Learning Objectives

• Learn best practices for building and maintaining a library collection.

It is impossible to read every book published in a year. One way you can ensure that materials meet the standards in your collection development policy is to consult a variety of reviews, book lists, and awards before making any purchases. When consulting reviews and lists, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Choose materials that meet state standards. 
• Be sure to align collections with the district curriculum.
• Include popular titles students enjoy reading.
• Look for positive and starred reviews.
• Purchase a mix of fiction and non-fiction.
• Include titles that support social-emotional learning.
• Consider students' ages, abilities, and interests. 
• Do a collection analysis to find where the collection is lacking.

The following resources can help you choose high-quality materials for your library. As you read through the lists of books with state awards, consider your curriculum and the need of your students to choose the best titles for the library. Consider using a spreadsheet or other organizational tool to help you organize the titles you plan to order.

State Reading Lists

• Buckeye Children's and Teen Book Award - Students nominate titles as well as vote on final winners.
• Ohioana Book Awards - Awards are given to books in six categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, About Ohio/Ohioan, Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature, and Juvenile Literature.
• Choose to Read Ohio - CTRO spotlights Ohio authors and illustrators and promotes reading across Ohio. Awards are given for the following categories: young children, older children, teens, and adults.
• States Award Books via Vanderbilt University - The university compiles a comprehensive collection of state book awards lists and many national award lists.

 Professional Organization List

• YALSA (Young Adult Library Service Association) Book Finder Database and Book & Media Lists
• American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards
• National Education Association Read Across America
• School Library Journal - School Libraries Booklists
• Common Sense Media Book Reviews
• Horn Book

Book Talks and Book Trailers with INFOhio's Book Nook

Are your students looking for a good book? Book Nook includes hundreds of student-created book trailers for fiction and nonfiction books grades K–12. Students can find their next favorite book by searching for titles by keyword or Lexile level. See this blog post called Pitch the Paper with INFOhio's Book Nook to learn how you can help students create their own book trailers to submit for publishing.

Other Book Lists/Reviews to Check Out

• Fantastic Fiction - This online catalog of authors and books tracks series and updates readers on what is new and coming soon.
• Juvenile Series and Sequels - This website provides all titles for almost 5000 different series.
• Based on the Book - This site lists books, plays, short stories, and graphic novels that have been made into movies or adapted for television.
• Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group (SOYAMRG) - This southwestern Ohio group of library and education professionals reviews young adult materials. Membership is required to participate.
• Reviewers of Young Adult Literature (ROYAL) - This group of school and public library staff reviews books written for YA readers in grades 7-12. Membership is required to participate.

Reflecting on Your Learning

1. Bookmark your favorite lists. Which lists do you see yourself using to help choose the best books for your library? Post your answer in the INFOhio School Library Basics group on Open Space. Share the lists and why you chose them in the Reviews post in the discussion tab. 
2. Include your students in your collection development. Build student choice and voice by asking them to vote on the Buckeye Children's and Teen Book Award or work with a teacher to have students submit book trailers to INFOhio's Book Nook.