Library and Learning Resources Faculty Research & Creative Works

Abstract

Perspectives on the inclusion of popular reading titles within academic libraries have varied over the past few decades. While literature on the purpose of subject-specific fiction titles within academic reading collections exists, research on subject-specific non-fiction items is absent from the literature. The authors of this study recognize the ways in which popular business titles serve numerous purposes within their own institutions. As such, this study seeks to explore the holdings of popular business titles within academic libraries, and whether their physical location can provide an understanding of the perceptions of business leisure reading within academic research institutions. This study examines selected data from the catalogs of the 39 American Business Library Directors (ABLD) libraries within the United States, a diverse group of libraries that all have a strong business library presence. The results of the study show nuances in terms of where popular business titles are located but indicate that most libraries include popular business titles within their collections. Overall, this study aims to advance the literature on subject-specific leisure reading materials as well as help to better understand the perceptions of collection purpose and the permanency of specific genres. Recommendations are made regarding how to further study the perceptions, impacts, and purposes of popular business titles within academic libraries.

Department(s)

Library and Learning Resources

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Preprint

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Publication Date

2024

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