David,
I absolutely agree with you. In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to
worry about budget and spending money on a book that just isn't
suitable for our library. What a lovely world that would be! But my
budget gets cut every year, as I'm sure almost everyone's does.
Not only money, but time is so short. This year, because of district
budget cuts, I will be spending more time in the classroom than I will
in the library, yet I will be overseeing both middle school and high
school libraries. I have to be able to rely on the assistance of
clear and informative book reviews.
Lisa, please know that I'm not abdicating my responsibility for
selecting books that are appropriate for my school - far from it! But
I would really appreciate a heads-up on language, sex, violence, etc.,
as well as a general grade level statement, so I know what to be on
the lookout for in new books.
No matter what is decided, I will continue to lean heavily on the
wonderful reviews that show up here on LM_NET. Thanks to all of you
who contribute!
Karen McLachlan, District LMS
East Knox Local Schools
Howard, OH 43028
mclachlan_k@treca.org
740-599-7000
On Aug 6, 2009, at 4:04 PM, David Lininger wrote:
> Lisa Von Drasek wrote:
>> This is a very interesting discussion but I would like to express a
>> concern about specifying what we would like in book review posts.
>> Book reviews in the end are one person's opinion. It is up to the
>> consumer/ reader to decide whether that one person's opinion has
>> meaning for their own library and community. For example- Winter
>> Girls,the new Laurie Halse Anderson, a book about anorexia from the
>> point of view of a very sick, relapsing character, unreliable to
>> say the least. To me personally, it is an important book, a
>> portrait of the descent and denial inherent in addiction. Who is it
>> for? Would it be okay for 7th graders? Will they get it? A teacher
>> from my school e-mailed me- she doesn't think it has a place in
>> middle school. These are the same kids who read Go Ask Alice,
>> Twilight, the Uglies and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. There
>> are kids in are school as young as 5th grade who have suffered from
>> eating disorders. Perhaps it will not be part of our Mock Printz,
>> we will see what our school psychologist thinks as well as the
>> other teachers.
>
> I agree that each of us has the final say about what we order. If I
> have to read each book before I add it to my collection, though, we
> won't be adding as many titles as we usually do. I depend on
> reviewers to do much of the reading for me. As a reviewer, the more
> I know about what my readers want and need the better I am able to
> help them.]
>
>> Some readers of LM NET are concerned about language. Truthfully
>> unless the text is peppered, I don't really notice. Some parents
>> and teachers have a hard time with Captain Underpants (name
>> calling, language) and Judy B. Jones (grammer). Again, not
>> something I have a problem with.
>
> Again, the more that I know about a title BEFORE it is ordered the
> better. If a review indicates that there is an issue, I may decide
> to check the book out from the public library and read it myself
> before I order it for the school. The reviewer isn't making a
> decision I should make by pointing out a potential problem, but
> rather alerting me to something that I ought to be aware of.
>
>
>> I agree that Book Review Posts could be leveled in the subject,
>> perhaps like we do our targets- elem, middle and high. perhaps
>> recommended age groups like perfect for 3rd/4th grades within the
>> text.
>
> Perhaps putting a general designation in the subject line (elem, MS,
> HS) as we do with other topics, and then more specific grade levels
> early in the text would help. Although I officially serve grades
> 7-12, the fifth and sixth grades are actually closer to my library
> than they are to the elementary library, and some of the better
> readers do come here some, so I'm likely to read any review that
> sounds like it could suit grade 5 or up.
>
>
> --
> David Lininger, kb0zke
> MS/HS Librarian
> Skyline MS/HS
> Urbana, MO 65767
> (417) 993-4226
> t i g e r l i b r a r i a n at g m a i l dot c o m
>
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