Wednesday, February 28, 2018

36 Workshops to Get Kids Writing


Hurtado, Annmarie. 36 Workshops to Get Kids Writing from Aliens to Zebras. ALA Editions, 2018. ISBN: 978-0-8389-1648-3


Description: 

    Creative writing encourages imaginations to take flight, and when adults use the  right approach, building literacy skills becomes a form of play that gets kids excited to create their own stories. Packed with ready-to-use lesson plans designed for kindergarten- and early elementary-aged children, this book will help librarians add creative writing activities to more traditional storytime initiatives and school librarians enrich English Language Arts lessons. Hurtado’s resource provides an entire year’s worth of weekly lesson plans, adaptable as needed, that include instructions, handouts, and everything needed to plan and prepare: recommended read-alouds for each lesson plan; ideas and activities scaffolded for different ability levels; tips for using humor and silliness to grab kids’ attention and keep them engaged; information on how creative writing dovetails with Common Core standards, emphasizing skills and critical thinking over rote learning; and additional quality read-aloud picture books that can be used as inspiration to create new lessons.

    This book will serve as a handy lesson/program planning tool for any children’s or school librarian interested in exploring new ideas to teach creative writing and higher literacy.

Table of Contents: 

Chapter One    Writing in the Library: A Radical Idea
Chapter Two    All You Need Is a Good TERRIBLE Idea

Lesson 1    A Panda Parade Is a Terrible Idea
Lesson 2    If You Ever Want to Bring a Shark to the Park, DON’T
Lesson 3    Revising and Illustrating: Smartphones Are Definitely Not for Animals
Lesson 4    Don’t Let the Alien Play in the Toilet!
Lesson 5    Teach Your Zebra to Ride a Bike
Chapter Three    Fractured Fairy Tales

Lesson 6    The Very Old Bad Wolf
Lesson 7    Fairy-Tale Characters on Vacation
Lesson 8    Double Trouble
Lesson 9    Trickster Tales
Lesson 10    Small Actors Folktale Theater
Chapter Four: Animal Muses

Lesson 11    If I Had a Dinosaur
Lesson 12    How to Throw a Unicorn Party
Lesson 13    My Puppy Brother
Lesson 14    Take Your Poem for a Walk
Lesson 15    Don’t Sweat the Snow Stuff: Self-Help for Stressed Penguins
Lesson 16    Public Service Announcement: Beware the Giant Humans
Lesson 17    Diary of a T. Rex
Chapter Five    The Plot Thickens

Lesson 18    Chickens Can’t Sing
Lesson 19    Pirate Puppy
Lesson 20    Maybe It’ll Work This Time
Lesson 21    Every Hero Needs a Villain
Lesson 22    Meanwhile
Chapter Six    Playing with Words

Lesson 23    Go on a Word Hunt
Lesson 24    Insect Linguistics
Lesson 25    How to Make a Bear Burrito
Lesson 26    Riddle Me This
Lesson 27    Silly Split-Panels
Lesson 28    Scrambled Animals
Lesson 29    Bring a New Animal to Dr. Seuss’s Zoo
Chapter Seven    Advertising and Other Forms

Lesson 30    Grand Opening for a Literary Diner
Lesson 31    Write a Circus Poster for the Most Horrible Monster on Earth
Lesson 32    Make a Menu for an Ice Cream Truck Shop
Lesson 33    Make a Campaign Video for President Squid
Lesson 34    Propaganda: The Truth about Flowers
Lesson 35    What Will You Do with Your Idea?
Lesson 36    Make Your Own Jar of Happiness
Chapter Eight    Books to Feed the Young Author’s Spirit

Appendix A
Appendix B
Bibliography
Index


Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Library’s Future in an Uncertain World

book cover for Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Library’s Future in an Uncertain World

Aldrich, Rebekkah Smith. Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Library’s Future in an Uncertain World. ALA Editions, 2018. ISBN: 978-0-8389-1688-9

Description
Thinking about how to make your library strong and relevant in the future? Aldrich shows that the first step towards a sustainable library is sustainable thinking: a determined yet realistic attitude that will help your library spot opportunities for institutional advancement, advocate for and safeguard operating funds, and generate intense loyalty from the communities you serve.

