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The Use of Reviewing Journals in School Libraries

Amanda Credaro Š1999-2006

BACKGROUND

One of the major functions of a school library is to "resource the curriculum" (Learning for the Future, 1994:18), but with over 3 million school students in Australia divided amongst some 11,000 schools (Hazell,1990), the variation in local needs (Van Orden, 1995) is enormous.

Kachel (1997) notes the difficulty in developing an appropriate collection due to budgetary restraints. The special needs of individual students must be considered, be these multicultural, disabled, or gifted and talented (Van Orden, 1995), together with other considerations such as Departmental policies regarding gender equity and indigenous peoples' issues.

Whilst the ultimate goal of collection development must be to create a 'balanced' collection, there is disagreement as to what actually constitutes a 'balanced' collection. Henri (1992:13-14) considers a collection to be balanced when there are equal numbers of print and non-print resources; materials are provided that present the arguments for both sides on controversial issues; and there exists a combination of both "demand" items and quality resources. However, Blair (1978:98) contends that a balanced collection is one that equally addresses the needs of the curriculum, the library users' interests plus the ability range of the students.

Further, there are varying opinions as to the purpose of the school library itself. Van Orden (1991) stresses the need to focus on resourcing the curriculum, this being the primary goal of the school library. Van Orden (1991) stresses the need to focus on resourcing the curriculum, this being the primary goal of the school library. Lacey (1998) states that the school library is much more than a resource repository, and also fulfils other purposes including the provision of recreational reading.

The development of the collection must consider a prioritorisation of expenditure within the budgetary limitations, in consideration of the expectations of the school's community, the resourcing of the curriculum, and the goals of the school library itself.

Further, the sheer volume of resources from which to select compounds the difficulties in creating and maintaining an appropriate collection. In 1996, some 6,841 titles were published in Australia (Independent Publisher's Association, 1998) with Nelson (1999) estimating that some 1,000 books per day are published internationally. In the United States alone, 9,000 periodical titles are produced each year. Simba Information (1998) states that in excess of US$8 billion results from book sales in the retail sector, with an additional US$4 billion resulting from the library publishing industry. At the time of writing, statistics for the release of computer software, video recordings and other information formats were not available.

From this vast pool of information resources and recreational material, the 'building blocks' of the library collection are located. The herculean task of selection is reduced to manageable proportions by the use of appropriate 'selection tools' (Curriculum Corporation, 1994).

Dow (1998) provides guidance as to the variety of selections tools available, which include reviewing journals, specialist subject periodicals, annoted bibliographies and curriculum guides. Further, Gorman and Kennedy (1992) indicate that selection aids may fall into two general categories; "alerting devices", which bring resources to the attention of the selector, or "evaluative" resources which provide an assessment of the resource.

BOOK REVIEWS (General)

Reviewing tools that deal with books are considered first on the grounds that this information format is possibly the most difficult to assess for suitability as an addition to the collection. This is the resource that most probably will be requested for purposes of recreational reading, and forms the greater part of "new releases" from the publishing industry.

The Australian Book Review was selected for its Australian content , the wide scope of coverage, and the depth of the individual reviews.

This reviewing tool is published ten times per year, and thus produces information that is current. Up to the December, 1998 issue was produced by the National Book Council, giving the publication an unquestionable authority. However, as of the February, 1999 issue, the Review will be published by "an incorporated association" under the same editorial committee previously directing the publication.

The contents are arranged in broad subject areas, with feature articles being written by prominent figures in Australian culture. For example, the December, 1998 issue featured an essay A Meaningful Life, written by Peter Singer, with Peter Craven contributing Essaying Non-fiction.

Individual reviews are written by a mixture of academics, authors and editors of other literary magazines. The number of reviews per issues varies, but is typically around 30 items. The type of Items selected for review are those deemed to be qualified for inclusion under the classification "quality literature". It is noted that the reviews are analytical in nature, and are of high quality in regard to content.

The format of the publication is staple-bound print-based, high quality gloss paper. Publicised on the Internet at http://www.vicnet.net.au/~abr/subs.htlm, the electronic medium provides links to sample reviews from the publication.

