Collection Development

I. Part A: Critical Evaluation

A. Book Selection Tools
Evaluation tools are imperative to creating a cohesive collection. There are
many online tools available including BookList, Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus Reviews,
and Amazon (professional and customer reviews) and School Library Journal.
These professional journals and online retailers are critical to evaluating information
packages. Yet negatives and positives exist within each tool. Amazon, while a
popular tool, includes customer reviews that are not validated and can be
anonymous. Anonymity can become suspect when rival authors write negative
reviews for other authors. Positively, customer reviews can give insight into the
reading habits of a large population. If a librarian is deciding on a particularly
controversial book, it might behoove him/her to look at the customer reviews on
Amazon to see the current temperature of the issue. Lack of reviews can
sometimes speak volumes about a particular title.
B. Recently Added Books to Fairytale Collection
The Cazenovia Public Librarian does not purchase items within the fairytale
section as often as other collections. Therefore, the choice of recent additions was
sparse. I have included five of the most recent additions to the fairytale sections
from the Young Adult and Children’s areas of the library. The most frequently used
review tool was School Library Journal because it gave the most descriptive and
well written reviews of any of the book selection tools I encountered. This was
understandable since I was looking at children’s books. The School Library Journal
tends to exclusively review this genre. (A listing of all recently added titles please
see Appendix 3)
1. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
The first title I chose was Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier who is well
known for writing adult novel adaptations of well known fairytales. In this case, the
tales she chose were the Twelve Dancing Princesses by Hans Christian Anderson

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

and the Frog Prince by Grimm. Book selection tools were plentiful for this title;
however, I chose School Library Journal and Publisher’s Weekly because they were
both different types of review tools. The School Library Journal focuses on books
for school libraries whereas Publisher’s Weekly has a more general approach to all
the works published in the United States (primarily). Both reviews do an excellent
job of summarizing the title while the summaries themselves are nearly identical.
The information contained in both reviews is helpful in understanding the text;
however, the review does include the difficult of language in the title. Although
there is a glossary in the back of the book for pronunciation, reluctant readers
might find the Romanian vocabulary difficult. The Cazenovia Public Library has a
large collection of fairytale adaptations and they circulate frequently so this title is a
welcome addition. Both reviews excel in setting up the plot with character names
and enough detail to entice a reader but does not spoil the ending.
School Library Journal points to a fast moving plot, strong characters and
two fully realized settings. However, in reading the first few chapters of the text, I
found the plot to be quite slow but extremely descriptive. Marillier paints a picture
of both worlds (Old Kingdom and the current world) which both reviews describe in
detail. These descriptive words in the review give librarians a good idea of what to
expect of the title. In contrast, Publisher’s Weekly mentions that the book is “full of
rich detail.” Inclusion of a reference to an adult title by Marillier called Daughter of
the Forest adds context for the title which aids in evaluation. Naming other more
familiar titles is an excellent technique to use and gives suggestions for additional
purchases. The title was an excellent choice for acquisition because of the
popularity of fairytale adaptations in the Cazenovia Public Library.
2. The Snow Princess by Ruth Sanderson
Another tale recently added to the collection is The Snow Princess by Ruth
Sanderson. I was only able to find two reviews for this title from School Library
Journal and Booklist. The reviews contrasted greatly in their discussion of the tale
from the Russian Tchaikovsky Opera/Ballet The Snow Maiden. The review from
School Library Journal found the tale to be not compelling and the artwork to be

