Why it is Important to Keep the Library Collections Contemporary

Books that are relevant to the readers are the best choices. It can be difficult to get new and struggling readers to read for recreation. The best way to encourage them to read is to give them books that relate to them in a personal way. Young readers like to read about children experiencing some of the things they are experiencing. As times change, so do the events that effect the students. Books about children in the fifties, while they can be interesting to some, modern children cannot fully relate to them. For English class, I had my son read To Kill a Mockingbird. It is a great book, but he could not relate to children. Today, it is not safe to let the children run all over town until after dark.

Modern writers have a better understanding of what today’s children are experiencing. They can see what the world is like today, and they write about it. Even modern fantasy novels have something that can relate to modern children.  As librarians, we need to make sure we are meeting the needs of our patrons, and keeping the library up-to-date on all the current reading trends and modern authors, is a big part of that. Students hear about a new and exciting author, and they will want to find their books at the library. Librarians need to be prepared by having these author's books available.

Technology has changed a great deal over the years, and many modern books will have that technology being used. Technology is also used to read books in this modern age. Part of purchasing modern books is purchasing eBooks. Librarians need to carry contemporary books in both paper and digital forms, to be able to better serve the needs of their patrons.