Resources for new School Library Collection

November 30, 2022 7:55 PM

I’m an elementary school librarian and will be receiving a brand new collection of books next year. The books will be supplied by, um, a very large vendor, and colleagues of mine who’ve recently received new collections curated by this vendor have not been entirely pleased. I’m in charge of what books we’ll receive, can request specific titles, veto the vendor’s choices and otherwise control the process. What resources will help me curate the best elementary school library collection ever?

I mean, obviously there are award lists and I’ll be using those. But I wonder if anyone has taken award lists, SLJ and Hornbook starred reviews, etc. and assembled an organized approach to getting the best of the best into a collection, with an eye towards balance between NF subjects. I also have vague memories from library school that there IS a company that attempts to curate helpful lists for this purpose, but I never learned anything about them or whether they’re worth using. (Was the company called ‘Wilson?’)

posted by carterk to Education (7 answers total)

HW Wilson is a reference company that publishes data bases for use in building library collections, but most of their resources are more expensive than they are worth. I generally prefer Mackin over Follett for school library book purchases, but both vendors have a lot of ways that can help you develop your collection, both in terms of people who can make lists, as well as apps on their websites that help balance your collection, and different ways of searching- for example by how many reviews the title got from various review publications. Mackin has librarians on staff, and their lists reflect that fact. I am in the process of unpacking a $90,000 opening day collection from Mackin that I had no say in purchasing (I started at my new school library in September, and books were ordered last spring.) My biggest issue is that there are triplicates of some titles, but I plan on bringing that up to my sales rep. Collection development is a long process, and having lists complied to start from are a good idea. It is also a good idea to examine the subjects taught at your school, and the grade levels in order to make informed purchases. Happy to chat more via email, and to share some lists I compiled in my last district.
posted by momochan at 8:35 PM on November 30, 2022

What country are you in?
posted by NotLost at 9:48 PM on November 30, 2022

Response by poster: I’m in Seattle, thanks.
posted by carterk at 6:20 AM on December 1, 2022

School Library Journal has good reviews. I hear Horn Books magazine does too but I haven't looked at it myself. Kirkus has good reviews I believe. Sometimes I use NY Times reviews too (it's free with my public library). I also like just going to bookstores and taking note of their displays. If you want to message me, I can tell you what my students have really been liking and checking out, too!
posted by bookworm4125 at 9:15 AM on December 1, 2022

Oh, you can also get a Junior Library Guild subscription and somewhat curate it to your tastes. Sometimes they send great stuff. Sometimes it's ok.
posted by bookworm4125 at 9:17 AM on December 1, 2022

I am also watching a BER course about the best children's books and the presenter told us about this list. Looks great.
posted by bookworm4125 at 11:11 AM on December 1, 2022

If your school participates in the Battle of the Books competition (generally grades 3-5), you will want to cross reference the list/s so you know what great titles will be in high demand one year, followed by a surplus of paperbacks the next year.

Their curated lists really developed a love of reading with my sons, and were inclusive and diverse.
posted by childofTethys at 5:24 PM on December 1, 2022