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uneven, copied from realistic models, and sketchy. The review also felt the title
was not one of Sanderson’s best efforts. School Library Journal does not mention
the period clothing other than to say the illustrations are not compelling. In
contrast, Booklist wrote a description of the title stating the author stayed true to
the ballet except giving the characters a happy ending. Booklist also refers to the
costumes worn by each character in the book, thus creating beautiful illustrations.
It is interesting that both reviews mention that the Snow Princess is warned by her
parents that if she lets love into her heart she will become mortal and die.
However, the text does not warn of the princess becoming mortal. The text only
mentions that the Snow Princess will die if she lets love into her heart. I believe
this is an important distinction because the sacrifice the Snow Princess makes is
more moving. She believes she will die after saving the man who melted her icy
heart. No mention is made to the numerous other children’s picture books that
Sanderson has written. Most famous is her version of The Twelve Dancing
Princesses. The Snow Princess is very similar in illustration and would be an
excellent addition if The Twelve Dancing Princesses had good circulation.
3. Imagine You’re a Fairy by Magic Meg and Lucy Loveheart
A new non-fiction title in the fairytale section is Imagine You’re a Fairy by
Magic Meg and Lucy Loveheart. The information about this title is limited and
reviews tended to include both Imagine You’re a Fairy and Imagine You’re a Pirate.
Thus a clear review of the fairy title is difficult to locate. However, I found Horn
Book Guide and Publisher’s Weekly attempted a review of the title. The Horn Book
Guide does a much better job in describing Imagine You’re a Fairy and calls the title
“good-humored, confidential and its delivery gives the information spark.”
Publisher’s Weekly spends more time on Imagine You’re a Pirate giving very few
descriptive words about Imagine You’re a Fairy, therefore the review gives little
critical review of the title. The title includes magical spells. Those parents who are
opposed to this subject area may wish to avoid it. Readers are encouraged to
imagine themselves as fairies. This aspect of the title is important to understand
and is severely lacking in both reviews. The title also only comes in paperback so

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IST 613 Assignment 2

this must be kept in mind if the library anticipates high circulation of the title.
4. Hansel & Gretel by Will Moses
Next I discovered a beautiful edition of Hansel & Gretel by Will Moses, who is
Grandma Moses’ grandson. Again School Library Journal was consulted as well as
Booklist. Interestingly, both reviews mention Paul Zelinsky’s illustrations in the
Caldecott Honor book Hansel & Gretel as a superior adaptation. The reviews also
find the aloof illustrations of the tale troublesome because no expression on the
faces of the characters is visible. In particular, School Library Journal found the
title to be inconsistent between text and illustrations when the text says the family
lived in a small cottage the picture shows a large manor house. The use of the
manor house confuses the reader. How would a woodcutter be able to afford such
a house? If he could, why would he have to get rid of his children? In contrast, the
Booklist review includes the suggestion that the title is best read one-on-one
because of its length. Some pages have no pictures at all, so this book would not
work well as a read-aloud for a large group. Information about readability in a
large group is important for librarians. Although not mentioned in the reviews, the
language of the text is antiquated. Reluctant listeners and readers may have a
hard time paying attention to the text. The text is slow to get into and the plot
drags throughout the title. Also important to note is the absence of the other
children freed after the witch was cooked in the oven. The illustrations throughout
the text are odd. As an example, when Hansel and Gretel are freed there are two
goats bucking heads for no apparent reason.
5. The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi by Dianne Hofmeyr
The Stone: A Persian Legend of the Magi by Dianne Hofmeyr and Judy Daly
(Illustrator) completes the five recently added books to the fairytale collection.
Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal differ greatly in their reviews of the title.
One of the main differences is the mentioning of Jesus’ birth. The School Library
Journal says that the name Jesus is not used whereas Kirkus Reviews does not
mention the religious significance at all. The decision to keep the name Jesus out
of the review is an interesting technique that gives the title the opportunity to gain

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a wider audience. Many schools and public libraries are unwilling to include titles
that might have a Christian religious slant. Both reviews give an excellent synopsis
of the title giving specific details including names and places. It is interesting to
note, the historical significance mentioned in both reviews. Marco Polo first heard
the story in Persia and returned with it to Italy. The illustrations are positively
referred on in both reviews. Kirkus Reviews states the title is better one-on-one
than in a story time setting because of its size is rather small. Logistical
information such as size is extremely important depending on the application of the
title. Although both reviews mention the synopsis and beautiful illustrations, the
flow and beauty of the text is not noted. The text flows like a river rising and
creates pictures for the mind as well as the eyes. Without a solid text, the pictures
can become meaningless and lost in the confusing wording as Hansel and Gretel
became.
Each book fills a deficiency in the collection and is a welcome addition. Each
of the titles has seen better circulation than those titles suggested for weeding in
Part C of this paper. Book selection tools are key to purchasing titles that will
circulate and patrons will enjoy. With the addition of online reviews and resources,
finding acquisitions is becoming much easier.

