Current Reviews | Awards | Books on Collection Development | Standard Catalogs and Bibliographies
Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries
www.laurabushfoundation.org
The mission of the Laura Bush Foundation is to support the education of our nation’s children by providing funds to update, extend, and diversity the book and print collections of America’s school libraries. The Foundation will make grants in amounts up to $5,000 to school libraries, and all grants are made to individual schools rather than to school districts, foundations, or other entities.
School Library Media Centers: Selected Results from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, 2004.
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/2005302.pdf
The ELS:2002 library media center survey, administered primarily to school librarians, evaluated various aspects of school libraries: .their space, organization, collections, resources, staffing, and use. This particular study focuses on services and resources for 10th grade students.
Shontz, Marilyn L. and Leslie Farmer. “The SLJ Spending Survey.” School Library Journal, January 2007: 45-51. Available online at: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6403260.html
Based on data collected in 2005, this updates the 2002 Spending Survey.
Booklist (22 issues/year)
www.ala.org/booklist
The librarian's leading choice for reviews of the latest books and (more recently) electronic media. The Booklist Web Site includes a current selection of reviews, feature articles, a cumulative index not available in the print magazine, and the "Editor's Choice" lists.
Book Links: Connecting Books, Libraries and Classrooms (6 issues/year)
www.ala.org/BookLinks
A magazine designed for teachers, librarians, library media specialists, booksellers, parents, and all other adults interested in connecting children with high quality books
School Library Journal (12 issues/year)
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com
This journal is filled with articles and reviews of interest to school library media specialists. Selected content is available online.
Library Media Connection (7 issues/year)
http://www.linworth.com/lmc
This is a good source for articles, tips, and ideas on library management from other library media specialists. The reviews of books and media are written by other school librarians.
Kirkus Reviews (12 issues/year)
http://www.krikusreviews.com
Kirkus reviews books for children, young adults, and adults. Selected content is available online.
VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) (bimonthly)
http://www.voya.com
VOYA includes articles, special bibliographies, and book and media reviews for young adult resources.
Multimedia and Internet@School (6 issues/year)
http://www.mmischools.com
This title reviews new multimedia titles, hardware, and software, as well as providing technical advice and troubleshooting tips.
Horn Book Magazine (bimonthly) and Horn Book Guide (2 issues/year)
http://www.hbook.com
The Magazine includes feature articles and book reviews. The Guide includes reviews and ratings for hardcover children’s trade books.
Association for Library Service to Children Book Awards
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/literaryrelated.htm
Index page for the Newbery, Caldecott, and other awards coordinated by the Association for Library Services to Children.
Coretta Scott King Awards
http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corettascottkingbookaward/corettascott.cfm
This page has information about the Coretta Scott King awards, as well as information on current and past winners.
Association for Library Services to Children Notable Lists
http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/childrensnotable/Default1888.htm
Index page for “Notable” lists for books, videos, recordings and software.
Young Adult Library Services Association Book and Media lists
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.cfm
Index page for lists coordinated by the Young Adult Library Services Association, including Best Books for Young Adults, Popular Paperbacks, Quick Picks, etc.
Association for Library Services to Children. The Newbery and Caldecott Awards: A Guide to the Medal and Honor Books. Published annually. Chicago: American Library Association.
With its vivid annotations for all winning medal and honor books since the inception of the awards, librarians and teachers everywhere rely on this indispensible guide for quick-reference, collection and curriculum development, and readers' advisory. Indexed by title and author/illustrator. Available from the ALA Online Store at http://www.alastore.ala.org or call 866-SHOP ALA (866-746-7252).
Smith, Henrietta M, .ed. The Coretta Scott King Awards: 1970-2004. Chicago: American Library Association. 2004. ISBN 0-8389-3450-0.
A comprehensive list and annotations of all the award winners through 2004, it’s a valuable guide for multicultural programs or lessons. This title is updated every 4-5 years.
Trevino, Rose Zertuche, ed. The Pura Belpre’ Awards: Celebrating Latino Authors and Illustrators. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006, ISBN 0-8389-3562-1.
This is the first book to compile information on all the winners of the Pura Belpre Award.
York, Sherry. Ethnic Book Awards: A Directory of Multicultural Literature for Young Readers. Columbus, OH: Linworth Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1-58683-187-9.
This index supplies an alphabetical list of books that have won or have been honored by one of seven awards that recognize excellence in literature for young readers by authors who are from, or who have provided content about, Jewish, African-American, Latino, Caribbean, and Asian American cultures. Full bibliographic information is provided along with a subject index.
Baumbach, Donna J. and Linda L. Miller. Less is More: A Practical Guide to Weeding School Library Collections. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006. ISBN 0-8389-0919-1.
Guidelines and specific criteria for weeding school library collections and youth collections in public libraries.
Hughes-Hassell, Sandra and Jacqueline Mancall. Collection Management for Youth: Responding to the Needs of Learners. Chicago: American Library Association, 2005, ISBN 0-8389-0894-2.
Connecting to the guidelines in Information Power, this guide will help library media specialists become learner-centered collection managers. It provides the theoretical background, strategies and tools for learner-centered collection management.
Hoffmann, Frank and Richard J. Wood. Library Collection Development Policies: School Libraries and Learning Resource Centers. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2007, ISBN 0-8108-5181-4.
