Week 9: Young Adult Music Collections

Where are the Teen music collections at public libraries?

As I’m about to type up some ideas for this week’s theme on music collections, I notice the cover of the Young Adult Library Services Winter 2009 issue staring me in the face.  On it’s cover is a brightly colored graphic of headphones with the words “press play @ your library” in between, the Teen Tech Week theme for 2009.  I peruse the pages to see what is mentioned about music in the library for young adults ... because … this does fit the theme, right? 

 Wrong.  In a whole issue, devoted mostly to teenagers and technology, there is not one mention of music as a significant technology for young adults during the ALA sanctioned annual Teen Tech Week (TTW).  The topic of music is relegated to Guitar Hero.  Otherwise, technology like video games, digital photo sharing, online tutoring programs, cell phone novels, and audiobooks are discussed.  Libraries are given grants where they buy DDR games and books – but what about adding a YA music collection?  I was stunned that libraries seem to have fully embraced video gaming as an important technology for teenagers, and neglected the importance of music in their lives.  I know that libraries purchase and circulate music CDs for teens.  So, what's with the ignorance?

 Maybe libraries have not recognized music as a significant "technology."  Granted, many public libraries view “music” as the CDs they circulate.  This media isn’t seen as a “technology” but more like a “material” that is collected and circulated.  If this issue providing any important information, it was statistics.  No more than 20% of school libraries offer music CDs.When asked in a TTW survey what their library circulates besides books, 89% of teens reported DVDs, 79.3% reported audiobooks, and 64.9% reported CDs (Mahoney & Lasczak, 2009, p. 10-12) .  A little more than half of these young adults are aware of their library’s CD collection.  Why?

 Teens are aware of the latest technologies associated with digital music, but they don’t know enough about what services and materials the library offers.  This is probably because many libraries’ collections are lacking.  This is the first step.  Are we properly serving this demographic, by not serving their music information needs?  Maybe I’m being a cynic.  So, I decided to take on the task suggested in this week’s assignment and perform a Google search with the terms: “YA music collection” and “public library.”

 I got 30 hits.

Weston Public Library’s Teen librarian seeks the public’s input for purchasing music for the YA collection.

Calgary Public Library, Wood Library (NY), Coshocton Public Library, and Lynfield Public Library all highlight their YA music collection in their Teen Blogs.

 In a listserv archive, I also stumbled upon this informal Teen Trends survey of 23 libraries from 2001:

MUSIC

•  16 Libraries responded to this question
• 8 Libraries have YA Librarian selecting Teen interest music with 4 having heavy Teen Board Involvement
• 8 have other staff, i.e. AV Librarian or Branch Manager ordering YA music
• 4 libraries reported having a separate YA music collection. 
• 2 libraries reported having YA labels on the spines of CD's that are integrated with the Adult collection.
• 3 Libraries reported that they DO NOT purchase CD's with Parental Advisory
• 4 libraries reported that they DO purchase edited versions of CD's over the unedited version
• 1 library does not purchase edited version
• 3 libraries purchase both edited and unedited versions of CD's

 

Then I changed my search terms to: “teen music collection” and “public library” and got 83 hits!

I especially liked how Hinsdale Public Library highlights it YA Music Collection:

“The White Stripes are in the house! Or, I should say, the White Stripes are in the library! Instead of paying way too much for the new White Stripes CD, Icky Thump, why don’t you just tricycle on over to 20 E. Maple (the library) and check it out for free? The Teen Music collection is overflowing with music that rocks, rolls, shocks, grooves and inspires and it’s all for your listening pleasure!

Don’t forget to check out the Teen Website that has all of the CDs in the Teen Music collection listed here: Teen CDs.  The CDs are arranged alphabetically by the name of the band and then alphabetically by the title of the album. Please, Hinsdaleans, continue to rock!”

 The PopGoestheLibrary blog offers this bit of advice for Teen music collections: 

“If you don't already have a budget line for tween & teen popular music, beg or borrow money from other budget lines to start a small collection, and then promote the heck out of it: in conversation, on your library's website, in newsletters. I cannot keep most of my Teen Music collection in its browser -- it always looks sad & picked over because it is (well, not sad, but certainly picked over), and this is a very good thing. These are items that earn their shelf space.”

 In conclusion, a simple Google search has revealed that they are several libraries out there building some solid YA Music Collections.  Further searching could reveal what type of music programming is being offered and, most importantly, what steps libraries are taking to integrate digital music trends.  Such as Overdrive, Finetune, streaming music, etc.