II. Part B: Acquisitions Criteria

A. Scenario
The scenario I decided to use was that of a small public library in a town of
around 8,000 people. The Cazenovia Public Library is one such library with a rather
extensive fairytale collection. (For a full listing of all Acquisition titles please see
Appendix 1)
Figure 1
B. Acquisition Criteria
Acquisition Criteria:
Initially I thought the children’s fairytale Fairytale Collection
section would be sufficient to understand the $Adaptations
$Age Group
acquisition of materials in a sub collection of a $Award Winners
$Format
library. However, such a small collection limited $Genre
$Multinational

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$New Fairytales
$Reading Level
$Reviews
$Variations
Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

the different types of items I could evaluate. In order to evaluate radically different
types of items, I needed to expand the sub collection. Quite easily I expanded the
collection to include reading level and format. Reading levels include: pre-reading,
first through third level in easy reader, juvenile, young adult, and adult. Formats
such as audio books, traditional books, and videos were included in the acquisition
criteria. Fairytales span every age group. Getting an understanding of their
acquisition is key to creating a good collection. Acquisition criteria during the
research process included in this evaluation included format, fairytale variations,
multinational fairytales, variety reading levels, fairytale adaptations, award winners,
and original fairytales.
C. Selection Tools
As stated previously, there are numerous selection tools on the Internet and
I primarily used BookList and Bowker’s Books in Print Professional to search for
types of information packages. In addition, I found Amazon.com very helpful in
gauging the interest of buyers who are the patrons librarians serve. By looking at
the circulation statistics, I was able to discover the types of stories that would
further develop the fairytale collection. Fairytales are an interest of mine, so it was
difficult to remain unbiased when searching for tales. However, I found that the
best way to select books for acquisition was to look at both customer and
professional reviews. If both reviews were positive, the book was added to the list
for acquisition. The genre/format/reading level of books I included were children’s
picture books, adult novels, film, audiobooks, young adult novels, non-fiction, and
juvenile books.

D. Ten Different Types of Books to be Added to the Collection

1. Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter by Diane Stanley
The first book that I choose for acquisition was Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter by
Diane Stanley. Upon viewing the circulation statistics, I found that only one
Rumpelstiltskin story was included in the collection, so another would be a good
addition. However, I did not want to include a story that paralleled the story owned
by the library. Therefore, I thought Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter was an excellent

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choice because it poked fun and gave a new spin on the original tale. (The Miller’s
daughter ends up running away from the King and marrying Rumpelstiltskin.
However, their daughter has a run-in with the King and the real story begins
there). The illustrations are humorous and beautiful with the text easy to read and
understand for nine to twelve year olds. Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal,
BookList, Kirkus, and The New York Times Book Review gave the tale excellent
reviews which solidified the decision to include the tale in this acquisition project.
The tale meets criterion of adaptation of traditional fairytales, positive reviews, and
reading levels.
2. Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Cobern, Tzexa
Cherta Lee, and Anne Sibley O’Brien (Illustrator)
The second tale I choose was Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella by Jewell
Reinhart Coburn, Tzexa Cherta Lee, and Anne Sibley O'Brien who illustrated the
tale. The Cazenovia Public Library has an extensive collection of different variations
of Cinderella tales. They circulate quite frequently; therefore, I thought it
necessary to find another variation of the tale of Cinderella in another tradition.
Jouanah’s mother plays a unique role in this variation which is distinctly Hmong but
rare in Cinderella variations. The specific criteria covered included multinational
tales, positive reviews, and variations of traditional fairytales. This tale could be
used for the reading level of kindergarten to third grade, but analysis of the tale
compared to other variations could be used for High School and College students.
3. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
In contrast to the previous two books, the third book I selected was a young
adult novel that drews on a few fairytales but the author created a new
story/fairytale. Fairest, by Gail Carson Levine, painted a world where beauty and
singing ability were of utmost importance. Many girls can identify with the main
character who is awkward and homely. The tale received good reviews from School
Library Journal and BookList who praise the moral choices and fast-pace of the title.
The title is quite popular and has seen good circulation at other libraries.
Interestingly, the reviews do not mention Ella Enchanted or any of the other very
popular titles the author has written which I found helpful when choosing the book.

