An Elementary School Librarian’s Book Selection Process

 Walker, Phoenix

King, M. (n.d.). An Elementary School Librarian’s Book Selection Process. Collection Development: An Elementary Perspective. https://www.maslmd.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&category=advocate&id=45:collection-development-an-elementary-perspective 

Summary: In An Elementary School Librarian’s Book Selection Process, King outlines a thoughtful and student-centered approach to collection development in elementary libraries. The process involves carefully evaluating books, considering age-appropriateness, content quality, and diversity to ensure the collection reflects varied genres, perspectives, and student interests. The librarian emphasizes collaboration with other educators and using professional resources, such as social media and librarian networks, to discover and assess potential additions. Engaging students is a priority, with strategies like "First Page Read Alouds" and interactive book displays fostering curiosity and excitement about reading. The ultimate aim is to cultivate a welcoming library space where students feel empowered to explore and connect with books that inspire and delight them.

Evaluation: King's article presents a practical and student-focused view of collection development for elementary school libraries. It offers amazing strategies for discovering books, such as social media and public book review sites. The article also provides strategies to help gain student attention such as "First Page Read Alouds" and creative displays. It promotes a genuine love for reading while ensuring a diverse and relevant collection. Diversity and inclusion are emphasized, aligning perfectly with our educational priorities around equity and representation. Additionally, it highlights the importance of varied genres and perspectives in meeting the diverse needs of elementary students. King strikes a balance between theoretical principles and practical applications, which is really helpful for librarians. However, it could be even better with more detailed guidance on evaluating books for inclusion, particularly for less experienced ones. King's article is an insightful resource for thoughtful, student-centered collection development, offering practical strategies and emphasizing student engagement in elementary librarianship.

Book Challenges: Classrooms, Parents, Court

 Pearsey, Eliza

Read the Room | On the Media | WNYC Studios. (2022). WNYC Studios. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/episodes/on-the-media-read-the-room

This podcast from WNYC (an NPR affiliate) focuses on how books get challenged and removed from classrooms and libraries, what rights parents have, and the 1982 Supreme Court case that ruled that school boards can’t remove books based on their disagreement of the ideas in them. 

This is a timely and helpful article in 2022. One important point is that when some items are challenged, we as librarians need to make sure we read in context. Generally, people who challenge a book haven’t read it. And because of that the context suffers. For example, in Go Ask Alice, many people point to a passage where she talks about sex, but basically she’s stating that she regrets what she’s done and hopes that one day, some one will genuinely love her. Overall, this could be a beneficial text for students. It's important that context and connotation are taken into account when challenging a book. 

Censorship Basics: Check out this Accessible Handbook!!

 McCord, Maria

National Coalition Against Censorship. (2020). Responding to Book Challenges: A Handbook for Educators. 1-18. https://ncac.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NCAC-Educator-Handbook-Final-Web-PDF-11.17.2020.pdf

Compiled by NCTE and NCAC, this user-friendly handbook provides the basics to understanding censorship within schools and school libraries. Definitions, a brief history, and rationales preventing censorship are explained simply. The reader is not only reminded that the first amendment protects all free speech and expression, a core value of public schools and school libraries, but that decisions regarding materials must follow clear selection review criteria.

Strategies for implementing book selection include: 1. check policy ahead of time 2. communicate and document intention 3. create opportunities for discussion 4. document student learning. 

Tools to handle book challenges are clearly outlined: 1.  understand school policies 2.  listen 3. document 4. contextualize the challenger’s concerns 5. offer options

Suggestions for active advocacy are outlined. A valuable appendix provides policy guidelines as well as two sample review policies. 

In our country currently with the incredible increase in banning books, this Free Expression Educators Handbook is a “must have” for every public school teacher and school librarian.

This short handbook is accessible  providing the facts in a non-threatening way while reminding us of our professional responsibility to prevent censorship of school materials. 

