Re: Query: Choosing books -tracking reviews

[Robert Eiffert <beiffert@HOME.COM>]

> My district has no "approved" list and we have some very active groups =
> who look for books with questionable language/ content/themes. It is a =
> bit scary to think that although there is no way I can screen every =
> word, I could be held accountable if a challenge were brought forth.

We do bear the brunt of the work in defending our choice, or the
professional judgement of the previous media specialist.


> This brings up another question. How do you all keep track of reviews =
> for material you have purchased/ordered so that you can support the =
> choices you have made?

Most MARC records now come with review sources (title and date) which makes
finding the review fairly easy.  If you are using Follett's Titlewave
http://www.titlewave.com/ (and I would imagine other online or CDs) for
ordering their record includes the review sources also.

Bowker's Books in Print http://www.booksinprint.com has reviews. There is a
free trial available.

There is a 'HIT:to die for review database' in the archives that lists
several other review sources, books and video.

--
Robert Eiffert, Librarian at Image Elementary
Vancouver WA
http://www.ima.egreen.wednet.edu/library.html
beiffert@.egreen.wednet.edu



> From: Robin <robin@COX.RR.COM>
> Reply-To: Robin <robin@COX.RR.COM>
> Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2001 19:13:13 -0400
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: Query: Choosing books
>
 I =
> find that I read fiction that looks interesting to me (or that I know =
> will appeal to the students) and the first chapter of everything else. I =
> read all the "Everybody" books and skim all the nonfiction. I have =
> missed some language using this method. One 5th grader brought a book to =
> me and said it was the BEST book he'd ever read but that he needed to =
> show me some "bad" words. He delighted in showing me the words (the F =
> word was used extensively and often). This book had gotten rave reviews =
> as one of the best translations for children!  Because we have a gifted =
> and talented center, we do have some YA fiction and have had many =
> requests from teachers for higher level books. I thought this was going =
> to be one of those special books. Boy, was I wrong! I sent it on to the =
> high school and told the boys waiting to read it that they would have to =
> go to the public library. I truly believe that they wanted to read it =
> for the content (WWII), not the language, but it made me very nervous. =
> This brings up another question. How do you all keep track of reviews =
> for material you have purchased/ordered so that you can support the =
> choices you have made?=20
>
> Robin Mathews, Library Media Specialist
> robin@cox.rr.com
> Belvedere Elementary School (K-5)
> Falls Church, VA
>
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