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

I find that author recognition increases the circulation of books within the library.
Recently, Ella Enchanted was made into a movie which gained excellent reviews
and acquiring this title may entice those fans of the film adaptation.
4. Hanuman: Based on Valmiki's Ramayana, by Erik Jendresen
Another facet of fairytales are myths and folktales. My next section came
from India and is an adaptation of The Ramayana called Hanuman: Based on
Valmiki's Ramayana, by Erik Jendresen. It is important to represent as many
cultures as possible in the fairytale/folklore/mythology section because each patron
has a unique background. This story also had good recommendations from School
Library Journal. There are great moral lessons in addition to being a great story for
young children. The illustrations are vivid and colorful and include a hero monkey
with magical powers. Multinational tales, folklore/mythology, and good reviews
fulfill the criteria for acquisition.
5. Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion by Dugald A. Steer
Review of the circulation records drew me to the next title called Pirateology:
The Pirate Hunter's Companion by Dugald A. Steer. The title Wizardology is a
frequently circulated item and I believe that Pirateology would be a welcome
addition. The text is interactive with many different items to discover. For example
there is a working compass, mini letters to take out and read, and a fictional record
of a pirate hunter and his quest to find the infamous Arabella Drummond. The
book will be popular with children who enjoyed the movie Pirates of the Caribbean,
and other tactile activities. Each child learns and explores differently and the use of
tactile experiences is another way to learn. The illustrations and attention to detail
including descriptions of China, Madagascar, and Nova Scotia make this title a
worthy addition. School Library Journal and Booklist give the title raving reviews
and recommend the addition of this title to the others in the series. The title is
recommended for ages nine to twelve, but could be used in the classroom for much
longer. This selection includes good reviews, an adaptation of tales of pirates, and
reading levels.
6. Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham Klein

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 Another format I was drawn to was the graphic novel. The graphic novel is a
format becoming more popular as the comic book generation grows into adults.
Through research of many titles, I discovered a graphic novel series called Fables:
1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham Klein that has a starred review in
Publishers Weekly. The tales bring fairytale characters into the contemporary
setting of refugees in New York City. Both Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist found
the tales to be both inventive and creative. These titles are not for young children,
even though they are based on traditional European fairytales. Adults and young
adults alike would enjoy the series for its art and creative language. Vertigo
Comics, a division of DC Comics, is known for placing a large emphasis on excellent
writing. Pictorial based books will entice reluctant readers. The Cazenovia Public
Library has been increasing its graphic/comic sections of the library and an addition
of a Vertigo title would enhance the collection greatly.
7. Folktales on Stage by Aaron Shepard
Drama is very popular in Cazenovia with performances by kindergartners,
fourth grade, seventh and eight grade, and high school productions. Therefore,
Folktales on Stage by Aaron Shepard would be a excellent resource for teachers
choosing productions. Folktales and fairytales alike are enjoyed by young and old,
and choosing a familiar tale would draw a greater number of people to the show.
Aaron Shepard, well known for his fairytales and folktales, has option of ordering a
script of the story. Some tales are short and others are longer. The tales are
multinational which would give students the opportunity to study different cultures
encouraging collaboration between teachers. A variety of professionals give
Folktales on Stage excellent reviews and call Shepard a national treasure.
Shepard’s scripts are considered to be the premier collection for reader’s theater.
Although the tale was written in 2003 it is still an excellent addition to the fairytale
collection. R. Demers of Readers Theatre Digest said that the quality of the script is
flawless. These tales are multinational variations of traditional fairytales which
have gained numerous awards making the title a staple for any fairytale collection.
8. A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton

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IST 613 Assignment 2

In sharp contrast is the adult title that I chose for inclusion into the library
collection called A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton. This title is the first in a
series of fairy books for adults. They fall under the genre of both romance and
horror. Hamilton has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for many of the
titles in this series (Merry Gentry). A Kiss of Shadows reinvents the idea of fairies,
selkies, brownies, goblins, and ogres, however, the tales are not suited for children
due to adult content and situations. Publisher’s Weekly and Library Journal both
recommend this title for all public libraries and the title lends itself to repeated
readings. This novel exemplifies how fairy stories are for old and young alike.
American, Welsh, British, and Irish mythology and history place a large role in the
text reinventing the fairytale genre. In the first few books of the series, there is an
element of mystery as the main character is a detective. Machiavellian scheming
also plays a large role in the politics of the fairy court, creating another facet of the
fairy story. The acquisition criteria met in this tale includes a multinational
background, good reviews, and reading level for adults.
9. Pan’s Labyrinth directed by Guillermo del Toro
Film has created another opportunity to tell the tales that have remained a
part of our traditions. Although it has not been released on to VHS or DVD yet,
Pan’s Labyrinth directed by Guillermo del Toro is an excellent example of a new
original fairytale. Although darker than a traditional fairy story, it has the classic
signs of a problem that ends in a happy ending with fantastical elements. The film
is spoken in Spanish (subtitled in English/Spanish) which meets the criteria of
inclusion of different languages in the collection. However, the majority of patrons
are English speakers so the inclusion of subtitles broadens the constituency of the
film. Roger Ebert, from the Chicago Sun Times, a well known and respected film
critic gave Pan’s Labyrinth a raving review. The main character, Ofelia, tells a story
of a blue rose surrounded by briars that gives immortality and might reference the
lore of the blue Meconopsis poppy (Ebert). The film also gained three Oscars for
achievement in cinematography, achievement in makeup, and achievement in art
direction. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts awarded honors for best

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foreign language film, best costume design, and best makeup and hair. The
modern fairytale creates its own fairytale in a multinational setting fulfilling many of
the acquisition criterion.
10. Peter and the Starcatchers by Ridley Pearson, Dave Barry, and
Jim Dale
Lastly, the tenth title I chose for acquisition was Peter and the Starcatchers
by Ridley Pearson, Dave Barry, and Jim Dale in audiobook format (Compact Disc).
Audiobooks have been popular for a long time in the Cazenovia Public Library.
They are a way to multi-task on long car trips and give the opportunity for auditory
learners who cannot focus on reading to still enjoy books. I have also found that
audiobooks are a great help to older people whose eyesight is fading due to
macular degeneration and cataracts. This title is in the young adult category, but
can be enjoyed by any age. The title is a prequel to Peter Pan and imparts the
history behind Neverland, Captain Hook, and much more. The title has received
wonderful reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and AudioFile for the
audiobook and book. The audiobook was the A.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones
Award. The performance on the audiobook was engaging and fast paced even
though the book was quite lengthy. With pirate stories quite popular, this tale
would be a welcome addition to the fairytale collection as it represents a variation
of a fairytale, with good reviews, has received an award, and is a different format.
Developing acquisition criterion and selecting information packages is difficult
because every person has preferences and biases that draw a person to a particular
book. Knowing your patrons and communities tastes aids the librarian. Reading
reviews and checking awards lists give the librarian a basis for comparison of
books. Tools such as OCLC’s Collection Development program inform the librarian
of what they are lacking in the collection. As stated previously, fairytales are a
passion of mine so being aware of the newest titles is an important part of the
acquisition process. Blogs, professional journals, and conversing with patrons are
all good strategies for improving any collection.