We, administrators,  staff, and school librarians, need to prioritize understanding school policies, so we can be aware of potential book and instructional material challenges. After reading this handbook, I am motivated to find my district’s selection policy as well as its book challenge policy. This handbook is a great reminder of the ongoing work to overcome our own biases and values in order to protect the freedom of thought, expression, and inquiry of our students. As NCAC recommends, “ The better you explain why you chose a text and how it supports curricular goals, the more supportive parents will likely be. No parent should decide what someone else's child may read.” What a worthwhile resource, especially for TL/MLIS students like myself who will not take any classes on Intellectual Freedom. 

Is Ther a Future for Collection Development Librarians?

Clark-Collier, Kelsey

Thomas A. Karel, "Is There a Future for Collection Development Librarians?" (2013). Proceedings of the Charleston Library Conference. http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284315257

How has the development of the E-Book and other digital resources impacted the role and purpose of the collection librarian? This is the core question that Thomas A.Karel seeks to discuss and address in his article titled Is there a Future for Collection Development Librarians? Reflecting on his career as an academic librarian, which required a great deal of collection development responsibility, Karel discusses how factors such as changing acquisiton plans combined with a lack of available space for the thousands of journal databases and 500,000 book titles housed within his library has resulted in an increasing number of demands being placed on the institution to develop an effective collection development and management policy. 

Following this, Karel touches upon his main critical point, which is the effect of the introduction of E-Books into his library's collection. He argues that the expertise of librarians regarding selection is considerably diminished when it comes to digital materials, a concern shared and supported by a wide  variety o recent literature. Karel goes onto list factors that pose threats to the collection librarian (such as E-books, diminished interest from faculty in ordering materials and the ever incresing demands from students regarding information needs) as well as potential opportunities (establishing closer relationships with vendors, working more closelywith faculty to select materials, and taking the opportunity to update exisiting collection development policies). Karel concludes by reflecting upon a teaching session he attended withother librarians where themes affecting collection development were discussed, along with varying degrees of concern and hope regarding the future of collection development in all different types of libraries.

This article stood out to me for a variety of reasons. While the impact of digital resources and technology on traditional print library collections is a complex topic that I have expierenced in prior courss, it is my belief that the notion of digital materials replacing print materials is somewhat overestimated, especially in school and public libraries. That's not to assume that patrons have been reluctant to adapt to new forms of technology and digital services. Rather, I feel that libraries as repositories of print and tangible resources is a deeply ingrained concept that spans thousands of years, and is likely not going away anytime soon. As Karel discusses however, the real core questionp is not whether digital materials will overtake print materials, its to what degree are which librarians in the present day willing and able to incoporate digitial materials innovatively into their institutions in such a way that benefits both library users and potential non-users. He takes it one step further by providing three excellent questions that serve as solid foundations for discussion and debate regarding the topic:

1.) What does a Collection Development librarian do?

2.)What tasks can be effectively carried out by other staff? 

3.) What, ideally, might be the role of a Collection Development Librarian in the new electronic enviornment?

These questions serve as excellent foundations for further discussion and debate because they provide an opportunity to gain insight not only into the current role and purpose of collection development librarians, but also the factors that are affecting this particular position both here in the present and in the future. 

Librarians and Journalists

HOE'S PRINTING PRESS, 1847. - Richard Hoe's ten-cylinder revolving newspaper printing press, 1847. Contemporary color engraving.. [Fine Art]. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest.
https://quest.eb.com/search/140_1631411/1/140_1631411/cite

DiBello, Amy 

Beard, D. (2018). Tale of 2 polls: What do librarians have that journalists don’t?. Poynter. Retrieved 28 February 2018, from https://www.poynter.org/news/tale-2-polls-what-do-librarians-have-journalists-dont

American journalists are being stigmatized not only by Donald Trump but most of the public. Journalist David Beard cites The Knight Foundation and Gallup polls that reveal only 33 percent of Americans trust the news media. Of 18-29-year-olds polled, only 22 percent trust the media.

American complaints against the media include bias, sensationalism, and attempting to influence the way news is reported. A Pew Foundation poll reports that 78 percent of Americans trust their public libraries to help them find reliable information. Millennials, at a rate of 85 percent praise libraries for helping them learn new things. Over 65 percent of Americans claim that libraries enrich their lives and help them to "grow as people" (Beard, 2018).

