Young Adult Resources Today: Connecting Teens with Books, Music, Games, Movies, and More

by Don Latham, Melissa Gross

Overview

Young Adult Resources Today: Connecting Teens with Books, Music, Games, Movies, and More is the first comprehensive young adult library services textbook specifically written for today’s multidimensional information landscape.

The authors integrate a research-focused information behavior approach with a literature-focused resources approach, and bring together in one volume key issues related to research, theory, and practice in the provision of information services to young adults. Currently, no single book addresses both YA information behaviors and information resources in any detail; instead, books tend to focus on one and give only cursory attention to the other.

Key features of this revolutionary book include its success in:

• Integrating theory, research, and practice
• Integrating implications for practice throughout the book
• Integrating knowledge of resources with professional practice as informed by research
• Integrating both print and electronic formats throughout—within the resource chapters (including websites and social media)

Latham and Gross accomplish all this while, paying particular attention to the socially constructed nature of young adulthood, diversity, YA development, and multiple literacies. Their coverage of information landscapes covers literature (with detailed coverage of both genres and subgrenres), movies, magazines, web sites, social media, and gaming. The final chapter cover navigating information landscapes, focusing on real and virtual YA spaces, readers’ advisory, programming, and collaboration. Special attention is paid to program planning and evaluation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810893115
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/21/2014
Pages:	254
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Don Latham is an associate professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University.

Melissa Gross is a professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction

• Young Adults in the 21st Century
• Key Terms and Definitions
• A Brief History of Young Adult Resources
• A Brief History of Young Adult Services
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Chapter 2: Young Adult Development

• Socially Constructed Nature Of Young Adulthood
• YA Development: Moving from Childhood to Adulthood
• Positive Psychology, Learned Optimism, and Resilience
• Spotlight! Young Adult Advisory Boards
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Chapter 3: Young Adult Information-Seeking Behavior

• Models of Young Adult Information-Seeking Behavior
• Research on Young Adult Information Behavior
• Spotlight! Book Discussion Groups
• Multiple Literacies and Young Adults
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Chapter 4: Social Media and Games

• Young Adults Use of Social Media and Games
• Social Networking Sites
• Multi-User Virtual Environments
• Games
• Spotlight! Gaming in the Library
• Privacy, Identity, and Safety
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Chapter 5: Fiction and Fan Fiction

• Fiction, Reading, and Young Adults
• Fantastic Fiction
• Realistic Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Fan Fiction
• Evaluating and Promoting Fiction
• Spotlight! Booktalks
• Spotlight! Readers’ Advisory
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Chapter 6: Nonfiction

• Definition and Characteristics of Nonfiction
• Nonfiction, Reading, and Young Adults
• Types of Nonfiction

• Evaluating and Promoting Nonfiction
• Spotlight! Reference Services
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Chapter 7: Poetry and Music

• Young Adults, Poetry and Music
• Key terms
• Music and Lyrics
• Young Adults Writing Poetry and Lyrics
• Evaluating and Promoting Poetry and Music
• Spotlight! Poetry Slams / Open-Mic Events
• Spotlight! Writing Workshops
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Chapter 8: Special Forms and Formats

• Graphic Novels
• Picture Books for Young Adults
• Movies
• Magazines and Zines
• Evaluating and Promoting Special Forms and Formats
• Spotlight! Comics Workshops
• Spotlight! Author Visits
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Chapter 9: Bringing It All Together

• Formal and Informal Learning Environments
• Information Access, Access To Technology, and Intellectual Freedom
• Planning and Evaluating Information Services For Young Adults
• Spotlight! Conducting a Needs Assessment
• Collaborating with Other Information Providers: Outreach
• Implications for Practice
• Questions to Think About and Discuss

Appendices

• Appendix 1: Young Adult Book Awards
• Appendix 2: Selected Bibliography of Recommended Young Adult Books
• Appendix 3: Selected Bibliography of Professional Resources

Author Index
Title Index
Subject Index
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

Comprehensive. Timely. Relevant. Whether you are an LIS instructor or a practicing YA librarian, Latham and Gross weave research, theory and practice to present a new genre framework for all of us who teach, work with, or aspire to work with youth in schools and libraries. Beyond the framework, they offer engaging insight on what and how young people read, write, play, and seek information in traditional and emerging formats. Beyond the insight, this go-to volume shares implications for practice, poses provocative questions for discussion, suggests spotlight activities, and shares a monster appendix that simply rocks!

Joyce Valenza

Latham and Gross offer not only rich resources that allow us to blend books, music, movies, electronic games, and other media in ways that are likely to capture the interest of young adults in the 21st century, but also provide nuanced contexts for the suggestions they make. By linking information about young adult literature as a genre to information about whom today's readers are and what they expect in media encounters, this book extends the current literature for those who promote young adult literacy, writ large.

Pamela Sissi Carroll