General Criteria for the Selection Process

1. General Criteria for the Selection Process Lecture 5

2. Objectives: • By the end of the class, the students will: • Know the criteria for the selection process • Know the resources that can guide you to find recommended titles

3. Learning To Ask The Right Questions • selecting books for children to use at home, in their classroom. Or in their school or public library involves more than “ I like this” approach. • You need to ask some general questions in order to choose the right book. For example: • Who will use the book? • In what ways will they use it? • Will this book appeal to children? • Is this title or similar work available to these children? Do they need access to both? • Does this book offer new content or new approach to the subject?

4. Selection decisions often are subjective. The purpose of establishing criteria is to guide selection decisions in an objective way. • Before making the final selection, think about the following question: • What are the strengths of this book? • What are its weaknesses? • How does it compare with other books?

5. Here’s some practical advice: Not all “good” books meet all the criteria. One can learn from ones mistake. Read and evaluate as many books as possible so you have comparison. observe who uses which titles Have fun as you learn about children's book.

6. Questioning The intellectual content The intellectual content = the idea of the book. To judge the intellectual content, you need to apply specific criteria: • Authority. • Appropriateness of the content to the users. • Scope. • Accuracy of the information. • Treatment.

7. Authority • Authority refers to the qualification of the people who created the book. • Where to find the author information? • Book jackets • Preface of the book • Reference • Their website • reviews

8. Appropriate • The content is appropriate if the reader understands the concept, facts, • Questions to conceder: • Is the presentation appropriate for the readers social and emotional development? • Is the sense of humor understandable?

9. Accurate • The information should be accurate • Questions to consider: • Dose the author distinguish opinions from facts ? • Dose the author present unbiased opinions? • Dose the author credit the sources of the photograph? • Is there an authors note? Dose it identify the sources of information used to write the book? • Is there any acknowledgment section crediting content consulates? • Is the information up- to-date? The last question is important for books about sciences, technology, political boundaries. To check the accuracy, compare the information in the books with a variety of sources.

10. What is scope? • Scope refer to the author's goal or the purpose of the book. • Questions to consider: • What is the purpose of the book? • Dose the purpose meet a known need of the readers? • Dose the author state the limitations of the book? • Dose the book present information with introductory style, in detail, or in a technical manner? Examine the table of contents and the index entries to determine the depth of coverge.

11. How is the treatment? • Treatment refers to how the author presents the material. • The style of the presentation should be appropriate for the subject and the potential use of the book. • Some questions to consider: • Dose the book appeal to the readers? • how dose the book involve the readers? • Dose the book hold the readers attention? • Will the children need the help of adults reading this book?

12. Judging the aesthetic quality • aesthetic quality= the way the book was designed and put together. • Question to consider: • Are the illustrations clear and eye catching? • Is the cover attractive? • Are colors chosen to express the them? • Is there a balance of illustrations and the text?

13. Contrasting with like books • Availability of similar books: The lack of similar books can influence a selection decision. • Questions to consider: • Is there a need for this particular subject or type of the story? • Has someone requested this title or a similar one? • Comparison with similar books: as you compare books, you will develop the ability to distinguish the elements that make a quality book • Questions to consider: • How is the book similar to another title by this author or illustrator? • How is the book different to another title by this author or illustrator

14. Book designed for beginning readers

15. Using selection tools effectively • Where can you find recommended titles to consider for buying? There are many resources to guide you: • Database with reviews • Journals with reviews • Selected bibliographies • Bibliographic essays

16. Databasewithreviews Commercial electronic databases such as BWI, Mackin, and Follett provide extensive variety of titles with links to reviews. Online book stores offer many titles with reviews. For example: Amazon, eBay, Barns and Noble. Journalswithreviews Journals with their reviews of current titles provide the major source of information that helps selction.

19. Selected bibliographies • Bibliographies: a list of works compiled on a specific subject the complete breakdown of a book. Bibliographic essays Bibliographic essays introduce the topic to the reader and evaluate related recourses to the topic

21. Next lecture Selecting a diverse range of works