As newspapers across the country fold, libraries are stepping into the void by offering access to databases and research help. The Albuquerque Journal still exists and is the first item our patrons request upon entering the library. We also offer access to Zinio Digital Magazines and NewsBank.

People who frequented their libraries as children have fond memories of story time, crafts, the thrill of getting their first library card, and being able to take books home with them. The association of a librarian as a non-judgmental helper can endure through our formative years. Laura Saunders, an associate professor in library science at Simmons College contrasts this with the negative associations' people have with the news media. Saunders praises librarians for offering GED, ESL, and computers classes to the disenfranchised, day shelter for the homeless, and a sense of community for patrons. "Librarians are taught to help people access and evaluate information, but not to judge people's questions or motives, but rather to support their intellectual freedom," said Saunders.

Tom Huang, an assistant managing editor for the Dallas Morning News suggests that newspapers and local news channels should work closely with libraries in a collaborative effort to engage the community in what libraries have to offer and give journalists an opportunity to show the public "what they do to provide accurate information." Huang's goal is to get patrons to participate in community meetings and city council hearings. The Morning News has trained high school students on journalism techniques (Beard, 2018).

Huang also believes that bonding with librarians would give journalism an improved image. For areas not served by newspapers, libraries, which are trusted by the community could become what Huang refers to as "a hub for news collection". The element of trust required to train people about journalism would refrain from investigative pieces, but focus on the beginning steps of journalism. "Ultimately, we could train librarians to do some of this stuff," Huang says. "It's not like it's rocket science."

I agree. It's not like it's rocket science. It's library science. 

Our library system's relationship with the media is cordial but we rely on our director to speak to the media in order to explain our policies, respond to questions, and give the media correct information instead of playing telephone. Our librarians have also put together an excellent LibGuide about fake news. We are sensitive to our patrons' concerns and the way we address these concerns is by offering them information but leaving them to their own opinions and conclusions.

The quotation "A truly great library contains something in it to offend everybody." is attributed to Jo Godwin and sums up one of the unavoidable facts of collection management: we will often have to answer to someone, whether it is an offended reader or an inquisitive reporter about what the library carries and offers to the public. Beard refers to librarians as journalism's "information gathering cousins" who are riding an enviable "cloud of popularity". I think boundaries are necessary, even among cousins, but we're always here to help check the facts.

Fundamentals of collection development and management

Samnath, Kayla

Johnson, P. (2014). Fundamentals of collection development and management. London: Facet.

Summary:

Johnson’s text focuses on the evolution of collection development. This is the third edition, in which Johnson discusses how much of an impact technology has had on collection development since her first drafting of this text in 2003. Johnson covers organization models, planning, budget, and policy strategies, developing and managing collections, as well as collection analysis.

In the first section of this text Johnson explores the concept of collection development versus collection management. Johnson argues that collection development and management should be treated as separate terms, rather than being lumped together which typically seems to be the case. She defines collection development as “covers several activities related to the development of library collections, including selection, the determination and coordination of selection policy, assessment of the needs of users and potential users, budget management, identification of collection needs, community and user outreach and liaison…” (2014, p. 02). On the other hand, collection management “covers decisions about weeding, serials cancellation, storage, and the activities that inform these decisions as use studies and cost/benefit assessment” (2014, p. 02).

Johnson explores several key collection development and management responsibilities. Some of those include selection, budgeting, planning and organizing, communicating and reporting. These skills are required in order to maintain and build collections. Johnson explores how public, special, and academic libraries can utilize these methods and better their collection, which enhances the information services offered by the institution.

Evaluation:

This textbook was extremely useful for this course. I used it to pair up with our current textbook. It really helped me understand how to approach presentation three and four. There is a lot of rich content which focuses on how to budget, and how to assess both the community and the collection. Using this information, I was able to have a clearer picture of how to handle Dr. L’s presentations. I would recommend this text to any student who is new, or interested in collection development. The text begins with a list of defined terms in which really helped me get focused on the idea of collection development at the beginning of this course.

This text really is straightforward and easy to understand. It is a great way to introduce students into this topic. Not only is it easy to read, but it is also not overwhelming to new students, rather it builds confidence as well as knowledge upon how to both manage, and develop library collections. What made this text even more useful is in each chapter, Johnson applies her discussions with public, academic, and school libraries.

