Book selection tools: hints for staff
Useful tools for identifying current items for purchase are identified below. This page was written primarily for Faculty and Branch Librarians, but may interest other UNE staff members. A small number of the recommended links are only available to library staff.
Publisher catalogues
- Publishers blurbs. The Resource Managment Dept of Dixson Library receive many of these, and normally send them out to academic LLOs (Library Liaison Officers). Many book selections are made from these catalogues. Staff may ask the Monographs team to send them catalogues on selected subjects or from selected publishers on the understanding that these catalogues will then be forwarded to relevant LLOs.
- Forthcoming announcements or profiles of interest. These come from vendors, such as Bennetts and Blackwells. Profiles are set up for each School or discipline and news of new titles matching the profiles are emailed to LLOs. Library Staff may be added to these circulation lists by contacting the Collection Services Librarian.
Book vendors databases
Book vendors databases can be used to verify bibliographic details. These databases may also give content details and other information.
- Blackwells Bookshop: this site has international coverage and can be used without a password.
- Blackwells Collection Manager: requires a username and password.
- James Bennett Online: very useful for Australian titles. Library staff have access using a username and password.
- DA database: DA’s database is searchable without a password, but registration provides greater functionality.
Links to many other sites are available on the Technical Services Bibliographic Tools page. The Australian Libraries Gateway tries to provide a comprehensive list of Australian publishers and booksellers with an online presence at
Reviews
There are a number of good tools for book selection. We subscribe to the following titles:
- Australian Book Review, P028.1/A938 (Includes a broad range of subjects but a predominance of books in the humanities and social sciences)
- London Review of Books, P028.1/L847 (Lengthy and brief reviews)
- New York Review of Books, P028.1 N532 (Lengthy reviews)
- The New York Times Book Reviews, P028/N532 (Lengthy and brief reviews).
Reviews in key journals on a topic are useful. When seeking to build up a particular area, it is worth scanning a few key titles. Journals may also publish recommended purchases. An example is the January issue of the American Journal of Nursing (P610.73 A512) which has Book of the Year Awards for the best textbooks published in the previous year.
The Library Journal (New York) has numerous book reviews and is available in full text in ProQuest and Gale Databases. In Gale, put <library journal> in Journal name and <book review> in Keyword. Limit by full text and latest year(s). You can add a topic keyword, eg Agriculture.
- Gale Databases: try keyword search and add <book review> in Keyword. Limit by full text and latest year(s) if desired.
- ProQuest: search on keywords or a subject heading and add <all reviews> as Article type. PQ5000 includes full text of Publisher's Weekly and the Library Journal and presents reviews from a range of journals, such as NASSP Bulletin. Be aware that reviews in more popular publications are not always as rigorous as those in academic journals.