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March 15, 2009 Collection Analysis

Collection Analysis - Drexel University Information …mg553/eport/Graduate/MG JS... · Web viewCompared to the Young Adult per capita ratio, it would seem that the US History section

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March 15, 2009

Collection Analysis

MISSION STATEMENT

“THE MISSION OF THE HUNTINGTON BRANCH LIBRARY IS TO PROVIDE A

PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO READ, MEET, AND

CONNECT TO SHELTON AND THE LARGER WORLD AROUND US. THE

COLLECTION OF PRINT, AUDIO, VISUAL, AND ELECTRONIC ITEMS IS

INTENDED TO HELP PEOPLE ENRICH LIFE, GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND

UNDERSTANDING, AND APPRECIATE CREATIVITY. THE HUNTINGTON

BRANCH WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PLUMB MEMORIAL

LIBRARY AND THE COMMUNITY OF SHELTON TO ACCOMPLISH THIS

ONGOING GOAL1.”

The Huntington Branch Library works in conjunction with the Plumb Memorial Library as the

Shelton Library System to serve the community of Shelton, CT. Shelton is a city with an estimated

population of 40,1422 with an estimated patronage of 15,075 active library cards in 2006-2007. Also in

the 2006-07 year, the libraries’ annual budget was $1,011,663 and 273,856 items were circulated

between the two libraries. The Huntington Branch currently has over 60,000 materials in its collection.

2008 was a year of long term planning and expansion for the Shelton Library System. The

emphasis on the future was highlighted with a new joint mission statement3:

1 http://www.plumblibrary.org/abouthbrmission.htm2 http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/09/0968100.html3 http://www.plumblibrary.org/Ann%20rept%200708.doc

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“SHELTON LIBRARIES: CULTURAL CENTERS OFFERING WELCOMING

ENVIRONMENTS THAT PROVIDE A SOURCE OF PERSONAL

ENRICHMENT”

This new mantra enhances the individual mission statements of the two libraries by giving them a

unified goal to provide a more streamlined library experience for their members.

Huntington’s working relationship with Plumb Memorial provides the branch with many unique

opportunities to provide specialized patron services. By Plumb Memorial having a stronger reference

and classic collection, Huntington is able to accentuate creativity and the arts, with a focus on providing

the latest fiction bestsellers in print, DVD, and digital formats. The branch is notable for being a part of

the Shelton Community Center. It refers to its patrons as members, and will be hosting its first fully

catered membership drive this spring. Huntington is also unique for having an official living mascot,

Peaches the Library Snake. Recently, the branch raised $900 to purchase a new habitat for Peaches,

who lives in the Children’s Department and is the star of her very own story time events. 4 Special

programming at the library involves culture events by local groups (such as performers from the Chinese

Cultural Association), dinner and a movie night, and Civil War book discussions. The Anime Club at the

4 Peaches the Library Snake before she got her new home

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branch proved so popular that it split into a youth club and teen club, and the Toddler Movement

Program just added a second session to meet growing demand.

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SUBJECT AREAS AND SPECIAL EMPHASIS COLLECTIONS

CHILDREN’S

SUBJECT COLLECTION I

The Children’s Collection is a vital component of a public library; it supplies materials to

entertain and educate the very youngest members of our society and their families. The assembly of

users under the age of 12 will sustain libraries in the future as it is during these young years that they

will develop their lifelong reading habits. A direct correlation has been shown between high reading

scores and high circulation of children’s material5. Therefore it is our privilege and duty to create a

collection which will serve the families of infants, the toddlers learning how to properly hold a book, the

beginning readers and the school-aged children who are engaged in chapter books and discovering their

individual interests.

This collection must also cater to the many programs offered by the library which will encourage

local families to attend and support the facility. These programs are offered year round and include

Story Times, Summer Reading Programs and a myriad of other offerings. Outreach to local daycare

centers, smaller private schools which lack a proper library and homeschoolers is also supported

primarily by this collection. Series are a large component of any Children’s collection as children return

to familiar characters and story patterns that they have found enjoyable or comforting in the past6.

While this characteristic may bring comfort to a child who enjoys reading, it can be especially beneficial

to the reluctant reader who may have found interest in only one or two subjects or series. Series are

written for all age groups and reading levels. Picture books such as Curious George, beginning reader

books written by Dr. Seuss , the Arthur books for slightly more accomplished readers, Goosebumps for

5 Lance, Keith C.6 Saltman, Judith

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the older children and every series in between, these books allow a child to pick up a book and know

beforehand that they will indubitably enjoy it as much as they had the previous ones in the sequence.

YOUNG ADULT COLLECTION

SUBJECT COLLECTION II

Young Adults are a distinct group of library users, with unique needs. It is important for libraries

to accommodate their needs and interests within the collections. It is vital that young adults have

collections that cater to their unique needs and interests so that they will continue to have an active role

in the library population.

Perhaps the defining characteristic of the young adult is the amount of growth they experience

in such a short period of time. Physically, mentally, and emotionally – the adolescent is constantly

changing and evolving. Meeting the needs of this community is not an easy task. The Young Adult

Collection typically covers middle school and high school students, an age range that includes teens of

vastly varying maturity, reading levels and interests. A good Young Adult Collection provides resources

for readers transitioning between the Children’s Collection and the Adult Collection. This includes a

variety of fiction novels – everything from Twilight to Go Ask Alice and from The Outsiders to The

Hobbit.

An interesting anomaly of the Young Adult Collection is that although it covers almost the same

amount of years as the Children’s Collection, it is usually a fraction of the size. Many libraries can only

devote a shelf or two to this special collection. Thankfully, as libraries grow in popularity with the teen

audience, Young Adult collections should grow in size to meet the needs and demands of adolescents.

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MANGA

SPECIAL EMPHASIS I

Manga are comics from East Asia, typically Japan, which are collected in book form, and are

included in the graphic novel genre (although broad, the term ‘graphic novel’ generally refers to a book

which conveys a story using a comic book-like medium). Unlike American comics, the art in manga is

sequenced from right to left. When collected into graphic novel format, manga books are often printed

to be read “in reverse” by starting at what is traditionally the “back cover” and reading the story

“backwards.” This gives manga a unique style that immediately separates it from most books found in

American libraries.

However, graphic literature has many opponents that make a number of arguments against the

medium. The most prevalent is that comics are “junk reading,” and do not count as literature. Comic

books have long suffered a social stigma of having little or no literary value7. Other detractors cite

images of sex and violence that some of the more mature graphic novels contain. Librarians help defuse

such opposition by researching and understanding the graphic literature trend, and its merits8.

Graphic novels often involve self-contained and intricate storylines, much like a traditional

novel9. Enhanced by images, graphic novels and manga can tell tales unique to the medium. In

addition, graphic novels are also used to retell classic literature in a medium that appeals to visual

learners. Some of history’s most important works have been adapted into manga including the works of

William Shakespeare10 and the Bible11. This makes manga and graphic novels an excellent way to lure

reluctant readers to a larger literary world.

7 ALSC Research and Development Committee - Graphic Novels for Children8 Associated Press - As More Graphic Novels Appear in Libraries, So Do Challenges9 Fallis, Chris, Graphic Generation10 Shakespeare, Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet11 Siku, The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation

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UNITED STATES HISTORY

SUBJECT COLLECTION III

History records how the living ideas of civilization were saved and nourished behind a wall of books. Our libraries today serve the same cause, for the defenders of freedom must remain strong in mind and heart. From the famous metropolitan libraries of America to the modest bookmobiles that serve our rural areas, books guard the wisdom of the past and kindle the ideas of tomorrow12.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower spoke of the importance of books and libraries. He spoke of how history will record

the monumental impact these things have had on civilization. Where will they record it? In history

books, of course; where will this moving quote be remembered? In United States history, our history.