Selecting Non-Fiction Narratives

Rogers, Karen 

Wharton, J. (2016, January 18). Selecting and Promoting Nonfiction in Your Library. Retrieved October 23, 2016, from http://www.slj.com/2016/01/books-media/selecting-and-promoting-nonfiction-in-your-library-nonfiction-notions/ 

Summary:

     In this article on the selection on non-fiction narrative books to add to your middle grade library Jennifer Wharton has 4 criteria to use for selection.  The books you select should have a hook, be about an interesting subject, be relatable to kids, and have a clean design.  Middle school readers want their nonfiction books to be wordier than it was in elementary school, but still want interesting pictures to be included.

Evaluation:

      I chose this article for my blog post because with the new Common Core State Standards teachers are being asked to include more non-fiction narrative texts in their classroom lessons.  As librarians we need to be aware of this change in curriculum and meet the need by including non-fiction narrative selections in our collection development.

Book Trends and the Future

O'Brien, Sarah

Kellogg, Carolyn. (2016) Six Book Trends for 2016: Look Into The Future. Los Angeles Times.

Although this article is not directly about libraries and their collections, I think it is important to implement the trends this writer suggests. It was reported that 571 million print books were sold in 2015, while ebooks sales stayed at 25% this past year. We all worry that print is dead, luckily this statistic proves otherwise. With print books coming back, Harper Lee’s much anticipated second book “Go Set A Watchman”, David McCullough’s book about the Wright Brothers and Jeff Kinney’s Diary of Wimpy Kid Series, along with the spike in coloring book sales, print books are on the way back, which means libraries are getting busy. With magazines going by the wayside and bookstores closing left and right, libraries are full of titles and material just waiting to be discovered. With box office success like Star Wars, Harry Potter and highly anticipated television shows like Game of Thrones, the fantasy doesn’t stop after two hours. Publishers and Marketers want to keep fans in the loop, buy Game of Thrones action figures and games, visit theme parks (have you been to Harry Potter World yet?) and stock up on every book ever written about Star Wars because it’s out there. It’s not just about the movie experience anymore, we live in world where we can further explore the worlds that authors create.  And although journalism is taking new shapes, we know that with the success of podcasts like Serial, the Netflix original docu-series, Making a Murder and the fantastic reporter and sensational nonfiction writer, Jon Krakauer, it’s clear that deeply reported nonfiction stories have a ready audience.  The last point that is brought up in this article is a call to diversity in books. Toni Morrison was the last American award the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, as our country becomes more multicultural, it’s important that we have something for everyone.

Again, this article is not really discussing these trends in the library setting but I think it’s important that these trends can be used as connections to make library collections stronger, programs/events bigger and better and make the library experience as a whole an important part of our weekly routines. This article can serve as an excellent guide as we think about collection development and programming for the future. With the release of the new Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, many libraries are adopting a whole festival celebrating the world and characters George Lucas created. The same can be said with diversity in literature. This is something that we have been struggling with for years, as a Children’s Librarian I am constantly looking to publishers that focus on diverse stories and searching for authors of different ethnicities. In fact, I came across this blogger and author from London, Ann Morgan and her quest to read books from all over the world. Looking to the future of libraries, all these points and trends that the author brings up are very relevant to sustaining successful libraries.  

Mining and Analyzing Circulation and ILL Data for Informed Collection Development

Poster: Curtin, Shane

Link, F. l., Tosaka, Y. t., & Weng, C. W. (2015). Mining and Analyzing Circulation and ILL Data for Informed Collection Development. College & Research Libraries, 76(6), 740-755.


Summary:

This article describes how one library tried reviewed ILL usage and  borrowing statistics for their academic journals in an attempt to asses the strength of their own collection. They drew on circulation data for each LOC class and compared it across a variety of factors. The results were more complex than they had expected. The question posed by their results was not what specific items to buy, but what subject areas to buy for.  They also realized that user preferences for different material types (such as digital journals versus print journals) could not be inferred through the aforementioned methods of study, since people will tend to order whatever is available. The researchers concluded by proposing a further study to address this question, and to establish benchmarks for collection use as it relates to purchasing. How much circulation should be expected for every dollar spent?


