Romance in the Stacks: The Prevalence of Romance Fiction in Academic Libraries

Prior research has examined the appeal of romance novels for its predominantly female readership. However, there is a lack of research on romance novels in academic library collections. Research studies have proven the relevance of browsing and recreational reading collections in academic libraries; certain studies have even shown that recreational reading for college students helps with academic achievement. Despite these findings, recreational reading promotion in academic libraries has been on the decline for several decades. This study was designed to investigate the catalog holdings of romance titles (which included two lists of classic and contemporary romances) held at the libraries of five North Carolina colleges and universities. The study shows that all five academic institutions hold more than 90% of the classic titles. However, the collections in these libraries do not include many of the contemporary titles. Only one library held more than 20% of those titles