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Collection Development: Selection
Selection Reviews, Resources, & Tools
Need help with selection? Ask us!
Special Considerations for Selection
Evaluating Donated Materials
- Consult your Collection Development Policy
- Does the donated item meet the selection criteria listed in your policy?
- Follow the procedures outlined in your policy’s section on donated materials
- Outdated materials or items in poor condition are not recommended to add to the collection
- Unauthorized or advanced reader copies (ARCs) should not be added to the collection
Identifying Bootleg or Unauthorized DVDs
- Beware of third-party sellers from vendors like Amazon, Walmart, and others
- DVD Donations: Check to make sure these are authorized releases before adding to your collection
- Check reputable vendors like Baker & Taylor or Midwest Tape to see if the DVD is available for purchase
- Check the film or TV show’s production company (for example, Netflix) to see if the DVD has been released for public sale
- Use the following tools for further verification:
- Still not sure? Reach out to us at IFLS.
Books in the Media
- Mentioned in the Media (Washington Centerville Public Library)
- All the Books and Albums You’ve Seen on the Today Show
- Books Featured on NPR
- NPR Author Interviews
- NPR Musician Interviews
- CBS Sunday Morning Books
Reputable Reviews
- ALA Review Resources
- Kirkus Reviews
- CCBC’s Book of the Week
- CCBC Choices
- Booklist Reviews ($)
- Library Journal ($)
- Publishers Weekly ($)
- New York Times Book Review ($)
- Tips:
- Try searching NoveList or Libby to find titles with reviews from subscription sources (like Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, etc.)
- Some subscription sources and reviews may also be available in the Library, Information Science & Technology database via Badgerlink
Award Winners and “Best of” Lists
- Awards and Best-of-the-Year Lists (CCBC)
- Book & Media Awards (ALSC)
- Book Awards and Media Awards (Booklist)
- Book & Media Lists (YALSA)
- WLA Literary Awards
Diversity and Inclusion Selection Tools
- Inclusive Booklists (ALA)
- Diverse Book Finder
- CCBC-Recommended Book Search
- We Need Diverse Books
- NoveList:
- Tip Sheet: “Finding Books that have Diverse Characters”
- Tip: Perform an Advanced Search and use Limiters to find books with diverse authors
Selection Resources & Tools
- NoveList Plus
- Fantastic Fiction
- CCBC Recommended Book Search
- Decision Center Recommended Report:
- Development>Selection>Popular Authors (only shows local demand rather than across the entire consortium)
- Sierra’s High Demand Holds function: Shows popularity and demand of items across MORE
- Children’s Core Collection (Badgerlink)
- Core Collections Complete (Badgerlink)