Analysis:

In my own library the ILL librarian does not fraternize much with the selectors. The number of ILLs we receive is small and seldom do we get more than one request per item in any considerable span of time. Due to our library’s membership in LINK+ we already have access to the catalogs of most Californa and Nevada libraries; most items can be obtained this way. We DO look at Link+ circ stats to see if we should order something, but not at ILL stats. Most ILL orders are for rare and old-out of print items anyway, not thing we could get our hands on even if we wanted to. Even so, this study was interesting vis-a-vis the content of our class. At the end of the study the author noted that the study is not to be taken as just an investigation of their own circulation, but as a parable of the effectiveness of using circulation stats as  collection development metric.

They of course, used LC call numbers as subject identifiers. While this is not the method recommended by this class, it is the only one available to most libraries, lest they choose to tag their records by subject collection, as we have been doing. In order for circulation data to be valuable to collection development in this sort of arrangement, a new field of some sort would have to be added in item records, denoting their collection grouping. An alternate method that occurs to me is to try and mine the subject data from the MARC 650 fields, but the variety of subject terms are much to numerous to  make this an effective strategy. If we escape the rigid methods of classic collection development by Dewey and item type, other methods of identification will have to be devised to make circulation data sortable in way that is useful  to selectors.

I was amused by one collection use measurement tool the author mentioned- the CFQ (Collection Failure Quotient) - a ratio of a library’s ILL borrowings to holdings. I think my own library is doing ok.

Barriers to Selecting Materials about Sexual and Gender Diversity

Nicole J. Hoback

Reference:

Greenblatt, E. (2010). Serving LGBTIQ library and archives users: Essays on

            outreach, service, collections and access. Jefferson, NC: McFarland &

            Company.

Summary:

In chapter four, "Barriers to Selecting Materials about Sexual and Gender Diversity," Greenblatt (2010) addresses the varying issues surrounding libraries when selecting materials for the LGBTIQ community. The issues and biases surrounding this community are discussed and how this can affect the selection process for resources. While Greenblatt discusses the issues, she also addresses the solutions, encouraging a change for library collection processes in order to serve all community members. According to Greenblatt, library selectors are just as likely to buy into stereotypes as anyone else. Continuing with the fact that libraries are a safe place for many within every community, library selectors should be the advocate for this community when selecting material, not allowing stereotypes or bias opinions of others to deflect the selection process. Many libraries rely on the Internet resources and interlibrary loan to provide resources to the LGBTIQ community and this is just not practical, Greenblatt states, arguing that the Internet is not always a reliable source and interlibrary loan cannot always be reliable or practical.

Evaluation:

I enjoyed reading Greenblatt’s analysis on changing the methods in which library employees provide for the LGBTIQ community. I particularly enjoyed how Greenblatt not only addressed the issues in collection development, but also the solutions to the issues and how to provide for minority groups in a modern age. Greenblatt stated an important point in this chapter when discussing that patrons who identify in the LGBTIQ community are not the only ones who would benefit from resources in the library, their friends and family would benefit as well if they are eager to learn more or have questions. Establishing a reliable source collection for any library will allows patrons of the LGBTIQ community to trust the library and gain reliable information.

Using Evidence in Practice: Evidence for Development and Enhancement of a Popular Reading Collection in an Academic Library

Bailey, Rachel

Hackman, T., Corlett-Rivera, K. & Larson, E. (2014). Using evidence in practice: Evidence for development  and enhancement of a popular reading collection in an academic library. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 9(4), 82-85.

Summary: Users of the McKeldin Library at the University of Maryland often requested non-academic books. Because of this, the Librarian for English and Linguistics proposed the addition of a popular reading collection. This article addresses the process the librarian goes through to acquire these materials as well as students’ responses to the new collection.

Evaluation: I am glad that the librarian listened to the wishes of the library’s clientele. Although McKeldin Library’s main function is for academic pursuits, it’s nice that the requests of users were taken into account. Since the students, most likely, visit McKeldin often, it’s nice that they can get all their reading needs in one place.