III. Part C: Weeding Criteria

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

A. The Criteria for Weeding Figure 2

Weeding is a necessary activity in a Criteria for Weeding

library. Space for books is always at a premium $Age

$Poor Circulation
especially in children’s sections. The children’s $Condition
$Reclassification
fairytale section in the Cazenovia Public Library $Duplication in the Collection
$Incorrect Information
is no different. As Paul Mosher wrote, “a $Useless
$Error in Acquisition
process established to improve the utility and $Fails to Fulfill a Regional Need
cost-benefits of collections for users creates so
high a level of anxiety (Johnson, 139).” Yet if
one thinks about the space wasted on materials that are not doing patrons any
service, the process becomes easier.
The cost of purchasing a book is only part of the expense. Further expenses
include maintenance of both the books and building. There are many reasons for
withdrawal but two of the most common are age and poor condition of books.
However, it is important to understand the many other reasons for withdrawal
including poor circulation, duplication in the collection, improved browsing, no
longer useful to the collection, incorrect information (superseded by new
information), need to replace with more popular fiction, error in original selection
for collection, and it does not fill a regional need. (For a full listing of all withdrawal
titles please see Appendix 2)
B. Withdrawal/Weeding Selections
1. Chi-Lin Purse: A Collection of Ancient Chinese Stories by Linda
Fang
The first book I chose for withdrawal was Chi-Lin Purse: A Collection of
Ancient Chinese Stories by Linda Fang. The initial reason for selection for
withdrawal was poor circulation as it has not been taken out of the library since
2002. For five years, this title has not been taken out by a patron and the space
could be better utilized by a book that patrons will take out. However, the text
itself is also hard to understand with the use of many Chinese words within the
text. The Chinese words were difficult to understand through context and the

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meaning of the words and the glossary in the back of the book was not always very
helpful. Reviews for this title detail how the stories are much better suited for
young adult and adult readers. The lack of circulation could be due to poor
classification of the title. Reclassification might prove to increase circulation of the
title. There are many titles from Chinese sources so I believe the withdrawal of this
title would have very little impact of the overall collection.
2. The Yellow Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
Although a title might have excellent reviews as the case of the next title up
for withdrawal, if patrons will not circulate the title it is not worth retaining the title.
Such is the case for Andrew Lang’s The Yellow Fairy Book. Although both
professional and amateur reviewers enjoyed the text the majority of the readers
were adults. Therefore, as with Chi-Lin Purse a reclassification might improve
circulation of the title. The title has been circulated ten times and has not been
taken out of the library since 2001. If the library collection owned all the Fairy
Books by Lang the retention of this title would be justifiable. Yet, the library does
own three other Fairy Books, however, this title is the only one with poor
circulation. The Green Fairy Book and the Red Fairy Book by Lang enjoy double the
circulation of the Yellow Fairy Book. Also the stories within the Yellow Fairy Book
are duplicated elsewhere the collection. The language is antiquated and, with very
few illustrations, children are not drawn to take out the text.
3. Dateline: Troy by Paul Fleishchman
Dateline: Troy by Paul Fleischman is a confusing addition to the fairytale
section. Upon enter the children’s fairytale section one is accustomed to finding
traditional fairytales. Dateline: Troy does not fit the typical fairytale genre. The
text reads more like a history text than a fantastical tale. The point of view in the
text switches rapidly with the flip of a page. Amazon.com captures the theme of
the text when it wrote, “Fleischman helps young scholars understand the myth
through present-day events and attitudes.” Although the text is about the myth of
Troy, the inclusion of present-day events and attitudes confuses the purpose of the
text. Dateline: Troy would be better serviced if it were reclassified. Similar to

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

other titles up for withdrawal, the circulation of the text is poor with five circulations
and it has not been taken out since 2003. I do not think patrons understand the
purpose of the text and does not fill a need in the collection. There are many titles
that investigate the myth of Troy that would better serve the needs of the
community.
4. The dictionary of folklore by David Adams Leeming
5. The King & the Three Thieves: A Persian Tale by Kristin
Balouch
The next two books I found that should be withdrawn were David Adams
Leeming’s The dictionary of folklore and Kristin Balouch’s The King & the Three
Thieves: A Persian Tale. Both tales have not had any circulation since they were
purchased in 2003 and 2001 respectively. The King & the Three Thieves: A Persian
Tale is a wonderfully colorful tale from Persia that has illustrations much like those
of Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar). No one has taken it out in six years. A
reason might be location because I had difficulty finding the tale when I was
searching for it. The Dictionary of Folklore also might have better circulation if it
were moved to another location. As a reference text, it would be easier to locate
with other dictionaries and reference materials. By weeding the collection of these
too books the collection will be easier to browse and be more cohesive.