This book includes resources for the standard parts of collection development policies, but also addresses the ethical and legal issues related to digital resources, and digital information within the context of traditional library operations.
Doll, Carol A. and Pamela Barron. Managing and Analyzing Your Collection: A Practical Guide for Small Libraries and School Media Centers. Chicago: American Library Association, 2002, ISBN 0-8389-0821-7.
This book includes a number of “recipes” to help even math-phobic library managers compile and analyze statistical information about their library media collections. You will find measures to analyze timeliness, relevancy, use percentages, and user profiles, among others.
A Few Sample Policies:
General
Hysell, Shannon Graff, ed. Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media Centers. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. Published annually.
Each annual volume includes approximately 500 critical reviews of reference books, CD-ROM products and websites. Items are selected based on their appropriateness for school libraries and small public or academic libraries.
Elementary Collections
Children’s Catalog. 19th edition, with supplements through 2009. New York: H. W. Wilson Co., 2006. ISBN 0-8242-1073-5.
Each volume is arranged in Dewey Decimal Classification with sections for fiction, short stories, and picture books; and each has author, title, and subject indexes. It is also available in an online version.
Barr, Catherine, and John Gillespie eds. Best Books for Children: Preschool Through Grade 6. 8th ed. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2005. ISBN 1-59158-085-4, Supplement published 2007, ISBN 1-59158-574-0.
This title lists over 25,000 in-print titles that are recommended for PreK-grade 6. It features a thematic organization, review citations, and full bibliographic information.
McClure, Amy and Janice Kristo eds. Adventuring with Books. 13th ed. Urbana, IL, National Council of Teachers of English, 2002. ISBN 0-8141-0073-2.
Arranged in 24 topical areas, this might be used for collection development or reader’s advisory work. Includes indexes for author, illustrator, subject, and title.
Hansen-Krening, Nancy, Elaine Aoki, and Donald Mizokawa, eds. Kaleidoscope: A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8. 4th ed. Urbana, IL, National Council of Teachers of English, 2003. ISBN 0-8141-2539-5.
Arranged in several broad themes, this book includes information on publications by or about people of color. Includes indexes for author, illustrator, subject, and title.
Lima, Carolyn and John Lima. A to Zoo: Subject Access to Children’s Picture Books. 7th ed.. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2005. ISBN 1-59158-232-6.
This is a comprehensive guide to more than 28,000 children's picture books, cataloged under more than 1,350 subjects. It is helpful for locating picture books by subject, something that library catalogs sometimes do poorly, and it could be used for reader’s advisory as well as collection development. It is also online as part of Books in Print (Bowker).
Middle/Junior High Collections
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog. 9th edition, with supplements through 2008. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 2005. ISBN 0-8242-1053-0
Each volume is arranged in Dewey Decimal Classification with section for fiction and short stories; and each has author, title, and subject indexes. It is also available in an online version.
Gillespie, John and Catherine Barr. Eds. Best Books for Middle School and Junior High Readers: Grades 6-9. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2004. ISBN 1-59158-083-8. Supplement published 2006, ISBN 1-59158-411-6.
This title lists 14,000 titles with annotated entries, full bibliographic information, reading level, review citations, etc.
Brown, Jean and Elaine Stephens eds. Your Reading: An Annotated Booklist for Middle School and Junior High. 11th edition. Urbana, IL, National Council of Teachers of English, 2003. ISBN 0-8141-5944-3.
Arranged around the theme of challenges, this book provides annotations for approximately 1200 books for young teens. It includes author, title, and subject indexes.
Senior High Collections
Senior High Core Collection. 17th edition, with supplements through 2010. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 2007. ISBN 978-0-8242-1086-1
This has four levels of recommended sources: highly recommended, core, supplementary, and archival. It is helpful for reader’s advisory work as well as collection development. It is also available online.
Beers, Kylene and Teri Lesesne, eds. Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High Students. 14th edition. Urbana, IL, National Council of Teachers of English, 2001. ISBN 0-8141-0372-3.
Arranged by topical areas, this is an annotated bibliography of books of interest to high school students. Includes author, title, and subject indexes.
Koelling, Holly, ed. Best Books for Young Adults. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2007. ISBN 0-8389-3569-9.
The latest edition of this guide includes 27 themed and annotated reproducible booklists, and well as a complete list of all titles selected for BBYA from 1966-2007.
Gillespie, John and Catherine Barr, eds. Best Books for High School Readers: Grades 9-12. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2004. ISBN 1-59158-084-6. Supplement published 2006 ISBN 1-59158-410-8.
This lists 12,000 titles with annotated entries, full bibliographic information, review citations, reading levels, etc.
University Press Books Selected for Public and Secondary School Libraries.
www.aaupnet.org/librarybooks
New York: Association of American University Presses. Published annually.
Free copies are sent to AASL and PLA members each year.
Young Adult Library Services Association. More Outstanding Books for the College Bound. Chicago: American Library Association, 2005. ISBN 0-8389-3553-2.
This list can be used both for collection development and for reader’s advisory work with high school students planning to attend college. It includes outstanding books by genre or subject, and includes all of the Outstanding Books for the College Bound lists produced between 1959 and 2004.
Specialized bibliographies
There have been many specialized bibliographies published in recent years, and it is not possible to begin to list them here. To keep up with new publications, get on the mailing list for your favorite publisher (paper or email), and/or visit their website frequently.