popular and trending topics, and I select books across a variety of subjects, including science, the arts, self-help, and travel, just to name a few. As you can imagine, books about historical topics are especially popular here in Adams County.
I find out about many new books from professional book review journals, such as “Kirkus Reviews” and “Library Journal.” I also browse publishers’ catalogs that highlight which books they’ll be releasing in the near future, usually one to three months out. Popular magazines have book recommendations, too, and are another way to find out what our patrons might be interested in reading. I follow major literary award announcements, such as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, to learn of winning titles to bring to our readers. I look for books on diverse topics representing the cultures, communities, and people who make up our world.
Sometimes, older books return to bestselling lists because of social media attention or the release of a new movie or television adaptation. I will look for reprints of these titles that we’ll need to purchase if we don’t already own a copy. Suggestions from other staff members and what patrons are asking about at the desk are also considered for purchase. With advances in technology, it’s easier than ever to find out about new and interesting books. Publishers also offer online newsletters and programs featuring new authors and highlighting new releases. Our vendors provide digital catalogs that make discovery and online ordering a breeze. Reading through all of the descriptions of so many good books and buying them for the library is a fun part of my job.
New nonfiction books remain on display at our libraries for six months, and then they are reshelved to the main collection to make room for newer titles. Books are also rotated and shared among all of our branches so that our collections stay fresh and always offer something new to read. For books that we don’t own or are out of print and not available to purchase, we can usually borrow them from another library through our free InterLibrary Loan (ILL) service. No matter what subject you are interested in, there is always something new waiting to be discovered at the library.
Annette DeFuso is Technical Services Director for the Adams County Library System.