6. Bone Button Borsht by Aubrey Davis

7. The Little Juggler; adapted from an old French legend by
Barbara Cooney
Illustrations in both Bone Button Borsht by Aubrey Davis and The Little
Juggler; adapted from an old French legend by Barbara Cooney are the downfall of
the books. Similar to other books mentioned, circulation of these titles is
problematic with five and fourteen times for each of the tales. Bone Button Borsht
is an interesting variation on Stone Soup, however, the library already owns quite a
few versions of this tale and another one is repetitive (has not been taken out since
2003). The tale does not bring anything new to the tale of Stone Soup except
buttons are used instead of a stone. Lastly, The Little Juggler’s illustrations are lack
luster and not as colorful as many of the titles published within the last few years.

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 8. Folktales of the Yeats Country by Eily Kilgannon
9. Some from the Moon Some from the Sun by Margot Zemach
Poems are the source of poor circulation for Folktales of the Yeats Country by
Eily Kilgannon and Some from the Moon Some from the Sun by Margot Zemach.
Both titles might have poor circulation due to their location in the collection. If the
tales were reclassified under other books of poetry then they would have better
circulation. The two tales do not fit in their placement in the collection. In
particular, the illustrations of Some from the Moon Some from the Sun were odd
and not as soft and colorful as other titles in the fairytale collection. The poems
themselves were not in keeping with the fairytale genre. The book appeared to be
out of place around books such as The Night Has Ears : African Proverbs which has
more than quadruple the circulation. If a book is not being properly circulated, it is
not an asset to the collection.
10. Heroes, Outlaws, And Funny Fellows Of American Popular Tales
by Olive Kennon Miller
Lastly, Olive Kennon Miller’s Heroes, Outlaws, And Funny Fellows Of
American Popular Tales lacks any reviews. The text is not popular with patrons
having circulated eight times since its purchase in 1990. Other titles are much
more popular such as Steven Kellogg’s Paul Bunyan which circulated frequently and
is one of the titles included in Miller’s book. The book appears to be a repetition in
the collection. Repetition in a fairytale collection is not necessarily bad, but if the
title has little or no circulation that is a definite problem and the item should be
withdrawn.
C. Effects of Weeding on the Fairytale Collection
Many of the titles weeded are repetitions in the collection. The Cazenovia
Public Library does an excellent job in keeping their fairytale collection well weeded
so finding worthy books for weeding was difficult. The repetitious nature of
fairytales is normal and so weeding becomes personal preference because there are
so many versions or variations of a tales. For example, there are at least twenty
different versions of Cinderella; however, they circulate well because each one is a
bit different whether from a different country, time, illustrator, or adaptation. If

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

one of the versions of Cinderella had little or no circulation withdrawing the title
would become necessary. If there is not a condition problem and patrons are
enjoying the title it is important to keep it part of the collection.
The immediate effect on the collection is accessibility. Patrons will be able to
browse the collection with ease. The collection is currently overflowing and
weeding titles frees up much needed space. Fairytales are published frequently and
it is important to have room to grow. Browsing is important in the library, and one
of the reasons people come to the library in person and do not just browse online.
The ability to touch and look at each item is part of the library experience.
Cohesiveness in the collection is also an important effect. When browsing, patrons
can consistently see only fairytales/folklore/mythology without the distraction of
titles that are miss classified.

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Appendix 1 – Books to Add to Present Collection
Variation of Rumpelstiltskin - Ages 4-8
Stanley, Diane. Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter. New York:
HarperTrophy, 2002.
Price: $6.99

South East Asian Cinderella - Ages 4-8

Coburn, Jewell Reinhart, Tzexa Cherta Lee, Anne Sibley O’Brien.
Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella. Fremont, CA: Shen's Books, May
1996.
Price: $15.95

New Fairytale/Young Adult Adaptation

Levine, Gail Carson. Fairest New York: HarperCollins, 2006.
Price: $11.55

Mythology/Religion – Indian Adaptation of The Ramayana

Jendresen, Eric, Ming Li, Valmiki, and Joshua M. Green. Hanuman:
Based on Valmiki's Ramayana. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press, 1998.
Price: $12.44