It is our common history that unites us as a nation. That is why it is important for every library

to have a solid collection of our national story. From the settlers at Plymouth, to the war-torn beaches

of Normandy, and to the first men on the Moon, the United States has a rich history of diversity,

adversity, and liberty. The United States history section of a library is an invaluable resource to the

entire community.

12 http://books.google.com/books?id=qJnrg1ZYnAkC&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=A+library,+to+modify+the+famous+metaphor+of+Socrates,+should+be+the+delivery+room+for+the+birth+of+ideas%E2%80%94a+place+where+history+comes+to+life.&source=bl&ots=etGxpADEdd&sig=XjqYXUFqGA7GESci3sSSNgFhOX4&hl=en&ei=Ci64SbO-D-H8tge2v-i9CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA135,M1

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THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

SPECIAL EMPHASIS COLLECTION II

Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came13.

- Abraham Lincoln

One of the most important chapters in American history is as relevant today as ever before. The

bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln and the influence that our greatest president has had on our current

president14 have made the American Civil War a popular subject in libraries across the country. With

patrons once again passionate about the great crucible of our history, libraries have a responsibility to

their patrons to develop this special emphasis collection.

13 http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/lincoln2.asp14 http://www.newsweek.com/id/169170

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SCIENCE/MATHEMATICS

SUBJECT COLLECTION IV

The need to observe our environment, formulate queries about those observations and

differentiate between fact and fiction is a need which has been explored since man began recording his

life. It is within this collection that we delve into the earth itself to study Geology, produce theories to

explain force and energy in Physics, live among the wild beasts and realize how many traits we share

with our distant ancestors in Zoology and explore the farthest reaches of the galaxy in Astronomy.

This collection evolves as does our perception of our world and as new research uncovers

answers to our greatest mysteries. With each new star discovered, theory postulated or dinosaur bone

found to fit in a new fossil, these materials are made obsolete and must be constantly updated to stay

abreast of current scientific knowledge. Additionally this collection houses guides on how to

comprehend and apply Science and Math knowledge for the learners who are struggling with the

material for a school course.

The users for this collection are learners of all ages and walks of life. From the student looking to

find help on a math assignment to the casual learner who has an interest in Botany and how plants

affect our lives, this collection satisfies the needs of inquiring minds.

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COOKBOOKS

SPECIAL EMPHASIS COLLECTION III

Food allows us to celebrate traditions, show love for our family members, serve our particular

deity and nourish our bodies to allow for new generations. It is within our diets and our relationship

with the food we eat that we show who we are as a community, the books within this collection

chronicle those relationships. When we leave our hometowns, it is often the memories of a well worn

recipe made by a loved one or a meal prepared perfectly time after time in a local eatery that will supply

us with nostalgia and a longing for our roots. Our cultural and religious ceremonies are complete only

after the shared enjoyment of traditional foods which can be prepared with the human or the deity in

mind. Finally it is our relationship with these recipes and traditions that we will pass down to our

children and they will learn their eating habits to give to another generation.

The cookbook itself usually contains recipes, hints, and stories of how a recipe came to be or the

significance it holds within a community. It can be of a general nature meant for the beginning cook,

geared towards specific dietary requirements or a specific geographic region or it can be for the

advanced chef who will be serving dozens of people. Also included in this collection is Food Writing;

narratives chronicling our relationship with food and how it shapes our lives.

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COLLECTIONS ANALYSIS

CHILDREN’S COLLECTION

This collection currently houses approximately 15,000 items to fill the needs of youth in this

community. This comes out to about 2.6 individuals in the community per item. This number however

assumes that every adult will be interested in the Children’s collection when in fact it is meant to serve

the individuals under the age of 12. While there is no data on the percentage of the population of this

community under the age of 12, we do know that roughly 23% of the population is under the age of

1815. This would mean that for the minors of this area there are 1.6 books for each of them within this

collection. That number is fairly substantial and indicates a high level of community and administrative

interest. This collection is subject to constant turnover of materials as its users tend lack the maturity to

properly care for materials at all times and therefore the actual numbers may vary somewhat.

