Readership Level: The subject matter is presented primarily at a level
appropriate for undergraduate use, whether in a community college, a four-year college,
or university.
Content: The content of the work complements the undergraduate
curriculum and is suitable for inclusion in an academic library collection.
Quality: The authors or producers display command of the subject
matter, and the material is presented in a comprehensive, well-organized, and
understandable manner. The work contains appropriate supporting apparatus, such
as an index, illustrations, bibliography, notes, and appendixes.
General Publication Criteria
Language: Only English-language publications are
reviewed, with some exceptions, such as foreign-language dictionaries. Bilingual
publications are occasionally given review consideration.
Place of Publication or Production, and Price: Works may be published
in any country, but a price in U.S. currency must be available.
Publisher: Titles are rarely selected for review only on the basis of
publisher. University presses often receive special consideration
because Choice assumes that readers are particularly
interested in their output and because they represent
a high level of scholarship. Small press and alternative publishers' books are selected
whenever possible since they may never be reviewed elsewhere. Vanity
publishing is not reviewed.
Publication or Release Date: Publication date must be current, as Choice emphasizes currency
of material and strives to send material for review within three
months of publication. Publications older than six months
receive special scrutiny for their importance and uniqueness.
Review Copy: Choice reviews only the finished version of a work,
not a prepublication form such as page proofs, or beta test versions for
electronic products.
Material Type Criteria
Collections: Collections, anthologies,
or “readers” of materials previously published in readily accessible
sources are generally not reviewed. However, they may be reviewed
if they are in some way original or unique, e.g.,
the collection principle is unusual or creative or the editorial apparatus casts
significant new light on the contents.
Government Publications:
These are reviewed on
the same basis as other publications.
Instructional Manuals and How-to Items: These publications are reviewed very selectively. They are given greatest
consideration in subject areas where they may have important value for
self-study and reference, for example, in the science and
technology, business, and sports and physical education sections. How-to
books will be given review consideration if
they are appropriate for community college curricula.
Materials for Children: Except
for reference tools or works
supporting children's literature and elementary education curricula,
these works are usually not reviewed.
Microforms: Fiche and film will be treated as print items in most
cases.
Multivolume Sets:
Small sets (two to four volumes) are reviewed together when possible. For longer sets
or those published over time, Choice usually will review only the
first two volumes and the last volume of the set; interim volumes may be reviewed if there
has been a long passage of time between publication of individual volumes, or if
there has been a major change in the scope of the set.
Popularizations: Popular works
are reviewed selectively if
content is relevant to the undergraduate audience and the work is
judged to be authoritatively presented or written and sufficiently
documented to assist readers in more indepth
study. Popularizations in science and technology are more frequently
reviewed.
Reprints: Previously
published material is usually not reviewed. A reissue of a significant
book originally published in a very small edition, or abroad, or by a very obscure publisher, will be considered for review.
In addition, material reprinted from several sources
into a collection may be reviewed if the work
provides convenient, one-volume access to scattered or
difficult-to-obtain material.
Revisions: Revisions are
reviewed selectively. They are
given greatest consideration for review if there are major
changes or an extended period of time has elapsed between the
new and the old edition of a standard work, or if an earlier edition
of a significant work was not reviewed.
Serials and Continuations: Choice will usually review
only the first volume of a new serial publication, for example, annual
compilations, yearbooks, or “advances in” publications. Monographic
volumes issued as a part of a series will be assessed and
reviewed individually unless a group review is either feasible or of more
value to Choice readers.
Symposia and Festschriften:
Not usually reviewed unless well
integrated and focused on a topic of
interest to undergraduates, or covering an important new topic not
well covered in other monographs or texts.
Textbooks: Choice reviews textbooks very selectively, e.g.,
when a text represents a basic treatise or synthesis of the subject,
particularly of a new or complex subject.
Choice's
general selection criteria, especially for
content, quality, and audience level, also apply to electronic
resources, which encompass CD-ROMs, online databases, computer
software, Internet sites, and original e-book publications
(books only available in electronic
format). Additional criteria specific to electronic resources
include the following:
Value to Academic Library Collections: Choice editors give priority
to reviewing resources that are comprehensive or broad in
coverage and that are relevant to academic libraries
serving the reference and research needs of undergraduate
students.
Comparative Formats: Choice reviews resources available only
in electronic format as well as electronic resources that have
print counterparts. In selecting electronic resources with print counterparts,
however, priority will be given to reviewing those that offer unique
content or features over their print versions.
Currency and Updates:
Product information should show
evidence that, when necessary and appropriate, the
publisher/producer plans to update regularly.
Hardware and Software:
Technical requirements of a product
should be compatible with standard and commonly available
hardware/software in libraries.
Publication or Release Date: Choice strives for currency but is more
flexible with respect to publication date when assigning
electronic resources for review because identifying and procuring
these resources often takes longer and is more complicated. In
addition, many new products undergo early revision to correct technical
flaws, and this may delay review.
Stability of Content: There should be evidence that an electronic product or Internet site is stable in
content and format so that it can be properly evaluated.
No beta versions (products still in development) will be
accepted for review; only finished materials ready for sale will be
considered.