Table of Contents
Part I    Situation Report
  • 1    Disruption: Inside, Outside, and All Around
  • 2    Beyond Our Walls
  • 3    Back to Basics
  • 4    Survive the Earth
  • 5    The Most Important Thing
Part II    The Strategy
  • 6    Being Strategic
  • 7    The Why Behind the What
  • 8    WHY: Core Values of Librarianship
  • 9    HOW: The Three Es of Sustainable Libraries
  • 10    WHAT: Local Supports Local
  • 11    Sustainable Thinking Defined
  • 12    Interpreting Sustainability Using the Triple Bottom Line
  • 13    Whole Systems Thinking
  • 14    Beyond Sustainability
  • 15    Beyond Resiliency
Part III    The Tactics
  • 16    From the Inside Out
  • 17    Change Leadership
  • 18    How We Get There
  • 19    Benchmarks for Sustainable Libraries
  • 20    Sustainable Libraries Certification Program
  • 21    Top Level Infusion
  • 22    Sustainable Organizational Culture
  • 23    Increasing Ecological Intelligence
  • 24    Construction and Renovation: Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunities
  • 25    Catalyst and Convener
Part IV    Resources
  • American Library Association’s Resolution on the Importance of Sustainable Libraries
  • New York Library Association’s Resolution on the Importance of Sustainable Libraries
  • Case Study: Kingston (New York) Library Climate Smart Pledge
  • Climate Smart Community Library Pledge
  • American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
  • Long-Range Plan Example: West Vancouver (British Columbia) Memorial Library

Monday, February 26, 2018

Basic Music Library: Essential Scores and Sound Recordings, Fourth Edition, Volume 2: World Music


Music Library Association (compiler). Basic Music Library: Essential Scores and Sound Recordings. Fourth Edition, Volume 2: World Music. American Library Association, 2018. ISBN: 978-0-8389-1530-1

Description
The Music Library Association has completely revamped this classic work, dividing the 4th edition into 3 volumes. This second volume covers world music in these areas:
  • Folk and Traditional Music of North America
  • Traditional and Popular Music of the Americas and the Caribbean
  • Classical, Traditional, and Popular Music of Asia and Oceania
  • Classical, Traditional, and Popular Music of Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia
  • Traditional and Popular Music of Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Traditional and Popular Music of Europe
  • International Anthologies

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

The ABCs of ERM: Demystifying Electronic Resource Management for Public and Academic Librarians

Cover image for The ABCs of ERM
Zellers, Jessica, Tina M. Adams, and Katherine Hill. The ABCs of ERM: Demystifying Electronic Resource Management for Public and Academic Librarians. Libraries Unlimited, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-4408-5580-1

Description
Answer common questions about managing electronic resources with this book, such as: How do you deal with vendors, how do you decide which e-resources to buy, how do you optimize access for remote users, and perhaps most importantly, how do you motivate your public to use them?

This guide offers practical advice to information professionals involved in any aspect of electronic resource management—from selecting, acquiring, and activating to managing, promoting, and deselecting. It features clear instructions along with definitions, checklists, FAQs, and sidebars comprising sensible tips.

Table of Contents 
  1. So what are electronic resources anyway?
  2. Vendors are your friend
  3. Licenses: the fine print
  4. Buy all the things!
  5. Creating access in all the right places
  6. Marketing, part I: planning
  7. Marketing, part II: promotional
  8. Assessment, part I: subscription resources
  9. Assessment, part II: one-time purchases and leases
  10. I think the internet broke
  11. Users are people, too 
  12. No librarian is an island.

The Stories We Share



Publisher's Description: 

From its earliest days, the American experience has encompassed immigrants. But in our current atmosphere of political polarization, is it any wonder that many immigrant children feel excluded and isolated? In fact, research shows first- and second- generation immigrant children and teens can be at risk of experiencing identity crisis, self-depreciation, and low self-esteem due to intergenerational and intercultural conflicts. These young readers need books that show them that their experiences are not unique—and these books also carry the important potential of promoting general understanding of and tolerance toward immigrant groups. The first of its kind, this guide spotlights dozens of award-winning titles that primarily feature a first- or second-generation immigrant child or teen as a narrator or main character. A valuable tool for teaching, collection development, and readers’ advisory, in this book ALA Carnegie-Whitney Grant-recipient Khailova
  • identifies both fiction and non-fiction titles published in the United States and Canada between 1990 and 2015 that focus on the twentieth or twenty-first century immigrant experience;
  • organizes selections by their world region of birth, including Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, with further subdivisions by countries of origin;
  • provides historical background on the immigration patterns of each group, with a list of additional resources on the topic; and
  • offers discussion starters and questions to promote self-reflection, sense of connectedness, and empathy.
Helping librarians and educators navigate the vast terrain of multicultural literature, this book will serve as a powerful resource for increasing understanding and fostering connections with immigrant populations.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

The Practical Handbook of Library Architecture


Schlipf, F., & Moorman, J. A. (2018). The Practical Handbook of Library Architecture: Creating Building Spaces that Work. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions. ISBN: 9780838915530.

