Choosing a Title
Once you have considered your stakeholders, framework, and brand, it is time to pick your title.
Picking a title is a delicate balancing act between an awareness of current events, an understanding of the campus and its interests, and finding something that will appeal to a larger group. It is also, quite frankly, a fun activity.
You may be making choices between:
- Fiction and Non-Fiction
- Adult, Young Adult, Middle Reader, or Children’s
- Themes such as social justice, inclusivity, etc.
- Are there other choices that you need to make?
Tools for Title Choice
Here are some tools to help you locate titles that are current, relevant, diverse, and engaging.
- Consider #OwnVoices Titles. Here is Bibliocommons’ curated list of some of the most popular #ownvoices young adults novels (defined as: titles about diverse characters written by authors from that same diverse group). This list was put together by the Portland Public Library.
- Consider diverse YA Titles. School Library Journal’s “Must-Have YA Titles” is a list of 42 titles recommended for all libraries. SLJ is the premiere publication for librarians and information specialists who work with children and teens.
- YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) lists their Book Awards and Selected Booklists titles, and links out to The Coretta Scott King Awards, the Rainbow List, and other notable winners.
