Austin Public Library Youth Material Levels

Picture - E

Fiction Books:
Intended audience: Preschool - Grade 2
Books in this collection are 32 pages in length (occasionally 40 or 48), have pictures on every page, and are intended to be read in a single sitting. Many have a reading level above that of the intended audience, and are meant to be read to the child by a more competent reader.

Non-Fiction Books:
Intended audience: Preschool - Grade 2
Books in this collection are picture-book format informational books written for the target audience. We are no longer classifying new non-fiction books as E. But the category remains for items already classified as E, and their replacements/additions. E level non-fiction is intershelved, by call #, with the J non-fiction.

Audiobooks:
Intended audience: Preschool - Grade 2
Audiobooks in this collection are audio versions of books classified at this level. In some cases they are audio-only, in other cases they are a book accompanied by an audio recording of the text.

Videos:
Videorecordings in this collection are items in VHS and DVD formats intended for the Preschool to 2nd grade audience. Non-fiction titles will cover things including potty training and baby sign-language. Fiction titles will include those based on characters such as Dora the Explorer, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, etc., who appear in books and television programs intended for the target audience.

Early Reader - E1

Books:
Intended audience: Beginning readers
Books in this collection are written expressly for children learning to read, and are so designated by the publisher. They are written with a controlled vocabulary and syntax, and employ visual clues in the illustrations to assist kids learning to read. Both Fiction and Non-Fiction books are classified as E1, and those collections are shelved adjacent to one another.

Audiobooks:
Intended audience: Beginning readers
Audiobooks in this collection are audio versions of books classified at this level. In some cases they are audio-only, in other cases they are a book accompanied by an audio recording of the text.

Videos:
Intended audience: Beginning readers
Videorecordings in this collection video are versions of books classified at this level. We are no longer classifying new videorecordings as E1. But the category remains for items already classified as E1, and their replacements/additions.

Primary - J

Fiction Books:
Intended audience: Grades 3-7
Books in this collection include short illustrated chapter books and longer texts of interest to and appropriate for middle grade children. Children often enjoy reading about people a little older than themselves, so protagonists in J level books may be as old as 13 or 14. Fiction books classified as J do not contain explicit sexuality or language. They may, however, address topics that some might find troublesome (homosexuality, puberty, dysfunctional family life, etc.) at a level appropriate to the intended audience.

Non-Fiction Books:
Intended audience: Preschool - Grade 7
Books in this collection are informational books written for the target audience, covering a wide variety of subject matter. Non-fiction books classified as J may address topics that some might find troublesome (dinosaurs, human sexuality, warfare, etc.) at a level appropriate to the intended audience. With the exception of beginning reader texts classified as E1, all new non-fiction for children is classified as J.

Graphic Novels:
Intended audience: Grade 3-7.
Books in this collection are self-contained stories in a single binding using a comic book-like layout, intended for the target audience. Graphic novels classified as J do not contain explicit sexuality or language. They may, however, address topics that some might find troublesome (homosexuality, puberty, dysfunctional family life, etc.) at a level appropriate to the intended audience. In some cases a graphic novel series may begin with books with J level content and move into books with Y level content. In those cases the Austin Public Library youth services staff will work to move the entire series to a Y level classification.

Audiobooks:
Intended audience: Grade 3-7.
Audiobooks in this collection are audio versions of books classified at this level. In some cases they are audio-only, in other cases they are a book accompanied by an audio recording of the text.

Videos:
Intended audience: Preschool - Grade 7
Videorecordings in this collection include items in VHS and DVD formats intended for the target audience, fiction and non-fiction. Feature Films with an MPAA rating of G or PG go into the J video collection. Feature films with an MPAA rating of PG-13 or above go into the adult video collection. When a book classified as J is made into a movie rated PG-13, the book and the video will be separated. When books in a series are made into movies with different MPAA ratings, the videos may be separated, too.

Teen - Y

Fiction Books:
Intended audience: Grades 8-12
Books in this collection include texts of all lengths intended for the target audience. Teens often enjoy reading about people a little older than themselves, so protagonists in Y level books may be as old as 19 or 20. Books classified as Y may contain explicit sexuality or language and may address topics that some might find troublesome (homosexuality, puberty, dysfunctional family life, etc.) at a level appropriate to the intended audience.

Non-Fiction Books:
Intended audience: Grades 8-12
Books in this collection are browseable informational books of high interest to the target audience, covering a wide variety of subject matter. Non-fiction books classified as Y may address topics that some might find troublesome (tattoos, role-playing, sexuality, etc.) at a level appropriate to the intended audience. Books in this collection are shelved adjacent to the Y fiction collection.

Graphic Novels:
Intended audience: Grade 8-12.
Books in this collection are self-contained stories in a single binding using a comic book-like layout, intended for the target audience. Graphic novels classified as Y may contain explicit sexuality or language and may address topics that some might find troublesome (homosexuality, puberty, dysfunctional family life, etc.) at a level appropriate to the intended audience. In some cases a graphic novel series may begin with books with J level content and move into books with Y level content. In those cases the Austin Public Library youth services staff will work to move the entire series to a Y level classification.

Audiobooks:
Intended audience: Grade 8-12.
Audiobooks in this collection are audio versions of books classified at this level. In some cases they are audio-only, in other cases they are a book accompanied by an audio recording of the text.

For further information, please contact:

Youth Services Manager
Austin Public Library
(512) 974-7405