Welcome to 548!

Let's start by doing some math!

The reading list for this course is organized into 14 separate lists. Each list centers on a specific award or distinction for books written for young people.
This is a 10-week course, and 6 of those weeks are dedicated to reading.
During each reading week, you will choose one award list to explore. From that list, you will:
- - Read two books
  - Evaluate one additional title for potential purchase
For more detailed guidance on the evaluation process, please refer to the Canvas course shell.

This means:

You will explore 6 of the 14 reading lists in this course
You will read a total of 12 books written for young people over the semester
You will evaluate a total of 6 additional books for potential purchase

Inclusivity Matrix:

I use the inclusivity matrix below to help me AND to help you. The matrix helps me make sure that each reading/award list contains titles that vary in:

Category (ex: fiction VS nonfiction)
Format (ex: graphic novel vs novel in verse)
Genre (ex: fantasy, romance, sports)
Representation (ex: disability, indigenous, LBGTQIA+)

Additionally, because this course requires so much reading, I'm hopeful that the matrix will also help you make informed choices about the books you choose to read each week. Varying the format. genre. etc., will, hopefully, help you select an attainable reading list each week.

Content/Trigger Warnings:

Because young adult literature seeks, in part, to help young people navigate a challenging world, many titles we read this term (and in this category more broadly) explore difficult topics.

With that in mind, I encourage you to look after your own heart by previewing the books you choose each week and eliminating those that might prove triggering for you. At the same time, this practice is an important part of your development as a librarian. As you learn to anticipate your own responses, you are also building the awareness and habits needed to support the readers you will serve, honoring both access and care.

The following resources may be helpful as you scout for potentially triggering content:

An infographic titled "Fun With Bookish Collective Nouns," defining collective noun as a noun referring to groups. It explains four terms related to books: Category (general divisions like Fiction, Non-Fiction, Young Adult or Children's Literature), Format (styles like Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Story Collections), Genre (types characterized by technique or subject like Fantasy, Romance, Horror, Realistic Fiction, Sci-Fi), and Series (successions of related works by the same author or subject, with examples such as "Front Desk" and "Dog Man"). At the bottom, there's a "Did You Know?" section comparing these bookish terms to nesting dolls, illustrating how categories encompass formats, formats include genres, and genres include series.

A word or two about audiobooks!

One of your award options this semester is the Odyssey Award, which specifically honors audiobooks. If you choose to explore this award list, you will be required to listen to the audio versions of the titles you select from that list.

You are also welcome to listen to the audio versions of other course titles throughout the semester.

Not only do I love audiobooks, personally, research also suggests that stories stimulate the brain in similar ways whether they are read or heard. In other words, audiobooks are absolutely allowed in this class.

That said, there is one important caveat. Although publishers are releasing more graphic novels and novels in verse in audio format, my students have had mixed reactions to those reading and listening experiences. For some readers, these formats translate beautifully to audio. For others, not so much.

As a result, I encourage you to think carefully about yourself as a reader and consider which formats will help you both complete the reading for this course and have the most meaningful experience with the story and information.

Ultimately, I hope that every book you read in this course will help you strengthen your programming and reader’s advisory skills. With that in mind, it is important to choose the format that will best support you in the work of connecting readers with the book they need most.Finally, let me say this. I love this course. As a lifelong fan of young adult literature (and books for young people more broadly), this is the class that most closely reflects the work of my heart.

Make no mistake, it will be a full and busy semester. Still, I am looking forward to building rich and meaningful reading experiences with you during our time together.

Happy reading, everyone!

Direct Link To Inclusivity Matrix

RU548: Inclusivity Matrix

Page updated

Report abuse