Publisher's Description

Distilling hard fought wisdom gleaned from hundreds of successful library construction projects they've supervised or coordinated, the authors present this definitive resource on library architecture. With a special emphasis on avoiding common problems in library design, in a down-to-earth manner they address a range of issues applicable to any undertaking. From planning completely new library buildings to small remodeling projects, they offer specific how-to and how-not-to guidance. Packed with lists and headings to allow for easy scanning, this handbook

  • provides nuts-and-bolts guidance on the entire process of planning, design, and construction, including "snappy rules" summarizing each chapter;
  • covers new construction, remodeling and expanding of existing buildings, and conversion of non-library spaces to libraries;
  • explains how library buildings actually function as objects, and how that applies to library design;
  • reviews typical design problems of existing libraries, and advises libraries on how to avoid creating dysfunctional buildings and spaces;
  • shows how to collaborate productively with planners, architects, and contractors;
  • discusses the technical needs of basic library spaces, including collection storage, user seating, meeting and conference rooms, craft rooms, study areas, service desks, restrooms, and staff workspaces; and
  • includes careful consideration of technical requirements relating to lighting, electrical systems, security systems, elevators, staircases, and other areas.

Library directors, staff, and planning professionals will want this handbook close at hand before, during, and after any library construction project.

More details from the publisher.

Easy Technology Programs for Libraries

Formar, David. Easy Technology Programs for Libraries: 15 Quick and Popular Programs Your Patrons will Love. Rowman & Littlefield, 2017. 
Are you a librarian struggling to stay engaged in a digital age? Facing budget concerns to keep existing programs running? Don’t have the staff or budget for specialized services? Wonder how to move beyond teaching your patrons HOW to use a computer?  This book gives you 15, step-by-step programs, using free online software, that go beyond basic digital literacy, and provides you, the librarian, with all you need for classes that engage the digital natives and computer users in your community. It includes:
  1. 15 quick, easy classes focused on actual outcomes for patrons, without requiring a budget, dedicated facilities, or specialized knowledge.
  2. Classes that your patrons can relate to, geared towards actual needs or interests, and not just to “techy” people.
  3. How to’s and other elements to effectively use simple software and allow patrons to get optimal results from their effort.
  4. Classes or workshops designed to help the average computer user so he or she can teach patrons with ease and authority.
  5. Tips for teachers or librarians on how to engage their audience and not lose them with information overload.
This book is a complete computer class upgrade solution. Based on the Montessori Method, classes are problem or project based. You are given all the tools you need as a presenter to show relatable uses of technology, making sure the patron can see the possibility involved in using the software. There are step-by-step instructions that focus on your patron leaving with practical skills for everyday life using freely-available software such as YouTube, Ebay, Google, and Monster. Best practices are also included so your patron’s project has the greatest chance of being successful.

Using Social Media to Build Library Communities: A LITA Guide

Young, Scott W. H. and Doralyn Rossmann, editors. Using Social Media to Build Library Communities: A LITA Guide. Rowman & Littlefield, 2017. ISBN 978-1-4422-7051-0
Using Social Media to Build Library Communities: A LITA Guide is a community-building action manual for practitioners across the profession. By bringing together an array of perspectives to explore community building through social media, this book serves as the go-to resource for professionals who want to take social media beyond marketing and promotion to build an inclusive and engaged community of library users. 

Using Social Media to Build Library Communities demonstrates that an energetic and committed community exists to help and guide fellow community builders.

Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies: Best Practices for Information Professionals

Hennig, Nicole. Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies: Best Practices for Information Professionals. Libraries Unlimited, 2017. ISBN 978-1-4408-5440-8.

Today's librarians and information specialists know it's imperative that they keep up with new technologies. But not all technologies are equally important, either within the library setting or to library patrons. So how does one decide which ones to pursue and integrate into services? In the uphill battle to stay current with new and emerging technologies, deciding which ones to pursue and integrate into services is a major challenge. A secondary problem is simply finding the time to consider the question. Readers of Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies will learn all of the best practices and skills to keep up with new technologies and to analyze the ability of specific technologies to meet recognized user needs—all in this single source.