When comparing this collection to that of the Fairfield Branch Library which houses over 36,000

items in its Children’s Collection, the Huntington Library appears to lack a sufficient emphasis for this

age group. However, when weighing the materials against the Mission Statement of the library, it

indicates that this collection does satisfy the goal of this library. The collection encompasses picture

books, beginning readers, audio books, chapter books and non-fiction items for juveniles of all interests.

15 http://census.gov

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YOUNG ADULT COLLECTION

The Huntington Branch Library has a burgeoning teen and young adult section that sees a

growing annual circulation. In the 2004-05 year, 7377 items were circulated; in 2006-07, 11,493 items

were circulated16. This marks a 55.8% increase in Young Adult circulation in just one year. Recently, in

the 2008-09 year, the growing teen and young adult collection was re-located in order to have a larger

organized space. Previously, the library had two sections – one for middle school students (grades 6-8)

and one for high school students (grades 9-12). The branch has recently moved the 6 th grade material

into the Juvenile Department and folded the 7th and 8th grade material into the 9th-12th grade material to

create one comprehensive young adult collection. At present the Huntington Branch’s Young Adult

Collection has 2790 items total including 1440 fiction books, 1140 non-fiction books, and 250 audio-

video materials.

The mission statement of Huntington Branch Library calls for “The collection of print, audio,

visual, and electronic items is intended to help people enrich life, gain knowledge and understanding,

and appreciate creativity.” The Young Adult collection offers a variety of materials to meet this goal. Its

large collection of fiction titles spans multiple genres including fantasy, romance, and historic fiction.

The Young Adult Collection houses its own audio and video materials, has a large selection of graphic

novels, and non-fiction titles. The variety of this collection meets the goals set forth in the mission

statement by giving teens the tools they need to grow creatively as well as intellectually.

The Huntington Branch services approximately 39,477 citizens according to the US Census

Bureau17. This would mean that the per capita, the Young Adult Collection has 14.15 citizens per item.

16 http://www.plumblibrary.org/picts/AnnRep07.pdf17 http://harvester.census.gov/imls/search/Library_Detail.asp?ID=CT0142&ThisType=LS&LibraryName=plumb&LibraryID=&Address=&City=SHELTON&State=CT&Zip=&Distance=&County=&PhoneAreaCode=&Phone=&ResultSetNumber=1&LibTypes=LS%2CCE%2CBR%2CBS

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However, approximately 23.5% of Shelton’s population is under 18. This brings the per capita

calculation to 9277 citizens divided by 279018, for a total of 3.33 citizens per item, which is a much more

impressive ratio.

The Fairfield Woods branch library houses 357419 young adult titles. This statistic means that

the total population to young adult titles ratio per capita is 16.18. Compared to Huntington’s 14.15 this

difference would indicate that although Fairfield Branch has the larger collection numerically, it fails to

beat Huntington Branch per capita. This is in line with the overall ratio fielded by both libraries. Fairfield

is a much larger system than Shelton, with a total service population of 58,113. However, Shelton

outperforms the Fairfield system book per capita ratio with a total of 3.4 citizens per book compared to

Fairfield’s 5.1 citizens per book.

Even though Huntington Branch’s Young Adult Collection boasts a better per capita average than

Fairfield Woods, the young adult community is served by more than just a wide material selection.

Huntington Branch offers supplemental programs such as anime club, game night, and teen book

discussions to its young adult community in addition to its decent assortment of media.

In closing, the Huntington Branch’s Young Adult Collection has a strong per capita ratio in its

region. Its library programming complements the materials nicely. By listening to its community,

streamlining its collection, and focusing on creative and intellectual growth, the branch has increased its

young adult circulation by 55% in a single year. This would indicate that the strength and popularity of

the collection is growing, to the benefit of the people.

