Item Attributes - Genre
Concepts
Genre is defined as: "a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content"; it is generally applied to works of fiction to indicate what the given work
is.
In OWWL copy records, we use Genre a little more loosely, describing fiction, videos, or other relevant materials.
Genre is used in conjunction with the
Reports Shelflist By Shelf Location report to provide statistical and collection analysis information about your materials.
Genre is OPTIONAL; if your library does not use genre terms, select NOT APPLICABLE for this field. If your library does use genre, use it consistently!
Genre list and definitions
This is an evolving list! If you think something could be added, send a request to
evergreen@pls-net.org.
Value |
Definition |
Western |
A work set in the American West usually during the last half of the 19th century |
Urban fiction |
A work which usually features characters living in inner-city enclaves and involved in drug dealing, gang violence, and/or prostitution for the purposes of street survival or as a means of gaining wealth or idependance |
Thriller / Suspense |
A work in which the central conflict focuses on an urgent sense of imminent jeopardy impacting the protagonist, his or her loved ones, or even the whole world |
Sports |
A work that uses sports and athletics as the main focus of the plot, theme, or setting |
Short Story |
A work of short-length fiction |
Science fiction |
A work incorporating various types of science into its story, settings, characters, and the challenges that they must overcome; scientific details contribute to the contextual storyline as well as the world created within the novel |
Romance |
A work in which a love interest between the main protagonists drives the narrative |
Realistic |
A work set in modern times that focus on realistic events, characters, and settings |
Poetry |
A work which uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, the superficial or prosaic meaning |
Picture Book |
Combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children |
Paranormal |
A work involving elements of the paranormal, such as ghosts, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, and any sort of magical or otherworldly creatures |
Not Applicable |
|
Mystery |
A work in which the focus is on the process of solving a crime, rather than the details of the crime itself |
Musical |
A film in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing |
Literacy |
Materials that support reading and writing skills |
LGBTQ |
A work that focus on characters and themes in the lesbian, gay, transgender, and questioning community |
Large Print |
Books printed with large type |
Kit, Educational |
Collections of materials inteded to support learning |
Kit, Activity |
Collections of materials intended for hands-on play |
Instructional |
A work in which the intent is to instruct the reader/viewer in some practical skill |
Inspirational |
A work that telsl the stories of people overcoming adversity, or reaching new levels of understanding, through their own efforts or through the help of a higher power |
Horror |
A work in which the intent is to horrify the protagonist and in so doing scare the reader |
Holiday |
A work related to a specific holiday or special occasion |
Historical |
A work in which the plot and story transpire during a distinct era in the past |
Graphic |
A work composed of sequential drawings arranged in interrelated panels to form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions |
Folk & Fairy tale |
A work that typicaly features characters such as fairies, elves, witches, etc, employing magic or enchantments |
Fantasy |
A work that uses magic and other supernatural elements as the main focus of plot, theme, and/or setting |
Easy Reader |
Beginner's reading level books |
Dystopian |
A work that explores social and political structures of a horrible or degraded society that is generally headed to an irreversible oblivion |
Drama |
A work usually involving serious or intense conflicts, emotions, or events |
Documentary |
A nonfictional motion picture intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record |
Comedy |
A work intended to amuse |
Classic |
A work that stands the test of time and merits lasting recofgnition |
Board Book |
Board books |
Biography |
A detailed description or account of a person's life, including intimate details of experience, and may include an analysis of the subject's personality |
Big Book |
Large scale children's books, used for story hour programs |
Adventure |
A work in which action is the key element, overshadowing characters, theme and setting |