Endangered Series #17: Junie B. Jones
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.
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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.
Junie B. Jones (Series) by Barbara Park, illustrated by Denise Brunkus
This series began in 1992 with Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, and concluded with Junie B. Jones: Turkeys We Have Loved, #28 in the series, in 2012.
The Case for Keeping: The series is officially in the “classic” zone. It’s a character that is still known widely in elementary schools.
The Case for Not: Circulations are down, and our copies are looking pretty beat up (well-loved). It’s the moment when you think “Should we re-order, or not?
Refresh? The series recently received a (fairly subtle) paperback cover refresh.
My Verdict: We’re keeping them. Circulation is lower than in the past, but steady, and kids will occasionally still ask for Junie B. by name.
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 #13: The English Roses
Endangered Series #14: Marvin Redpost
Endangered Series #15: Little Critter
Endangered Series #16: Spiderwick Chronicles
Filed under: Endangered Series
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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Junie B. Jones experienced a resurgence of popularity at our library when we were closed and only offering library takeout! I expect many people went back to old favourites since they couldn’t browse in person. I ended up having to reorder some of this series to fill holds as the requests piled up!
I’m not keeping as many in my public library. This was easily a 3 copy per title series minimum. I’m down to 2 and in some cases only 1 and I’m ok with that. I’m part of a 15 library system which is part of a 34 library consortium. Patrons have access even if they don’t have immediate access here in the building.