Why Your Academic Library Needs a Popular Reading Collection Now More Than Ever

Abstract

Do popular reading materials belong in college and university libraries? Although some librarians think not, others believe there are compelling reasons for including them. The trend toward user-focused libraries, the importance of attracting patrons to libraries in the digital age, and, most importantly, the need to promote literacy at a time when it has reached its lowest levels are all reasons why academic librarians are reconsidering their ideas about popular reading materials. Librarians who decide to implement a leisure reading or browsing collection should consider a number of key issues.

KEYWORDS:

• Academic libraries
• browsing collection
• leisure reading
• literacy
• popular reading collection
• recreational reading