Bibliographic Details:

Uniform title: Australian book review (Melbourne, Vic.).
Title: Australian book review.
Published: Melbourne: National Book Council.
Subject: Australian literature - periodicals
Australian literature - 20th Century - History and criticism
Books - Reviews - Periodicals
Note: Imprint varies.
10 issues per year.
Subscription A$55 per annum.
ISSN: 0155-2864

BOOK AND OTHER MATERIAL REVIEWS (School usage)

Considered as second in ranking, this type of tool is necessary to alert the selector as to the existence of new material.

SCAN was selected as D....... Technology High School is a NSW state government educational institution, and SCAN is published by the NSW Department of Education and Training, the governing body of the school. it is expected that resources indicated in this publication are generally suitable for inclusion in the school's library collection.

This reviewing tool is published four times per year, with potential contributors being required to undergo assessment prior to acceptance as a reviewer. The review panel consists almost entirely of practising teacher librarians with "demonstrated curriculum expertise; relevant teaching experience; excellent writing skills; ... and demonstrated understanding and knowledge of [departmental] curriculum priorities". This provides some authority control of the appropriateness of the reviewers.

The format of the publication dual, with hard copy being staple-bound print-based,heavy density matt paper. Included on the departmental website at http://www.dse.nsw.edu.au/staff/F2/TILT/support/cdrom/htm, an electronic supplement provides access to CD-ROM reviews. However, the editors of SCAN caution that the reviews of computer-ware are not intended as endorsements, but rather a cross section of "recent publishing across the KLAs", with resources being in alphabetical order by title.

The number of reviews per issues varies, but is approximately 150 items. Book format reviews dominates the type of Items (over 90%) in the print version, but video recordings are also included. Additionally, the periodical provides reviews of Internet sites, with featured articles. There are no featured reviews.

It is noted that the reviews vary between descriptive and analytical in nature, depending on the individual reviewer. Depth of reviews are limited, with fifty to a hundred words being typical. As the items selected for review are restricted to those submitted by publishers, it could be stated that the publication has an an advertising component, and primarily functions as an 'alerting tool'.

There is no table of contents in the print version. Resources are grouped by broad subject categories, with picture books and fiction being arranged alphabetically by
author. Other resources are located in Dewey order.

Both the hard copy and electronic supplement provide an indication of the age and developmental level at which the resource is aimed. In the electronic supplement, there is information regarding the availability of the resource, in addition to an evaluative review.

Bibliographic Details:

Uniform title: SCAN (Sydney, NSW).
Title: SCAN.
Published: Sydney: Department of Education and Training.
Subject: Books - Reviews - Periodicals
Note: Imprint varies.
4 issues per year.
Subscription A$60 per annum for NSW government schools,
A$65 p.a. for Australian non-government schools, interstate and
personal subscribers, A$80 for overseas subscribers.
ISSN: 0726-4127.

SOFTWARE REVIEWS (General)

Superkids Educational Sofware Review is considered as the third reviewing tool as it contains international content and is much more comprehensive in coverage of software than the SCAN reviews. In order to confirm the comparison between the reviews, an assessment of Encarta Encyclopaedia was undertaken. It was found that the SCAN review was brief and descriptive, whilst the Superkids review of the same item covered the resource in much more detail, and was analytical in approach.

Produced by Knowledge Share LLC, the Superkids reviews of each resource are conducted by a team consisting of a student, an academic or practising teacher plus a parent (Maisel, 1999). Each member of the reviewing team is supplied with an evaluation proforma, copies of which are available via the website. Whilst the identity of the reviewers is not revealed, the team approach leads to a satisfactory authority for the review. Additionally, a greater depth of analysis is achieved by an examination of the resource from multiple perspectives.

Features of this reviewing tool are the rating system applied to each resource, plus a price survey and the availability of information on alternative resources. Additionally,
product support is available for the software programs. Also included is a "best seller" list which is updated monthly.

Every month , a particular subject area or age group are targeted, with hyperlinks available for each of these focuses. In addition, the full spectrum of reviews are available from a searchable database.

Whilst there are no featured reviews, there are featured articles pertaining to issues regarding the use of technology in education.

