The Readers' Advisory Guide to Street Literature, Second Edition

The Readers' Advisory Guide to Street Literature, Second Edition

Street lit, also known as urban fiction, addresses with unflinching grit the concerns and problems of city living and survival in the United States. As a leisure reading genre, street lit encompasses some of the most in-demand titles in American public libraries’ collections. In this new, thoroughly revised edition of her popular guide, Irvin’s coverage of street lit is fortified by professional narratives from her experiences as a public librarian in Philadelphia, an updated treatment of canonical and contemporary book titles, and scholarly references that reflect her research background in library and information science. Attuned to the needs of novices and devotees alike, Irvin sketches out the rich history of the urban fiction, showing why it appeals so strongly to readers and providing a quick way for street lit novices to get up to speed on understanding the genre; - demonstrates why promoting street lit means promoting literacy; - explores how authors, readers, and librarians read and respond to the genre and one another; - covers a variety of subgenres in terms of scope, popularity, style, major authors, and works; - shares approaches to readers’ advisory (RA) founded on creating trust between the patron and the librarian; and - offers pointers on collection development and library programming. "Accessible chapters about the history and characteristics of street lit clearly define the differences between it and other types of urban fiction. Irvin provides ample examples of classics (pre-1990s), modern classics (1990s–2000s), and contemporary works, through which she demonstrates how library workers can develop inclusive collections, conduct effective reader’s advisory, and create engaging displays and programming ... As evidenced by the popularity of  New York Times –bestselling books such as Angie Thomas’s  The Hate U Give , street lit continues to be a reflection of readers’ realities, making this readers’ advisory guide a must-purchase for library professionals." — Library Journal (starred review) "Irvin's guide to street lit follows the basic format of the ALA Editions series, introducing readers' advisory staff to popular genres, including readalikes, key authors, and appeal factors. But she notes that while the first edition was intended to 'explain, almost justify' street lit as a literary genre, the second is intended to solidify its place in the canon. With this in mind, chapters have been rearranged, and a new epilogue has been added to situate the street lit in a historical and literary tradition that extends back to the urban narratives of Charles Dickens and Stephen Crane ... Practical, accessible, and inspiring, this guide is highly recommended for public library staff, whether they work in large urban areas or small towns." — Booklist Vanessa Irvin is an Associate Professor of Library Science at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. With a frontline librarian career spanning over four decades, Dr. Irvin teaches reference and information services, public libraries, and reading response theory for librarians. Vanessa's research focuses on integrating cultural heritage methodologies with librarians' work practices for professional learning and development.