%2CBM&StateSelectedIndex=0&procqstr=1#18 Librarian Interview, see Bibliography19 http://catalog.fairfieldpubliclibrary.org/uhtbin/cgisirsi/2QExBUo95W/FFLD-MAIN/218370079/5/0

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MANGA

The Huntington Branch Library currently has 364 items in its manga collection20.

Since the Young Adult collection encompasses such a wide age range, selecting the right item

can be difficult. For example, Western graphic literature can include adult themes not suitable for 13

year olds but perfectly acceptable for 17 year olds. However, most manga titles have a specific age

rating listed on the back cover and specifically targets certain gender and age groups. This is a helpful

tool for parents, teachers, librarians, and young readers when choosing material. By providing pre-

rated and pre-classified materials, the Huntington Branch is providing for its patrons by making the

selection process for teens and their parents more streamlined.

The fact that most manga was written without any thought of being exported to America gives

the stories an exotic feeling, allowing readers to experience an entirely different culture in a number of

ways21. Aspiring artists find much to appreciate, while young writers are given another format with

which to work22. Teens that are not among the popular crowd at school are introduced to an entire

subculture filled with people of similar interests. Students often join comic book or anime-manga

centered clubs at their local high school or library, and find an interest that stays with them for years (as

evidenced by the massive conventions and college-level clubs of the same nature). This helps the library

achieve its mission to give their patrons the opportunity to “connect to … the larger world around

(them)…, enrich life, gain … understanding, and appreciate creativity.”

Providing manga also helps the library spread literacy by helping young adults build vocabulary,

and gain confidence in reading. Manga’s popularity with struggling and reluctant readers makes it a

20 Interview with Young Adult/Children’s Librarian (see Bibliography)21 Brenner, Robin – Graphic Novels 10122 Espelage, Angie – Manga Madness in the Library

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wonderful gateway into more traditional forms of literature. In many libraries, manga is part of the

young adult collection and is given special emphasis. Manga is currently one of the fastest growing

sections at the Huntington Branch both in terms of size and popularity. It has been cited as one of the

primary reasons for the rise in young adult circulation numbers.

After searching the Fairfield Branch’s search OPAC, 87 manga titles were found between the Y

MANGA and Y GRAPHIC call signs combined. That gives Fairfield Branch a 668 people to manga per

capita ratio. Huntington Branch has a ratio of 108.45 people to manga per capita.

Upon analysis, it would seem that Huntington Branch places a greater emphasis on manga than

Fairfield Branch. The Shelton Library System serves its young adult community by meeting the demand

for manga.

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UNITED STATES HISTORY

The Huntington Branch has a United States History section of 525 books. This works out to

75.19 patrons to US History books per capita. Compared to the Young Adult per capita ratio, it would

seem that the US History section is less important to the branch and presumably to its patrons as well.

One of the library’s goals is to “help patrons enrich life and gain knowledge.” Non-fiction sections such

as US History help the library in its mission to spread knowledge.

On the surface, the fact that the manga per capita ratio is better than the history per capita ratio

may seem to be a disturbing fact to the history teachers of Shelton. However, it is important to

remember that the Huntington Branch library is only half of the Shelton Public Library System. The

Branch’s close relationship with Plumb Memorial enables the branch to focus on more leisurely

materials because of Plumb’s large research material collection. The Huntington Branch’s US History

Collection is purposely light and only meant for basic research and knowledge purposes, the library

makes use of inter-library loan (particularly with their sister library) for more in depth materials. The

money saved by purchasing mostly fundamental US History titles allows the library to purchase more

popular items and increase member satisfaction. To put this in perspective, Huntington Branch Library

has a much larger manga collection than Plumb Memorial Library despite the fact that Plumb is a larger

library.

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THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Huntington’s section in the Civil War is 30 books and has a people to book ratio of 1315.9. This

sort of number shows that the Civil War is not a priority for the Huntington library system. However,

compared to the Fairfield branch which has a ratio of 1263, it would seem that the Civil War is not a high

ranking priority in either location.