You'll learn the best ways to gather information about new technologies and user needs, to evaluate and analyze information, to curate technology information for others, to set up experiments and evaluate the results, and to present your findings to persuade decision-makers. Written by the former head of user experience at MIT's library system, this guidebook serves information professionals, educators, education technology specialists, and anyone with "emerging technology" or "innovation" in their job titles. It will also be useful for library administrators and those who manage these positions as well as for students seeking a technology-oriented or curriculum-design career path in libraries.

[More from the publisher]

Managing Library Technology: A LITA Guide

Block, Carson. Managing Library Technology: A LITA Guide. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. ISBN 978-1-4422-7181-4.

Managing Library Technology introduces library workers (including non-technical managers, tech administrators and even “accidental technologists”) to core concepts in technology management and provides strategies that will enable them to master the basics of library tech. The content of the book is taken from the author’s popular American Library Association -approved Certified Public Library Administrator course, “Management of Technology,” and is geared to the needs of all kinds of libraries.

The book contains easy-to-follow exercises and tools that have been tested in real-world situations with students as they tackled their own evaluation, planning and management challenges. Readers are also given a roadmap to create a technology plan for their library—even if they have no direct technology background themselves.

This book helps library workers understand the underpinnings of technology and how to powerfully manage tech to serve patrons and staff alike. Readers will learn: 

  • How libraries fit into the overall technology market
  • Strategies to future-proof library technology efforts
  • Approaches to technology planning that stick – and strategies to keep the plan on track
  • Skills to understand technology investments by understanding the total costs of ownership and the specialized library return on technological investment
  • How to collect and use useful data and statistics without being overwhelmed
  • How to stay current, knowledgeable and comfortable with rapid technological change

Monday, February 12, 2018

User Privacy: A Practical Guide for Librarians

User Privacy: A Practical Guide for Librarians by Matthew Connolly. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018. 978-1-4422-7632-1.

Publisher's Description
Personal data in the online world as become a commodity. Coveted by criminals, demanded by governments, and used for unsavory purposes by marketers and advertisers, your private information is at risk everywhere. For libraries and librarians, this poses a professional threat as well as a personal one. How can we protect the privacy of library patrons and users who browse our online catalogs, borrow sensitive materials, and use our public computers and networks?

User Privacy: A Practical Guide for Librarians answers that question. Through simple explanations and detailed, step-by-step guides, library professionals will learn how to strengthen privacy protections for:
  • Library policies
  • Wired and wireless networks
  • Public computers
  • Web browsers
  • Mobile devices
  • Apps
  • Cloud computing
Each chapter begins with a "threat assessment" that provides an overview of the biggest security risks – and the steps that can be taken to deal with them. Also covered are techniques for preserving online anonymity, protecting activists and at-risk groups, and the current state of data encryption.

More Information
See the publisher's website for table of contents and author information.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Financial Management in Academic Libraries


Dugan, R. E., & Hernon, P. (2018). Financial Management in Academic Libraries: Data-Driven Planning and Budgeting. Chicago, IL: Association of College & Research Libraries. ISBN: 9780838989432.

Publisher's Description

An academic library’s budget and expenditures demonstrate its accountability, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability to its institution. All library managers must understand and manage budgets, from planning through implementation, reporting, and conducting audits. Budgeters also need familiarity with the use of metrics, the ability to relate the use of the data gathered to improved performance and organizational efficiency, and automated management information systems to effectively tell their library’s story and advocate for budgetary support.

In its first eight chapters, with tables, figures, data application, and exercises throughout, Financial Management in Academic Libraries: Data-Driven Planning and Budgeting covers the various stages and topics involved in managing budgets: planning; the types of budgets used in academic institutions; the overall budgeting process as well as a specific process in program budgeting; managing a budget during the fiscal year and its aftermath; and providing reports on the budget. The ninth chapter introduces general concepts to help address budget reduction strategies, potential fraud, and financial best practices. And the final chapter elevates the discussion from financial management to financial leadership, the articulation of a detailed vision, and the realignment of the budget with the promises specified in that vision.

Financial Management in Academic Libraries explores the connection between financial management and accountability, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability, and demonstrates how to capture them in a realistic, data-supported budget. Among the different units of an academic institution, the library has an advantage in that its managers can link these concepts to the library’s infrastructure, its staffing, collections, services, and technology. Focusing on these components can enable everyone in the library to work to achieve organizational sustainability over time and advocate for their place in the institution.

