CCBC-Net Archives
RE: Re: Up for discussion in November: Reviewers Choice? Reading (and Writing) Professional Reviews
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Steward, Celeste <csteward_at_aclibrary.org>
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:53:09 -0800
I use a vendor site when ordering print materials for kids. Reviews from PW, SLJ, Booklist, and the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books are included with many titles. For bestsellers, I frequently buy pre-pub, so sometimes, I don't wait for a review and just use my own knowledge of authors, publishers and popular series. If I see something on the NYT or SF Chronicle bestseller list, I consider it carefully.
Occasionally, I confess to looking at Wikipedia, Amazon and other non-traditional websites, such as blogs or fan sites for any scrap of information that helps me decide whether or not a book will move in our libraries. Let's face it, collection development can be a gamble.
My favorite trade journals are PW and SLJ. I like the layout and variety of both publications, though I wish PW hadn't let their lead columnist go.
Not sure I trust one journal more over the other...because I read so many reviews, I've come to recognize certain reviewer's names and I can discern tendencies and characteristics. This isn't a bad thing but it helps me decide on a title sight unseen. If I see conflicting reviews, I try to remember that reviewers are human and we all have our own unique filters. What one reviewer says is bad is not always the case. The more open-minded and least judgmental reviewers get my attention every time. For children's materials, I see so many reviews of beautiful, worthwhile books but I often wonder how many actually appeal to kids. It's hard to know.
I pay careful attention to starred reviews but I also consider whether or not they will circulate in our branches. Money is tight right now so if a title is too esoteric, I pass--though not very often. I don't like having to sacrifice depth for quantity but this is my reality these days.
Celeste Steward Collection Development Librarian IV Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538 (510)745-1586
Message-----
From: Kathleen T. Horning
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 11:48 AM To: ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu Subject: Re:
Re:
Up for discussion in November: Reviewers Choice? Reading (and Writing) Professional Reviews
Charles Gigna asks: I am curious to know into which publications do they put the most stock when deciding on new books to order. I'll turn it over to those of you who are ordering based on professional
reviews. Which ones do you use? Is there one you put more stock in?
KT
Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-263-3721 FAX: 608-262-4933
horning_at_education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:53:09 -0800
I use a vendor site when ordering print materials for kids. Reviews from PW, SLJ, Booklist, and the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books are included with many titles. For bestsellers, I frequently buy pre-pub, so sometimes, I don't wait for a review and just use my own knowledge of authors, publishers and popular series. If I see something on the NYT or SF Chronicle bestseller list, I consider it carefully.
Occasionally, I confess to looking at Wikipedia, Amazon and other non-traditional websites, such as blogs or fan sites for any scrap of information that helps me decide whether or not a book will move in our libraries. Let's face it, collection development can be a gamble.
My favorite trade journals are PW and SLJ. I like the layout and variety of both publications, though I wish PW hadn't let their lead columnist go.
Not sure I trust one journal more over the other...because I read so many reviews, I've come to recognize certain reviewer's names and I can discern tendencies and characteristics. This isn't a bad thing but it helps me decide on a title sight unseen. If I see conflicting reviews, I try to remember that reviewers are human and we all have our own unique filters. What one reviewer says is bad is not always the case. The more open-minded and least judgmental reviewers get my attention every time. For children's materials, I see so many reviews of beautiful, worthwhile books but I often wonder how many actually appeal to kids. It's hard to know.
I pay careful attention to starred reviews but I also consider whether or not they will circulate in our branches. Money is tight right now so if a title is too esoteric, I pass--though not very often. I don't like having to sacrifice depth for quantity but this is my reality these days.
Celeste Steward Collection Development Librarian IV Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538 (510)745-1586
Message-----
From: Kathleen T. Horning
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 11:48 AM To: ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu Subject: Re:
Re:
Up for discussion in November: Reviewers Choice? Reading (and Writing) Professional Reviews
Charles Gigna asks: I am curious to know into which publications do they put the most stock when deciding on new books to order. I'll turn it over to those of you who are ordering based on professional
reviews. Which ones do you use? Is there one you put more stock in?
KT
Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-263-3721 FAX: 608-262-4933
horning_at_education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
---Received on Tue 10 Nov 2009 12:53:09 PM CST
