Using eARCS for Collection Development

A warm welcome to Hanna Collins who joins our contributors as the newest YSS blogger. Hanna is the Youth Services Librarian at Slinger Community Library. Previously, she was a School Media Specialist in Indianapolis for 13 years. She received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Ball State University and a Master’s in Library Science from Indiana University. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband and dictatorial cat. 

In this post, Hanna walks us through preview sites for upcoming books.

Many librarians have heard of Edelweiss and NetGalley, two websites that allow publishers to offer preview copies of upcoming books. Are you utilizing these free tools to help with collection development at your library?

I began using Edelweiss and NetGalley several years ago as a school Media Specialist in Indiana. As I served a diverse population, I was anxious to find out about upcoming titles that featured kids that looked like my students. On Edelweiss, I could easily narrow down results by category to feature juvenile fiction and nonfiction. NetGalley allowed me to set preferred categories and easily view new titles.

Categories on Edelweiss allow me to see popular titles

Now as a Youth Services Librarian in Slinger, I can use both platforms for more collection development. Some titles are immediately viewable using the website, but most require an approval process. After giving information about your professional credentials, you are able to request titles, which are sometimes approved immediately or within a day or two. As an avid Kindle reader, I appreciate that I could set up both accounts to deliver titles directly to my device.

Sample downloading prompt on Edelweiss

Both platforms ask that you leave an honest review in exchange for the preview copy, though it does not seem to be a requirement. It’s a great way to become more knowledgeable about the publishing world and what’s upcoming in your field. On a personal level, it’s also fantastic to get to read new titles before anyone else! Who wouldn’t like to get an advanced copy of the new Jerry Craft or Angie Thomas book?

Sample Review on Edelweiss

Most of the books I have loved and I’ve ordered many for my library. However, it’s also been helpful in identifying books that would not suit our collection. Several titles I have passed over after previewing on one of the platforms. I’ve left honest reviews and have still been granted access to other titles from the same publisher.

Edelweiss also offers access to catalogs, which have been immensely useful. Some catalogs even offer full-access previews to picture books. It has made me even more knowledgeable about current trends in children’s literature, even if I don’t end up purchasing titles for my library.

Inside a HarperCollins catalog on Edelweiss

A bonus feature for NetGalley is its app! Much like the Kindle app, you can send both ebooks and eaudiobooks straight to your device. You can also ‘favorite’ publishers and become auto-approved after you’ve left feedback.

In short, NetGalley and Edelweiss have been powerful tools I use daily at my job. I have become more knowledgeable about trends in children’s and young adult books, allowing me to make informed decisions about what to purchase