More details from the publisher.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Becoming an Independent Information Professional

Cover image for Becoming an Independent Information Professional

Powell, Melissa M. (ed.) Becoming an Independent Information Professional: How to Freelance, Consult, and Contract for Fun and Profit. Libraries Unlimited, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-4408-5540-5

Description
This book shares the experiences of successful information professionals who work as contractors or consultants, providing a complete picture of what to expect and a step-by-step plan to start your independent career.

Table of Contents
Introduction: How to Use This Book to Get Where You Want to Be
Chapter 1 Is Consulting Work for You?
Chapter 2 Values-Based Consulting
Chapter 3 The Map of Your Marketplace
Chapter 4 Know the Numbers That Tell Your Story: The Legal and Financial Aspects of Your New Business
Chapter 5 Company Culture
Chapter 6 Marketing and Branding
Chapter 7 Pipelines and Charging for Services
Chapter 8 Getting It Done: Project Management Tips for Library Consultants
Epilogue: A Few Last Things Before You Begin Your Journey
Appendix A Specific Types of Consulting
Appendix B ASCLA Library Consultants Code of Ethics

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Finding the Answers to Legal Questions, Second Edition

Tucker, Virginia M. and Marc Lampson. Finding the Answers to Legal Questions, Second Edition. ALA Neal-Schuman, 2018. ISBN: 978-0-8389-1569-1

Description
Newly revised and updated, this timely, clearly organized, and easy-to-use resource is packed with guidance to help librarians answer questions that span the gamut of the law. An ideal book for practicing librarians looking to better serve users' legal needs, as well as for students preparing for careers as librarians.

Table of Contents 
A detailed table of contents is available on the publisher's web site.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Academic Librarianship, Second Edition

Academic Librarianship, Second Edition by G. Edward Evans and Stacey Greenwell. ALA Neal-Schuman, 2018. 978-0-8389-1563-9.

Publisher's Description
Ideal for practitioners looking to advance their careers and for use in LIS programs, this "comprehensive overview" (Journal of Access Services) has been thoroughly revised and updated to provide a timely exploration of the characteristics of academic librarianship and its place in the ever-changing environment of higher education. Evans and new coauthor Greenwell guide readers towards understanding what is required to have a successful career in academic librarianship, explaining why academic libraries are distinct from other types of libraries and lending practical insight into their unique political and operational characteristics. The text offers comprehensive coverage of such key issues as
  • teaching faculty roles and the status of the academic librarian;
  • governance and the growing tension on some campuses between faculty and administration;
  • curriculum, with a discussion of the balance between general education requirements and applied courses;
  • the student body;
  • collections, data management, digitization, and metadata;
  • scholarly communication, plus alternative models such as open educational resources (OERs);
  • providing quality service, and the role of user experience (UX) in assessment;
  • ACRL's Information Literacy Framework;
  • funding, including how and where to find detailed higher education expenditure data;
  • classrooms, common learning spaces, and other facilities;
  • staffing and professional development;
  • technology and IT support;
  • career development, with advice on preparing a vita and undergoing a successful interview; and
  • the future of academic librarianship.
This updated edition enables readers to understand how academic libraries deliver information, offer services, and provide learning spaces in new ways to better meet the needs of today's students, faculty, and other communities of academic library users.

More Information
See the publisher's website for table of contents and author information.

Assessing Library Space for Learning


Montgomery, Susan E. (ed.) Assessing Library Space for Learning. Rowman & Littlefield, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-4422-7927-8

Description
In this book, chapters discuss library usage at academic institutions and how that usage is an integral part of the student learning experience. Included are the perspectives of an architect who is tasked with designing library spaces with learning in mind, a psychologist whose professional research focuses on the concept of place, and a dynamic group of academic librarians who are dedicated to making the library conducive to the needs of their learners. This book is a combination of theory, practical and research based chapters with an overall focus on the intersection of library space and learning. 

Table of Contents 
Part 1 Library Space Assessment Background
Chapter 1 Space Assessment: An Interdisciplinary Look at Past and Present Studies, Karen R. Diller
Chapter 2 Library Space and Learning Theory, Susan E. Montgomery
Chapter 3 A Place to Think, Feel, and Act: Psychological Approaches to Understanding Library Spaces, Paul B. Harris and Stephanie N. Schweighardt
Chapter 4 The Evolving Role of the Architect in Library Design, Tom Sens and Sarah Parisi Dowlin
 
