Mr. Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister responsible for Youth, allow me to make a plea to you concerning the selection of books by public libraries in connection with government orientations, namely “promoting the discovery and consumption of Quebec works” and “bring young people more in contact with Quebec’s cultural offerings.
It’s because the current nebulous selection process does not favor Quebec literature as much as it should, especially for so-called young adult readership.
What are the criteria actually taken into account by people who select books for libraries? Who are these people, exactly, and what is their expertise? What exactly is the role of booksellers in this process? Even the people at the heart of this mysterious mechanism do not seem able to answer these questions which concern them by name.
What is certain is the fact that the designated booksellers do not really present the books they receive, which is nevertheless their responsibility in the course of the selection operation. The result is that no information is provided to librarians on the number of literary novelties, first and foremost if it is a Quebec author, even if a book aims to inform on the history and culture of French-speaking Quebec. The fact that a novel is aimed at a young adult readership is not always indicated either.
Not surprising then that several books pass under the radar of the selectors and selectors of the municipal and school libraries. It is also not surprising that these people make their choice based on personal preferences hidden under general guidelines. Of course, the marketing campaigns of the publishing houses that have the means, the literary chronicles that look like advertisements and the often overrated notoriety of well-known authors also come into play. Mediocre foreign works easily pass through these gaping nets, while excellent Quebec books will not pass the ramp, for lack of a selection based on their intrinsic value.
I am told that each library is responsible for determining the directions for the development of its collection. I’m in. But to apply these orientations, it is still necessary to take the trouble to verify concretely whether this or that book responds to them.
This is why, Mr. Lacombe, I appeal to your prerogative to ensure that any new publication by Quebec authors enjoys at least the privilege of being read by the people who select books for libraries in prior to their decision whether or not to add it to their catalogue. I also suggest that the booksellers mandated to “present” new releases fully assume this responsibility.
Libraries provide access to books from here; but books from here don’t all have the same access to libraries.