Collections Overview: Young Adults
6 mins read

Collections Overview: Young Adults

Plano Public Library has something for everyone. Learn about the various library collections in this four-part miniseries under the Library 101 umbrella.

Today, we explore the many options Plano Public Library has for young adults. Whether you yourself are looking for some interesting reading options, or the teenager in your life is looking for something to do, we have you covered.

Young Adult Reading Materials

Our Young Adult collection, robust and expansive, has reading materials targeted primarily for teenagers but often suitable for younger readers and enjoyable for older readers. Check out our offerings below:

Young Adult Fiction

As one of the fastest-growing categories of newly-published materials, our Young Adult collection has burgeoned in recent years. Did you know that a 2012 study showed that more than half of Young Adult books were purchased for an adult reader? Young Adult is for everyone! Genres range from contemporary and romance to dystopian and fantasy, and the collection is ever-expanding.

Not sure what to read? Book bundles are available with picks for middle school and high school readers. Read a testimony from Teen Street Team member Emma about her experience with book bundles for teens!

Audiobooks for teens are also available, in both Playaway and CD book format. In most cases, these formats are interfiled with the rest of the Young Adult collection and can be found on our library shelves. We also have thousands of options for teens on Overdrive, including fiction, nonfiction, audiobooks and even graphic novels. Check it out!


Young Adult Graphic Novels

Our Young Adult Graphic Novel collection does more than offer a middle ground between our Junior Graphic Novel and Adult Graphic Novel collections — it provides a niche of its own, with content and themes perfectly suited for young adults and anyone else who feels like coming of age. This is also where you’ll find the vast majority of our manga selection.

To help determine which books and graphic novels are most suitable for you or your child, check out NoveList, one of our databases! Younger teens can find suggestions on NoveList K-8, while older teens will want to use the full version of NoveList. Use your library card to log in and search books by recommended age, genre and material type. Also, check out our new Grab a Graphic Novel blog series, where we offer suggestions for any type of reader!


Young Adult Nonfiction and Biographies

Much like our Junior Nonfiction collection, the materials in Young Adult tend to be more education-oriented than the more complex adult materials. However, Young Adult Nonfiction tends toward materials that will be academically useful — well-researched sources that offer tools for succeeding in middle and high school courses and researching for assignments.


Young Adult STEAM Kits

STEAM Kits, which offer dozens of educational kits for all ages, center around science, technology, engineering, art and math — fundamental areas of learning that will help prepare your child for the rigors of middle and high school. To learn more, check out our blog post on STEAM Kits in the library for more details about checking out and returning kits.

Young Adult STEAM Kits primarily focus on technological skills, such as coding. Kits such as Bloxels and Raspberry Pi explore the paradigms necessary to further develop a full understanding of the underpinnings of computer science.

Explore our full selection of Teen STEAM Kits in our catalog.


Other Resources for Young Adults

Plano Public Library has so much more to offer teens beyond our collection! Between academics, career preparations, and hobbies, you’ve got a lot going on. See how we can help you out below:

Lone Star Reading List

Each year, the Texas Library Association publishes the Lone Star reading list, a selection of recently-published materials recommended for grades 6 through 8. Check out the 2021 list on their website.

If you are looking to read some of these exemplary titles, Plano Public Library has you covered! Each year we identify Lone Star titles and ensure that we have copies of all of them. Many are already available in our catalog!


Reel Reading

Find a new favorite book or movie with our brand-new virtual book club for teens, Reel Reading! Meet up once a month to talk about your latest obsessions with like-minded individuals.

Check out past Reel Reading write-ups on our blog, and if it sounds like something you’d be interested in, sign up for our next virtual meeting!


College and Career Resources

You have plenty of important decisions ahead of you. Whether you need help picking your career path or want to explore the road to get there, we have something for you. Explore college and career resources on our blog to help you prepare for whatever the future holds.


Tutor.com

Take full advantage of your Plano Public Library card by seeking academic help at Tutor.com. Between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m. each day, stop by for help with a confusing concept in over 40 subjects, or drop off an essay at any time for asynchronous feedback. Get started with Tutor.com with our step-by-step walkthrough of the sign-up process.


Access our eBooks and eAudiobooks through Overdrive or the Libby app, and you can request print books through our holds service in the library catalog. Our eBook collection is robust, with many read-alongs for kids, picture books, juvenile fiction and non-fiction, and young adult reads.

Placing holds is a great way to fast-track your library experience, or access materials not available at your closest library location. Check out this blog post on placing and picking up holds for more information.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *