Selection

Selection is the process of looking at books for the library collection.

Criteria for selection

• For buying, is it suitable for the library?
  o Content
  o Physical format
  * Libraries want quality binding. In 2004 we asked ourselves how much longer would VHS be collected for? Do you want print or electronic formats?
• Purpose, Scope and Audience
• o Look at reviews and publishers. Does the purpose match the clientele? Does it indicate the reading level? Is that a reading level suitable for the clientele?
• Difficulty
  o Reading level
• Authority, Honesty and Credibility of the author
  o Is the author well known? Are they an expert in their field? Are the reviews good?
• Subject matter
  o Do a lot of people cite that author’s work? Does articles appear in periodicals? A re they quality researched books?
• Comparison
  o Look at reviews of books the library already has on the subject. Does this book add anything to the field?
• Timeliness
  o Big publications sell most of their copies within the first five years. Non-fiction publications are only valid within two years of publication for good information.
• Accuracy
• Impartiality
• Literary merit
• Arrangement and organization
• Curriculum support
• Demand
• Local content

Physical format

• Format
  o Does the format suit the purpose of the book, and for the user? E.g. language, on audio/video, and for seniors large type books and on tape/CD.
• Binding
  o Patrons prefer paperbacks, so laminate the covers for protections. Those with ‘nice’ covers (perhaps illustrative, bright), are more popular than those with ‘boring’ covers. Try to avoid books with spiral/teeth binding, as these materials need to be repaired sooner rather than later, and often. 
• Appearance
  o Hardcovers can look boring without their dust jackets, losing appeal.
• Illustrations
  o Illustrations are important in both non-fiction and fiction books. Colour is more appealing, as are photographs over pictures. Are they appropriate?
• Size
• Price
• Series

Selection aids
Resources that allow informed decisions

• Current sources for in-print books
• Catalogues, flyers, announcements
  o from publishers
• Best books, recommended lists and core collections
• Current review sources
  o Libraries rely on these aids heavily, check online regularly
• Subject bibliographies
  o Specialities
• National bibliographies
  o e.g. Canadiana, access over Amicus to access bibliographies worldwide

Current sources for in-print books

• Books in Printo Forthcoming Books in Printo Paperback Books in Print* 8 printed volumes contain titles and authors. 5 volumes contain subject
  * volumes available in print, on CD or by Internet, all with or without reviews
  * Only relevant to U.S. titles
• Canadian Books in Printo Huge 2 volume contain author, title and subject
• Whitaker’s Books in Print (UK)
  o Available online
• Cumulative Book Index (Wilson)
  o Reference only

Types of current review sources

• Reviews for trade, professional booksellers and librarians
  o Promotional
  * In Publishers Weekly. These are informative reviews wanting to sell the book, not evaluative, so won’t tell the whole truth
  o Evaluative
  * Will tell the truth about books, not always recommending them, similar to critical (slamming books, but wouldn’t say it’s not recommended)
• Reviews for subject specialists (professional journal reviews)
  o ALA produces Booklist (public), Choice (academic)
  o School Library Journal (K-12)
  o Library Journal (Adults)
  * Some libraries use all three titles, especially large academic and public libraries. Lots of libraries will subscribe to at least the suitable publication.
• Reviews for general public
  o In newspaper stands, yet deemed highly influence
• Promotional review sources
  o Publisher’s Weekly
  * not always promotional, wants to help publisher sell
  o Kirkus Reviews

Evaluative review sources

• Booklist
• Books in Canadao reviews Canadian books
• Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Bookso from Illinois library school graduates; highly respected
• Choiceo academic break down by subject
  o highly critical
  o can base selection on reviews – if review is bad, the book is likely to be
• CM Canadian Materialso http://umanitoba.ca/cm/
  o material has to be published in Canada before it is reviewed
  o highly respected
• Horn Book
• Library Journalo school libraries
• School Library Journalo school libraries

Limitation of reviews

• Most books are only reviewed once, if at all
  o take a closer look before buying
• Time lag
  o some reviews aren’t written/published
  o some reviews aren’t available until after demand dies
• Some sources only publish favorable reviews
• Competence of Reviewers

Review sources for the general public
Major magazines and newspapers contain book reviews. These include Canada’s National Post.

• Macleans
• Newsweek
• Time
• Globe & Mail
• New York Times Book Reviewo Weekly section reviewing high quality
• Radio and TV shows
  o e.g. Oprah Winfrey
• Times Literary Supplemento British version of New York Times Book Review

Finding out where a book has been reviewed
Often subscribe and look at websites monthly. Sources will help recommended reviews.

• Book Review Digesto published monthly
  o includes review excerpts
  o non-fiction must be reviewed twice, fiction three, at least once in Canada
• Book Review Indexo monthly reviews
  o citations only
• Canadian Periodical Index
• Canadian Book Review Annualo print
  o lists where books have been reviewed
• CBCAo periodical/journal/book reviews
  o includes major Canadian books
• EBSCOhost (and many others)

Some good internet sites

• Acqweb’s Directory of Book Reviews on the Web http://acqweb.org/bookrev.html
  o list of book review web sites
• CM: Canadian Materials http://umanitoba.ca/cm/
  o Canadian only
• Yahoo Directory of Book Reviews http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/Literature/Reviews/
  o “lots of different websites”
• Login Brothers http://lb.ca/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/lbhome?

Online bookstores will also link to excellent review sources.

Best books, recommended lists etc.

• Wilson catalogs
  o part of H.W. Wilson, their books are called ‘catalogs’
  o provides list of basic titles all libraries should have
  o They recommend American Best of Best
  o Libraries can use as a checklist
  o Hard volume published every 5 years
  o supplements also available
  o highly respected
  o provides cataloguing information
  * Children’s catalog
  * Fiction catalog
  * Public Library catalog
  * Middle and Junior High School Library catalog
  * Senior High School catalog
• Brodart’s Elementary School Collection
  o pre-school to grade 6 titles
  o Dewey Decimal
• Brandon-Hill lists
  o medical field
  o highly respected
  o several lists
  * medical
  * nursing
  * health sciences

Subject and national bibliographies

• Bibliographie de France
• British National Bibliography
• Canadianao Canada
• Deutsch Bibliolgraphieo German
• Requires government documentations from the bibliographies

Publisher’s flyers, etc.
promotional

• Catalogues
  o also available online
  o easier to circulate
  o lists tables of contents
• Flyers
  o pre-publication flyers, sees how much interest is available before mass producing
  o e-mails new offers
  o lists tables of contents
• Brochures
• Web sites