Endangered Series #16: Spiderwick Chronicles

Popularity comes, popularity goes. As librarians we’re always balancing between what will circulate like crazy and what we need to have in the collection. And we’re not the Library of Congress – we can’t (and shouldn’t) keep everything.

An endangered series is one that appears to be waning in terms of popularity. But popularity isn’t everything. Should it stay, or should it go? Or think of it this way – if you were starting a library today, would this series make the cut? Let’s discuss.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Series) by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

This series began with The Field Guide in 2003 and ended with The Wrath of Mulgerath in 2004. Companion books and a spin-off series Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles followed. The series also received a boost in 2008 when a film adaptation was released.

The Case for Keeping: While the series is 17 years old, these books are still fun to read and visually appealing.

The Case for Not: Interest has cooled quite a bit around here – is it time to make way for something new?

Refresh? The series received a special edition refresh in 2013

My Verdict: We are hanging on to it for now. This is a series that could definitely start circulating again after a library book talk.

What are you doing with this series at your library?

Previously:

Endangered Series #1: The Boxcar Children

Endangered Series #2: The Hardy Boys

Endangered Series #3: American Girl

Endangered Series #4: The Baby Sitter’s Club

Endangered Series #5: The Bailey School Kids

Endangered Series #6: Nate the Great

Endangered Series #7: Cam Jansen

Endangered Series #8: The Kids of the Polk Street School

Endangered Series #9: Pony Pals

Endangered Series #10: Little Bill

Endagered Series #11: Animal Ark

Endangered Series #12: Arthur

Endangered Series #13: The English Roses

Endangered Series #14: Marvin Redpost

Endangered Series #15: Little Critter

Filed under: Reviews