Part 2 Applying Library Space Assessment
Chapter 5 Academic Libraries and Accreditation: A Theory-Based Framework for Assessing Modern Library Spaces, James Zimmerman
Chapter 6 Designed to Meet Our Institutional Mission: A case study from Grand Valley State University Libraries, Kristin Meyer and Erin Silva Fisher
Chapter 7 Satisfying the Electric Youth: Maximizing Student Success Through Space, Resources, Services AND Outlets, Mary Beth Lock, Meghan Webb and John Champlin
Chapter 8 Creating a Learning Culture for Student-Athletes, Jason Dodd and Dale Lackeyram
Chapter 9 Research-Creation: Library Space and Resources for Fine Arts Students,
Shailoo Bedi, Christine Walde, Tad Suzuki, and Bill Blair
Chapter 10 Are They Different? An Investigation of Space and Learning in a STEM Branch Library, Ian McCullough and Jo Ann Calzonetti
Chapter 11 First-Generation Undergraduate Students and Library Spaces: A Case Study,
Karen A. Neurohr and Lucy E. Bailey
Chapter 12 Library Space Redesign: Stimulus and Response –
University of California, Santa Cruz, Gregory Careaga
 
Part 3 Library Space and Routine Assessment
Chapter 13 Watch this Space! Viewing Assessment as a Continuous Process,
Camille Andrews, Tobi Hines, and Sara E. Wright
Chapter 14 Future of Academic Library Space Assessment, Danuta A. Nitecki


Friday, February 2, 2018

Middle & Junior High Core Collection


Corsaro, Julie, et al., editors. Middle & Junior High Core Collection. 13th ed., Grey House Publishing, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-68217-238-4

Note: The State Library also has Senior High Core Collection, Children’s Core Collection, and from a different publisher, A to Zoo, and many more collection development resources.  

Publisher's Description
Middle & Junior High Core Collection, (13th Edition, 2017) is a guide to over 11,000 fiction and nonfiction books recommended for children and young adolescents, grades five through nine. This volume is designed to address the unique needs of younger adolescent readers and help school media specialists and young adult librarians locate highly recommended titles to strengthen their collection.

New & Expanded Coverage

This new edition covers thousands of titles not previously included. It provides immediate access to the Most Highly Recommended and Core Collection level titles for middle school students and teachers. In addition, particular attention has been paid to developing areas of computers, math, and the sciences.

For many years, librarians have relied on Middle & Junior High Core Collection to help build their collection and for many other important uses:
  • Purchasing & Title Selection. With easy access to price, ISBN and publisher information, selecting and ordering titles is quick and easy.
  • User Service & Readers’ Advisory. Every title in this Core Collection is a recommended work of its kind and can be given with confidence to a student or teacher who expresses a need based on topic or genre.
  • Curriculum Support. The indexing, annotations, and grade level designations are incredibly helpful in identifying materials for classroom use.
  • Collection Development & Maintenance. This Core Collection identifies titles that are recommended to add, or keep, in a collection. This helpful insight helps facilitate decisions to rebind, replace, or discard items.
  • Professional Development. This edition features library science titles specifically addressing collection development for this age group.
Bibliographic & Cataloging Data, Descriptions & Reviews

Individual entries provide a wealth of much-needed information at a glance.
  • Complete Bibliographic & Cataloging Data
  • Price, ISBN and Publisher Data make purchasing titles quick and easy
  • Suggested Subject headings, Grade Level & Dewey Classification
  • Content Descriptions & Quotations from Select Reviews are incredibly useful when evaluating books for selection and in determining which is best suited for the individual reader.
  • Additional notes describe sequels and companion volumes, editions available, awards, and publication history.
  • Starred listings highlight over 2,400 “Most Highly Recommended” titles
Easy-to-use Arrangement
  • Nonfiction, provides immediate access to over 6,500 nonfiction titles, arranged by Dewey Decimal Classification.
  • Fiction, arranged by author, recommends nearly 4,200 of the best fiction for young adolescent readers. This volume now includes graphic novels too!
  • Story Collections, arranged by author, highlights over 100 of the best story collections for students in grades five through nine.
In-depth Indexing

An in-depth Author, Title, and Subject Index provides users with thousands of ways to navigate this rich collection of recommended titles. Whether searching by author, title or by one of the hundreds of subject areas found in the index, librarians can easily locate titles that will round out their collection.

The Middle & Junior High Core Collection is an essential resource for library and media specialists looking to enhance and enrich their collection with the most important and highly recommended titles currently available. No library media specialist should be without the helpful collection development and curriculum support guidance that this collection can provide.

Sample pages from the prior edition