Non-Fiction Reference Resource

Lubber, William Captain and Dugald A. Steer. Pirateology: The Pirate
Hunter's Companion. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 2006.
Price: $13.59

Graphic Novels - Involving Fairytale Characters

Klein, Bill Willingham. Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall. New York:
Vertigo, 2006.
Price: $13.59

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

Drama: Fairytale Plays

Shepard, Aaron. Folktales on Stage: Children's Plays for Reader's
Theater (or Readers Theatre), With 16 Play Scripts From World Folk
and Fairy Tales and Legends, Including Asian, African, Middle
Eastern, European, and Native American. Olympia, WA: Shepard
Publications, 2003.
Price: $13.60

Fairy Story - Romance/Fantasy

Hamilton, Laurell K. A Kiss of Shadows. New York, NY: DelRey,
2002.
Price: $12.73

DVD/Foreign Language Film (Subtitled) - Modern Fairytale

Toro, Guillermo del. Pan's Labyrinth. Hendersonville, NC:
Picturehouse, 2006.
Price: TBD at Release (Approx. $21.99)

Book on CD - Juvenile
Pearson, Ridley, Dave Barry, and Jim Dale. Peter and the
Starcatchers. [AUDIOBOOK]. Grand Haven, MI: Brilliance Audio,
2004.
Price: $19.77

Note: Graphics and prices courtesy of Amazon.com

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
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Appendix 2 – Books to Weed from Present Collection

Balouch, Kristen. The King & the Three Thieves: A Persian Tale. New
York: Viking, 2000.
Circulations: 0 times
Last circulation: Never

Cooney, Barbara. The little juggler; adapted from an old French

legend. Canada: Hastings House Publishing, 1982.
Circulations: 5 times
Last circulation: 12/22/01

Fang, Linda. Chi-Lin Purse: A Collection of Ancient Chinese Stories.

Sagebrush, 1999.
Circulations: 12
Last Circulation: 3/26/02

Fleischman, Paul. Dateline: Troy. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 1996.

Circulations: 5 times
Last circulation: 7/14/03

Kilgannon, Eily. Folktales of the Yeats Country. New York: Mercier

Press, 1990.
Circulations: 14
Last Circulation: 3/31/00

Lang, Andrew. The yellow fairy book. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications,
1966.
Circulations: 10
Last Circulation: 8/27/01

Leeming, David Adams. The dictionary of folklore. New York: Franklin

Watts, 2002.
Circulations: 0 times
Last Circulation: Never

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

Davis, Aubrey. Bone Button Borsht. New York: Kids Can Press, Ltd.,
1995.
Circulations: 14 times
Last Circulation: 7/30/03

Miller, Olive Kennon. Heroes, Outlaws, And Funny Fellows Of American

Popular Tales. New York: Cooper Square Press, 1990.
Circulations: 8
Last Circulation: 5/1/02

Zemach, Margot. Some from the Moon Some from the Sun. New York:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001.
Circulations: 1
Last Circulation: 9/26/02

Note: Graphics courtesy of Amazon.com and Scanning of original title.

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

Appendix 3: Titles Recently Added to the Collection

Clibbon, Meg. Imagine You’re a Fairy. Toronto, ON: Annick Press,
2002.
Price: $7.95

Hofmeyr, Dianne. The Stone: A persian Legend of the Magi.

London, England: Frances Lincoln, 2005.
Price: $7.95

Marillier, Juliet. Wildwood Dancing. New York, NY: Knopf Books for
Young Readers, 2007.
Price: $11.55

Moses, Will. Hansel & Gretel. New York: Philomel, 2006.

Price: $12.74

Sanderson, Ruth. The Snow Princess. New York, NY: Little, Brown
Young Readers, 2004.
Price: $16.95

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Heather Turner March 2, 2007
IST 613 Assignment 2

Works Citied
Johnson, Peggy. (2004). Fundamentals of Collection Development &
Management. Chicago: American Library Association.

n.a. (2007). Dateline: Troy. Amazon.com. Retrieved March 2, 2007, from

http://www.amazon.com/Dateline-Troy-Paul-
Fleischman/dp/0763630845/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-3864553-
4771610?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173311604&sr=8-1

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