[CALIBK12] query Screening books for appropriate content

[Blanche Woolls]

Dear Clare,

If you can find reviews of books you can use those reviews to purchase or 
even to "test" the quality of any book. If you can't afford to purchase 
Booklist (the review journal of the American Library Association), you 
should visit your local public library and ask to use their copies. These 
reviews are from skilled, professional reviewers and everything listed in 
Booklist is recommended.

School Library Journal publishes reviews by practioners, and not all of 
them are recommended by the review. Hornbook also has reviews by 
professionals, and not all of these are recommended for purchase.

Follett Library Books has a database for school librarians who are buying 
from them and their listings have reviews from the above journals along 
with the purchase information.

H.W. Wilson has two bibliographies, Children's Catalog and Middle School 
Catalog. These provide reviews of books. They have an edition followed by 
updates until the new edition comes out. You might also find these at your 
public library if you don't own a copy.

These are usually a little behind the journals simply because they have to 
be printed, but they are excellent sources to review your collection if 
you are weeding.

What is always good about having the review is that you can show it to 
someone who questions your judgment in selecting a book, always a good 
thing.

Blanche

On Tue, 4 Nov 2008, Clare O'Callaghan wrote:

> 
> I?m curious as to the methods and rigor with which library books are screened for content.  Does anyone
> have hard and fast rules?  How and who determines them?   If there are books with possibly questionable
> content in a K-8 setting, what methods are used to make sure they don?t fall into the wrong hands. 
> 
> Thanks
> 
>  
> 
> Clare O'Callaghan
> 
> Librarian
> 
> The Wesley School
> 
> 4832 Tujunga Ave.
> 
> N. Hollywood, CA 91601
> 
> 818-508-4542
> 
>  
> 
> 
>