Library director: new tween collection of ~300 graphic novels linked to higher circulation

The Sweet Home Library has moved most of its graphic novels into a new tween collection — about 300 titles so far — and staff have recorded higher circulation on the titles since the reorganization, the library director told the library board.

The director said the new shelf space in the children's area allowed the relocation and that circulation statistics have risen on the moved tween books even though they retain the same catalog records. "We've already seen the, circulation stats go up on the few tween books that we did move over," the director said.

Staff plan to tackle nonfiction next as they continue reshaping the children's and tween areas. The director said the space additions in the kids area have been "very helpful to get some of the new stuff out and onto the shelf." The board and staff discussed continuing to seek grant funds for additional tween-area books and summer-reading prizes.

The director also reported receiving 25 to 30 boxes of books from the Library of Congress to date. Other small facility updates include a bench and picnic table that have been returned to the front of the building for about a month and a new wooden reading cube purchased by the Friends of the Library; the cube was missing screws on arrival and a local artist will paint its interior.

Board members asked questions about circulation, and the director reported that summer months typically account for the majority of checkouts and foot traffic. The library's statistics for the year are "right on track" and appear to be slightly higher than last year, the director said.

The board did not take formal action on collection policy at the meeting; staff will continue collection development work and pursue grant opportunities for additional tween materials.