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I agree with much of what Tony Doyle stated earlier in his excellent response, but I would like to add this: There was absolutely no way I could have read all that I ordered. There simply aren't enough hours in the day. The FLOOD of published materials alone makes this an impossible task, even in elementary schools. In high schools, where typically one draws from a much wider range of print materials, including adult sources, NO ONE could do it. Setting aside the sheer lack of time, how would one go about getting review copies of everything under consideration? Very few school districts allow books to be sent on preview, due to the cost of returning the items that are unwanted. VERY few publishers would look kindly on a request for an order of, say 500 books to be sent "on preview", and then wait months for the librarian to read through each of them before making a decision. We have always relied on reviews (most school selection policies include specific references to review sources that are to be consulted). Legally, if a librarian can point to a favorable review in a recognized review source that is mentioned in the district's selection policy (you DO have one, don't you?), he or she is on strong grounds. This is not to say that a reconsideration policy is not needed, or that such reconsiderations do happen. But to state that the only things purchased should be things that have been personally read is to place an utterly unreasonable restriction on selection. It cripples the collection of the library that follows such a policy, and does a disservice to the patrons of that library. Mark Williams Consulting Librarian Professional Services for Conferences, Districts, Workshops markwilliams@makaw.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The closest thing you will find to an orderly universe is a good library" -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------