Endangered Series #24: Santa Paws

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.

Santa Paws (series) by Nicolas and Kris Edwards

This paperback series about a German Shepherd mix dog ran from 1996 to 2006, spanning nine books. Books 1-6 and 9 were written by Nicolas Edwards (pen name for Ellen Emerson White). Books 7 and 8 were written by Kris Edwards.

The Case for Keeping: Dogs and Christmas – a near PB&J level of synergy. Well played, Scholastic. This enticing combo has kept these books on the shelf at our elementary school library for over 15 years now . . .

The Case for Not: . . . but this paperback series is showing its age, with yellowed pages hanging on for dear life. And, I just have to be honest here, the overall look has become slightly dated, which hurts shelf appeal.

Refresh? At this point, the books all appear to be out of print. I do think this series is prime pickings for a reboot, but for now the refresh options are nil.

My Verdict: They are on our shelf, but the numbers are dwindling as we weed copies in bad condition.

What are you doing with this series at your library? Anyone willing to fess up that they still have these on the shelf?

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