1. Diversifying Popular Reading in an Academic Library
Arthur Aguilera
Collection Analyst Librarian
University of Colorado Boulder
(He/His/Him)

2. Why have a Popular Reading Collection?
Comprehension of academic texts
Promotes civic participation
Helps develop higher order reasoning skills
Better access to non academic material
Develops the whole student
Why have a Popular Reading Collection?

3. CU Boulder Popular Reading Collection
~ Lease program
~ Titles covering 35+ genres
~ Updated every 2-3 months while school is in session
~ Spread across two different areas on campus

4. Management Tools Microsoft Access
Combining BISAC Subject Headings with ILS Data
Assign multiple subject headings to one title
Create reports
Captures historical information that may be deleted from ILS
BISAC Subject Headings
Book Industry Standards and Communications
Industry-approved subject descriptors

5. BISAC Subject Headings

6. Create Query to Combine
General Process
Assign BISAC
Assign BISAC Subject Headings to each title after uploading your title list to Access.
Download ILS Data
Download usage data from your ILS, including circulation count, patron type information, and bibliographic record numbers.
Create Query to Combine
Using the bibliographic record number as a matchpoint, query your circulation data with the master title list in order to add BISAC subject headings.
Analyze & Decide
Make your decision based on topics of interests or topics missing from your collection.

7. Table showing Current Collection

8. Combining BISAC Headings with Circulation Data

9. Example Queries

10. Custom Topic Queries & Reports

11. Discoverability

13. School shootings
School violence
Gun control
Violence
History
Social Science / Violence in Society
Biography & Autobiography / Social Activists
History / United States / 21st Century

14. Thank you! arthur.aguilera@colorado.edu

15. References
Brookbank, E., Davis, A., & Harlan, L. (2018). Don’t Call It a Comeback: Popular Reading Collections in Academic Libraries. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 58(1), doi:
Rathe, B. & Blankenship, L. (2006). Recreational Reading Collections in Academic Libraries, Collection Management,30:2, 73-85, DOI: /J105v30n02_06