Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/41019
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

> Because of the "or", I assume the book doesn't have to be appropriate for both children and young adults.

Correct.

The Library of Congress first lumps things into two big groups based on whether it's appropriate for anyone of any age up to and including high school, and that's what they're asking you here. Later on, they will sub-categorize the work further ([see this page](https://www.loc.gov/aba/cyac/about.html)), but you don't have to worry about that here.

All the form is asking you is whether the work's primary audience is adults or sub-adults. The intital concern is identifying material that isn't appropriate for younger age groups, so that an elementary school library doesn't end up with 50 Shades of Gray.

(Another way to read the question would be: "Did you write this book intending it to be read by people who haven't reached adulthood yet?")

As for how this information is used by interested parties, it's really just there to help them find what they may be looking for, or know at a glance what they're looking at. Different institutions/educators/etc. use it in different ways at different times depending on their needs. It's simply meant to facilitate searching and categorization.

Besides, your response isn't set down in stone. What if someone mistakenly answered the question incorrectly, or the reviewers simply don't agree with your classification? So don't stress. Whatever you decide to answer here won't cause drastic, irreparable consequences.

Original score: 3