Nevertheless, there was renewed interest in The American Civil War with Lincoln’s bicentennial

this year. To compensate for a small collection, the Huntington Branch Library hosted a series of Civil

War events including book clubs and movie screenings. Special programming included a presentation

from a Civil War re-enactor, an art presentation on “The First Reading of the Emancipation

Proclamation23”, and period music24. Also to commemorate, the library put Lincoln’s biographies and

other Civil War materials in a prominent display during the months of February and March. In addition,

Huntington works closely with the Housatonic Civil War Roundtable and hosts their monthly meetings.

This once again proves that while collections are a major concern for libraries, there are other ways of

meeting mission statements and providing excellent member satisfaction.

23 http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/common/image/Painting_33_00005.htm24 http://www.plumblibrary.org/Newsletters/Spring%202009%20Newsletter.pdf

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SCIENCE/MATHEMATICS

The Huntington Branch Library currently boasts 750 books that fall in the Dewey Decimal range

of the 500’s. This comes out to about 53 community members per book in this category. While the

library may have more items that fall into this section than it does for other non-fiction areas such as

History, this section should necessarily have a higher discard rate as the information contained is

constantly updated and altered. The Fairfield Branch Library with its comparable size owns only slightly

more items in this collection, they come in at a little over 800.

With the current interest in a “Green” revolution and the ecology, one could assume that

materials in this area will begin to show a higher circulation rate amongst the members. As popular

interest in this subject matter rises and our economy continues to erode, it would be logical to assume

that patrons will increase their demand for these topical matters rather than purchase them for their

own personal library.

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COOKBOOKS

This collection has a respectable 600 cookbooks which averages out to 66 people per cookbook.

The average household in Connecticut holds 2.5 people25, if that is taken into consideration and one

assumes that most meals are cooked for the family then there is 26 books for a family. When compared

to Fairfield Branch Library’s holdings, Huntington boasts 50% more cookbooks as Fairfield has only 396

on this subject matter.

This is another subject matter which should show a higher circulation rate within the next few

months to years as our economy stays stagnant. Eating out is one of the first luxuries that many people

will cut or reduce from their family budgets when money gets tight26. This will lead more members to

stay at home for meals and as variety has been called the spice of life, one could assume that they will

be on the lookout for new and delicious recipes for their family. While for the time being this section

serves its community, it may be wise to consider expanding the section as an increased number of

members look for methods of cutting costs at home. This special emphasis collection does meet the

recreational needs of the local public.

25 http://census.gov26 Caplan, Jeremy

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SYNERGY

MICHAEL

After the unexpected departure of our teammates, the project became a larger endeavor for

Jessica and me. Luckily, we work excellently together as a team. Our speed and efficiency enabled us to

create a project that surpassed even our greatest expectations. Our division of the workload dates back

to when the whole group was still involved. At the end of February, I met with Cara in the Collaboration

Chat Room and we decided to base our assignment on the Huntington Branch Library in Shelton, CT.

Cara had chosen the location of our last project, and seemed enthusiastic about my choice for this one.

It was decided that I would find all the basic information about the library, while the others began by

selecting and writing about the subject collections. After the departure of Cara and Christina, I e-mailed

Jessica and it was decided that we would increase the scope of the project. I chose to write about the

Young Adult, Manga, US History & Civil War components of the Huntington Branch Collection in addition

to Appendices C & D and the HBL/Introduction. I did the majority of the collection description and

analysis work the day we found out our teammates had quit. The introduction was essentially finished a

week earlier. Once our data research was complete, I completed the appendices. Over the next few

days, Jessica and I continued our collaboration via e-mail until we were completely satisfied with our

work.

