Week Five Prompt

How do different types of reviews affect collection development?

The way that book reviews vary so widely within and among different publications has a great effect on collection development. Librarians have so many different ways to find new books to order, and there are several different factors that influence the collection development process, such as analyzing circulation statistics, keeping the patrons’ preferences and needs in mind, ordering what’s popular, ordering materials which will have a positive effect on the community, and many more. It’s also important for librarians to consult various publications when looking at book reviews and to understand the differences among them because some sites will only publish positive reviews which may make a book sound great, but may also be biased. Many book review publications also neglect certain genres or formats such as ebook-only books or romance novels. Making an effort to order a diverse range of genres and formats will ensure that a library’s collection is balanced.

From the reviews on The Billionaire's First Christmas by Holly Rayner - Are they both reliable? How likely would you be to buy this book for your library?

I would not say that either of the reviews for this book were very reliable. Personally, I found the Amazon review more useful because the reader mentioned a few particular aspects of the book that may make it appealing to readers, such as “clean” language, “dual POVs,” and the suggestion of a possible sequel or series to come. If I was unable to find reviews for The Billionaire’s First Christmas on book review publication sites, I would seek out more reviews on Goodreads. I would also search for this book on Baker & Taylor, the site I use to order books for the library, and review the overall demand for the book as well as a description and any linked professional reviews if applicable. I actually performed a search for Rayner’s book on Baker & Taylor, but it is not available for purchase on there. Therefore, it’s likely that there is little demand for this book and I would not order it. Also, the blog review does mention that the ebook is free on Amazon, so there is no reason I should order this book.

How do the reviews on Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt make you feel about the possibility of adding this to your collection?

After reading the first review published in Kirkus, I would not want to order this for the library. This book sounds extremely depressing and the review is almost entirely negative, until the last sentence in which it is miraculously deemed “[a]n extraordinary work in every way.” However, the differences among Kirkus, Library Journal, Booklist, and School Library Journal are very apparent after reading these reviews. While the Kirkus review was negative and included all of the book’s miserable details, the reviews from Library Journal and Booklist focus on the more positive aspects of the book—the “love,” the “laughter,” and Frank’s “generous…spirit.” The School Library Journal review is almost the opposite of the Kirkus review, and only hints at the sadness of McCourt’s childhood. Instead, this review highlights the “humor and the music in the language” and the “uplifting” quality of the book. If I was to only consult the Kirkus review when considering the possibility of adding Angela’s Ashes to the collection, I might not order it. However, seeing how greatly these reviews from various publications differ, I realize the importance of consulting multiple reviews before making a decision.

Do you think it's fair that one type of book is reviewed to death and other types of books get little to no coverage? How does this affect a library's collection?  

Personally, I don’t think it’s fair that certain genres or types of books are over-reviewed while others get little to no coverage. I think that this affects a library’s collection because most librarians with buying power are taught to consult popular review sites (Kirkus, Booklist, Library Journal, etc.) and look for well-reviewed, best-selling, or starred-review books to purchase. The books with the highest praise tend to be from mainstream genres like thrillers, mysteries, or popular fiction or are written by popular authors whereas ebook-only books or books by up-and-coming writers, for example, are often overlooked. As a librarian, it is vital to keep the needs and preferences of all patrons in mind when purchasing materials. The failure to do so results in a collection that is not as diverse as it should be, and on a larger scale, a library that does not reflect or support its community.

How do you feel about review sources that won't print negative content? Do you think that's appropriate? 

It may be easier to consult sites like Booklist which only publish positive reviews, but you may be missing out on some great titles. Even books with negative reviews may hold value for some patrons and they should not necessarily be disregarded. If a book I’m considering purchasing has a negative review, I don’t take it off my list altogether. If I think the title may still be worth buying, I look for other reviews from various sources and go from there.

If you buy for your library, how often do you use reviews to make your decisions? If not, how do you feel about reviews for personal reading, and what are some of your favorite review sources? 

At the library where I work, I am responsible for collection development of fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. It’s always important to buy popular books because they will have better circulation statistics and they are what most patrons want. However, my background as a writer and editor heavily influences my quest to discover hidden gems, debut novels, and books which do not fall into the most popular genres. The review site I consult the most for collection development and personal reading is Kirkus Reviews because I appreciate their honesty. I also spend way too much time on Goodreads every day, so I’m always coming across new books on there.