Week 13 Prompt

My belief is that adults should be able to read anything they want at the library and not be ashamed.  A lot of adults like cartoon books like Garfield and Scooby Doo, so I would think they would also like to check out other graphic novels that are like cartoons.  The graphic novels that were talked about in our reading is in the young adult section in a library close to me.  I have seen the Japanese manta books and they looked very interesting.  Adults shouldn't be afraid to browse in the young adult section, but if they are we can put the book on hold and they can pick it up at the hold area.

I am so glad for the new movies that also promote books geared to young adults.  I am sure young adults and adults alike, find these books interesting just like the movies.  I didn't get into the Twilight series, but I know a lot of people did.  Now divergent, like the hunger games can not be keep on the shelves, so I am glad for e-readers.  We need to get people reading, so I have no problem if adults want to read young adult books.  I also think we can learn about young adults when we read books like, Perks of being a Wallflower.  This book is more realistic than the twilight series books.  I also know adults who read the Harry Potter books as well as young people.  The movies often get people to read, which is great.

Just recently, I have noticed the urban fiction, by accident at the library.  I was looking for an Amish book for a friend and a Stephan King book for someone else.  I saw close to those books, the Bitch series talked about in our readings and the women looked liked prostitutes, so I could see why some people will not want these books in the library.  These books are like life in the inner city, so I can see how they will appeal to young people and adults.  In the nearby library these books are in their own section called "urban" or African American.  Some show like Wired on HBO popularized these books.  I hear about crime, gangs, drugs on the news all the time, so I don't care to read or see it, but I will not stop another person from reading what they want to.  These books are advertised as new books for the library at their website.

"Sales figures and the growth of the street publishing industry show that street lit is a publishing phenomenon, but little data exist on who reads street novels.  Anecdotal evidence suggest that many of street lit's readers are in similar demographics to the authors' young working class, African American, often female. Many articles have also been written on urban fiction's popularity with teenagers.  Without formal research, however, it is difficult to determine how broad the genre's appeal is.  Do readers in rural eras find street lit meaningful?  Older readers?  Latino readers?  Asian readers?  White readers?  Readers from the Suburbs?"  Megan offers some great suggestion.  "If your library is located outside a poor or working-class urban area, don't assume that street lit is not for your collection.  But a few titles, market them, and see what happens.  You may find interest you hadn't expected, or you may reach members of your community you didn't know were there." (Honig p. ix)

The point is to get people to read, whether they are adults or young adults.  Let them read young adult, street lit and graphic novels.  They can all learn something.

Reference:  Honig, Megan. (2011). Introduction. In Urban Grit:  A guide to street lit.  Santa Barbara:  Libraries Unlimited.