Bibliographic Details:

Uniform title: Superkids educational software review [online database].
Title: Superkids Educational Software Review.
Published: Knowledge Share LLC.
Subject: Computer software - Reviews and criticism.
Note: Updated monthly.
Free subscription.
Available: http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/contents.html

COMPARISON OF REVIEWING TOOLS

The authority for each of the three reviewing tools is appropriate for use by a teacher librarian to assess the suitability of an item for inclusion in the school library's collection.

Possibly the greatest difference between the reviewing tools is that of intended users (Lining, 1998). The Australian Book Review (ABR) is primarily intended for use by librarians in general, whilst SCAN targets teachers and teacher librarians in particular. Superkids states that it is intended for use by teachers and parents. It is this difference in intended audience that dictates the other differences that are apparent.

The depth of coverage varies between each of the tools. In ABR, reviews typically are of several hundred words. The analytical content is intended to indicate the literary merit of each item under assessment, in order to inform librarians of the item's value as an

addition to the collection. SCAN , being more of an alerting tool, restricts coverage to one to two hundred words to give a general indication of the content of the item under examination. Superkids also provides several hundred words of coverage, but considers the value of the item from several different perspectives.

Access to contents (Lining, 1998) varies between the three tools. ABR contains a table of contents divided into broad subject categories. SCAN has no contents table, but broad subject headings in the print version, with an alphabetical listing by author in some parts and a Dewey listing in others. The SCAN Internet based CD-ROM supplement lists resources alphabetically by title. Superkids provides a hyperlinked subject area function together with a searchable database.

There is little similarity between the three tools, apart from the fact that they all contain reviews of resources that are potentially of educational use that may be suitable for a school library.

CONCLUSION

Thus, each of the reviewing tools selected for use at Doonside THS serves a different purpose. Australian Book Review may be used to assess book-type items under consideration as potential additions to the collection as "quality" literature. SCAN serves to alert the selector to items for consideration as curriculum support material. Superkids provides both assessment and notification for information in electronic format.

The use of these reviewing tools will assist the selector in achieving a "balanced" library collection that supports the school's goals, whilst providing resources that assist in being responsive to the library users' personal growth and development.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blair, S. (1978). Teachers and the school resource center. Canadian Library Journal 35 (2), pp 93 - 99.

Dow, J. (1998). Issues in collection management. In K. Dillon and J. Henri (eds) Providing More With Less: Collection Management in Australian School Libraries . Wagga Wagga: Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University. pp 181 - 197.

Gorman, G.E. and Kennedy, J. (1992). Collection development for Australian libraries . Wagga Wagga, NSW: Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University. pp 300 - 302.

Hazell, A. (1990). School library and information services in Australia. In M. Nimon and A. Hazell (eds) Promoting learning: Challenges in Australian librarianship. Adelaide: Auslib Press. pp 17 - 22.

Henri, J. (1991). Collection development in school libraries: Points for debate. In K. Dillon (ed.) Collection development: Issues in selection for school libraries. Sydney: ALIA School Libraries Section (NSW). pp 1 - 17.

Henri, J. (1998). Introduction to collection management. In K. Dillon and J. Henri (eds) Providing More With Less: Collection Management in Australian School Libraries . Wagga Wagga: Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University. pp 13 - 24.

Kachel, D. (1997). Placing collection assessment in context. In Collection assessment and management for school libraries: Preparing for cooperative collection development. Greenwood: Westport, CT. pp1 - 18.

Lacey, S. (1998). Letter to the Minister for Education and Training, John Aquilina. 17 April, 1998. For, and on behalf of the Illawarra School Librarians Association. Available. Online. Accessed 18 Dec, 1998.

Lining, L. (1998). Selection and acquisition. In K. Dillon and J. Henri (eds) Providing More With Less: Collection Management in Australian School Libraries . Wagga Wagga: Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University. pp 61-81.

Maisel, Andrew. Re: Superkids Reviews . Email to Amanda Credaro. 3rd April, 1999.

Van Orden, P.J. (1995). The collection program. In The collection Program in Schools:
Concepts, Practices and Information Sources. (2nd edn). Englewood, Colo: Libraries Unlimited. pp 10 - 21.

Updated April 22, 2001. Reformatted and moved to this site December 28, 2006.