I am proud of the work I did for this project. To be honest, it was tough after our teammates

abandoned the project with under a week to go (I feel that I’d be amiss if I did not mention the incident

here on the group activity and decision making page). I was astonished when I heard that Cara and

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Christina had decided to quit. It was a startling and perplexing sequence of events. They each sent a

single e-mail with a question they had about the project and dropped out before we could reply. They

never expressed any sign of dissatisfaction or frustration. Our interactions were normally encouraging

and optimistic. The previous project was a true group effort, and ran smoothly. Ultimately it was not

their desertion that upset me; it was that it was wholly avoidable. It inflicted unnecessary emotional

distress and made the project a greater endeavor for all involved. More importantly, it destroyed our

teamwork and camaraderie. I have done many group projects for college and most of them were done

completely online without any group members dropping out. Working with others is never easy.

Everyone has an idea of what they want to do, and not every idea can be incorporated. Everyone has a

unique personality, schedule, and routine. Part of the challenge is to work with the diversity of one’s

teammates and to utilize the unique creativity of each individual to craft a dynamic collaborative effort

that the individual could not have accomplished in isolation. I am more than satisfied at what Jessica

and I have accomplished after Cara and Christina’s dereliction. We worked hard, and completed a

successful project that we can both reflect on proudly.

- Michael Gilroy

3/13/09

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JESSICA

While the beginning of our project was met with enthusiasm by our group as a whole, early

schedule conflicts proved to be a foreshadowing of events. I believe that these early issues with all

members of the group not being able to meet online at the same time to discuss the path of the

assignment led to what would end up being the dissolution of our group in its original state. Group

projects, as Michael mentioned, are never easy but with online courses an extra touch of understanding

of individual’s schedules must come into play. I am regretful that our team split in two and perhaps this

could have been avoided if we had exchanged phone numbers at the beginning of the quarter however

in no way am I remorseful for the split’s occurrence as it allowed Michael and I to prove to ourselves

what true teamwork can accomplish.

Michael had completed a majority of the introduction and analysis by the time I caught up with

him. We decided what aspects of the collection I should analyze and I began. Using his design as a

template we compiled our information and considered each other’s suggestions with respect and

allowed for each other’s opinions.

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APPENDIX A

COLLECTION MAP

Huntington Branch Library

Members of the community it serves: 40,000

Total Collection: 60,000

Number of total collection items per capita: 1.5

Number of Items Number of Items per capitaGeneral Emphasis Collection Young Adult 2790 0.07 Children 15,000 0.375 United States History 525 0.013 Science/Math 750 0.018

Special Emphasis Collection Manga 364 0.009 American Civil War 30 0.0007 Cookbooks 600 0.015

Collections0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

Young AdultChildrenHistoryScience/MathMangaAmerican Civil WarCookbooksM

ater

ials

per c

apita

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APPENDIX B

COLLECTION MAP WORKSHEET

Total Children’s Young Adult

US History

Science/Math Manga Civil War

Cookery

YA 2790 2790 364Children’s 15,000 15,000

Total Segment

60,000 15,000 2790 525 700 364 30 600

Items per capita

1.5 0.375 0.007 0.013 0.018 0.009 0.0007

0.015

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APPENDIX C

COLLECTION OVERVIEW

Huntington Branch Library Collection

Young AdultUnited States HistoryChildren'sScience/MathCookeryOther

Total Collection Young Adult United States History0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Civil WarMangaCookeryScience/MathChildren'sUnited States HistoryYoung AdultOther

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APPENDIX D

SPECIAL COLLECTION COMPARISON

Other94%

Civil War6%

United States History Collection

Manga13%

Other87%

Young Adult Collection

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REFERENCES (MICHAEL)

WORKS CITED

"Annual Report 2007-08." Plumb Memorial Library and Huntington Branch Library. Shelton Public Library System. 1 Mar. 2009 <http://www.plumblibrary.org/Ann%20rept%200708.doc>.

ALSC Research And Development Comittee. "Graphic Novels for Children." Children and

Libraries (Winter 2006): 49-51.

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Lance, Keith Curry, and Robbie Bravman Marks. 2008. "The Link between Public Libraries and Early Reading Success." School Library Journal 54, no. 9: 44-47. ERIC, EBSCOhost (accessed March 12, 2009).

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