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Monday, September 20, 2010

The Selection Process for Reference Materials

As information professionals in Canadian schools, what do you use to evaluate and select the "right" Canadian reference materials?
As Riedling suggests, the selections process for reference materials is planned and purposeful.  Riedling emphasises that meeting curriculum needs is a priority, and I couldn’t agree more.  What works well in one school does not necessarily translate to another.  The needs and learning styles of the students, as well as the instructional styles of the teachers, all play a role in the selection process.  Secondly, the selection policy of the school itself must be considered.    Thirdly, TLs should be constantly reading professional journals and publications for ideas and reviews.  I personally love the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s publications, as well as their annual “Best Books” review.  I also use their web site quite a bit.  Lastly, as Riedling also suggests, we cannot ignore the value of the TL’s own “informed judgment” (Riedling, 2005). 
Informed judgment is an interesting concept.  Do TLs have to ‘justify’ their selections to non-library staff?  We are certainly not immune to judgement or outside scrutiny when we make purchases for our libraries.  I recently purchases reference books for my library –  2 shiny new copies of Guinness World Records 2011!   While many librarians choose to house these in the information books section, they ARE technically reference books.  Do these types of purchases make it past scrutiny for the reference section?  I know many classroom teachers who wish they would disappear (bulky, won’t fit in desks, not enough ‘reading’ in them, etc...).  My justification  for spending the money on these copies is that simple fact that they are popular with students.  Thus, the popularity of reference books as well as their practical use also plays a role in school-based selection. 

1 comment:

  1. Do you use "Resource Links" This is a good print source that is really school focussed. CCBC is also good but is more global in its approach and (I think) a little more generous in their reviews.

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