One of the primary professional responsibilities of a Media Specialist is the development of a quality collection, which supports the instructional program of the school and student personal interest. Standard selection tools are used to assist the Media Specialist in the evaluation of all materials and in the development of recommended lists for purchase. Publishers’ catalogs are not selection tools but merely lists of materials available for purchase and should not be consulted until these recommended lists for purchase have been developed. Standard selection tools include:
Basic Collection Catalogs These resources provide lists of standard titles recommended for inclusion in any school library. Media Specialists should analyze their collections against these tools in order to ensure the quality of the basic collection and should order those missing titles which support the instructional program of the school.
Elementary Schools
Children’s Catalog (H.W. Wilson) -- Recommended basic collection of over 6,000 titles. Published every 5 years with annual supplements. Classified catalog arranged by Abridged Dewey with separate fiction, easy and story collections. Indexed by author, title and subject.
Elementary School Library Collection -- (Bordart) Recommended basic collection of over 13,000 titles. Annotations for books and AV materials. Indexed by author, title and subject. Readability levels indicated.
Junior High School Library Catalog (H.W. Wilson) -- Recommended basic collection of over 3,000 titles. Published every 5 years with annual supplements. Classified catalog arranged by Abridged Dewey with separate fiction, easy and story collections. Indexed by author, title and subject.
High Schools
Books for Secondary School Libraries -- (Bowker) 9,000 recommended nonfiction titles for secondary school, arranged by Dewey classification.
Senior High School Library Catalog -- (H.W. Wilson) Recommended basic collection of over 5,000 titles. Published every 5 years with annual supplements. Classified catalog arranged by Abridged Dewey with separate fiction, easy and story collections. Indexed by author, title and subject.
Review Sources These resources provide reviews of new materials as they are published. Media specialists should consult these resources frequently and order recommended titles, which support the instructional program of the school. These resources may be consulted in print or online, some through subscription.
Booklisthttp://www.booklistonline.com -- Publishes favorable reviews of new publications, both print and AV, written by librarians or editors. Highly recommended reviews are starred. Published bi-monthly. Also available online.
Book Report -- Reviews books and AV (grade 5 and up), rating: “highly recommended,” “recommended,” “optional purchase,” and “not recommended.” Journal includes articles and management tips of professional interest.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Bookshttp://bccb.ischool.illinois.edu-- Critical evaluation of 65 books per month, some favorable, some marginal, by librarians, teachers and subject specialists.
Kirkus Reviewshttps://www.kirkusreviews.com -- Bi-monthly review of adult and children’s books. Especially noted for reviews of fiction.
School Library Journalhttp://www.slj.com -- Provides favorable and unfavorable reviews of new publications, both print and AV, written by librarians only. Highly recommended reviews are starred. Journal includes articles and news of professional interest.
VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)http://voyamagazine.com -- Reviews books and AV materials, including reprints and professional materials.
Recommended Lists Developed each year by various organizations to spotlight quality materials published that year,. Media Specialists should consult these lists annually and order recommended materials that support curricular needs and student personal interest of each school population.
Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studieshttp://www.socialstudies.org/notable -- Compiled annually by a committee of educators working with the National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council.
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Childrenhttp://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/ -- Selected and evaluated by educators working with the National Science Teachers Association and the Children’s Book Council.