Ensuring Library Services Ensuring Library Services to Distance Students:to Distance Students: How to Find Book Reviews in Some How to Find Book Reviews in Some

Popular DatabasesPopular Databases

Fu Zhuo, Steve Walker, and Jenny Fu Zhuo, Steve Walker, and Jenny EmanuelEmanuel

James C. Kirkpatrick LibraryJames C. Kirkpatrick LibraryCentral Missouri State UniversityCentral Missouri State University

Ensuring Library Services to Ensuring Library Services to Distance StudentsDistance Students• Part I. IntroductionPart I. Introduction• Part II. Advantages of searching book Part II. Advantages of searching book

reviews onlinereviews online• Part III. Where are book reviews indexed as Part III. Where are book reviews indexed as

full-text?full-text?• Part IV. Part IV. Examples of book reviews in Examples of book reviews in

databasesdatabases• Part V. Designing book review web pagesPart V. Designing book review web pages• Part VI. Book review publications in Australia, Part VI. Book review publications in Australia,

Canada, and the UKCanada, and the UK• Part VII. SummaryPart VII. Summary

IntroductionIntroduction

• As distance education increases in As distance education increases in popularity, the number of courses popularity, the number of courses offered also rises.offered also rises.

• Finding book reviews online is one of Finding book reviews online is one of the areas where librarians are the areas where librarians are making an effort to help distance making an effort to help distance learning students.learning students.

Altschiller, Donald., Sarah G. Wenzel Altschiller, Donald., Sarah G. Wenzel and Diana Zabel. “Finding Book and Diana Zabel. “Finding Book Reviews in Print and Online.” Reviews in Print and Online.” Reference & User ServicesReference & User Services QuarterlyQuarterly vol. 42, issue 3 (2003): vol. 42, issue 3 (2003): 193-205.193-205.

Introduction Introduction

• There are traditional and still useful There are traditional and still useful ways to find book reviews through ways to find book reviews through print sourcesprint sources

• Book reviews can also be found Book reviews can also be found online through databasesonline through databases

IntroductionIntroduction

• How can librarians best use their How can librarians best use their institution’s electronic subscription institution’s electronic subscription databases for distance learning databases for distance learning students, who don’t have access to students, who don’t have access to print sources?print sources?

• How effectively can online book How effectively can online book review tools replace print sources?review tools replace print sources?

Advantages of Searching Advantages of Searching Book Reviews OnlineBook Reviews Online

1.1. Saves TimeSaves Time2.2. Saves MoneySaves Money3.3. More Up to DateMore Up to Date4.4. Broader Date SearchBroader Date Search5.5. More InformationMore Information6.6. Arranged ChronologicallyArranged Chronologically7.7. Alert FeatureAlert Feature8.8. Open 24-7Open 24-79.9. Remote AccessRemote Access10.10.Multiple UsersMultiple Users

Where are book reviews Where are book reviews indexed as full-text? indexed as full-text?

• Methodology: Methodology:

Checking list of periodicals in Checking list of periodicals in Book Book Review IndexReview Index and and Book Review Book Review DigestDigest

Where are book reviews Where are book reviews indexed as full-text?indexed as full-text?

• Fulltext Sources Online; and jakeFulltext Sources Online; and jake

• Database providers and time range Database providers and time range covered in full-text covered in full-text

• Other details: URLs and periodical Other details: URLs and periodical embargoesembargoes

Where are book reviews Where are book reviews indexed as full-text?indexed as full-text?

• Journal of Interdisciplinary HistoryJournal of Interdisciplinary History

• EBSCO: Academic Search PremierEBSCO: Academic Search Premier

• 1998-1998-

• http://mitpress.mit.edu/jihhttp://mitpress.mit.edu/jih

• Delay of 12 Months due to publisher Delay of 12 Months due to publisher restriction.restriction.

Online Book ReviewsOnline Book Reviews

There are many book reviews available There are many book reviews available online through:online through:

1.1. Online bookstores Online bookstores

2.2. OrganizationsOrganizations

3.3. Publishing companiesPublishing companies

4.4. Personal websitesPersonal websites

5.5. Search engines (Google, etc.)Search engines (Google, etc.)

Designing Book Review Web Designing Book Review Web PagesPages

The three most important elements for The three most important elements for finding a book review:finding a book review:

1. The full name of the book’s author1. The full name of the book’s author 2. The exact title of the book2. The exact title of the book 3. The year that the edition of the book 3. The year that the edition of the book

was first published.was first published.

In addition, identify the subject that the In addition, identify the subject that the book review treats.book review treats.

Distance Learners OnlineDistance Learners Online

Distance learners may not have at Distance learners may not have at

hand printed reference indexes in hand printed reference indexes in

their library, but they should have their library, but they should have

access to book reviews through its access to book reviews through its

subscription databases. They may subscription databases. They may

have to exercise judgment in have to exercise judgment in

determining the most useful determining the most useful

databases to search. databases to search.

A relevant book review A relevant book review webpage should:webpage should:

• Be designed for distance learners so that they Be designed for distance learners so that they

can directly access book review databases.can directly access book review databases.

• Have graphics and examples of finding book Have graphics and examples of finding book

reviews online.reviews online.

• Have tutorial software, such as Camtasia, that Have tutorial software, such as Camtasia, that

can also be added to demonstrate examples.can also be added to demonstrate examples.

http://library.cmsu.edu/tutorials/bookrev.htmhttp://library.cmsu.edu/tutorials/bookrev.htm

Popular Book Review Popular Book Review PeriodicalsPeriodicals

Examples of popular book review Examples of popular book review periodicals available in full-text:periodicals available in full-text:

1. 1. BooklistBooklist 2. 2. ChoiceChoice 3. 3. Kirkus ReviewsKirkus Reviews 4. 4. Library JournalLibrary Journal 5. 5. New York Review of BooksNew York Review of Books 6. 6. New York Times Book ReviewNew York Times Book Review 7. 7. Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly 8. 8. TLS, the Time Literary TLS, the Time Literary

SupplementSupplement

Book Review Publications in Book Review Publications in Australia, Canada, and the Australia, Canada, and the

UKUK

• Books in English are published Books in English are published worldwide each year and so are their worldwide each year and so are their reviews.reviews.

Book Review Publications in Book Review Publications in Australia, Canada, and the UKAustralia, Canada, and the UK

• Among English language book reviews Among English language book reviews are those in Australian publications.are those in Australian publications.

• For example, OzLife: Australian For example, OzLife: Australian Biography Index at: Biography Index at: http://www.nla.gov.au/ozlife has book http://www.nla.gov.au/ozlife has book reviews in major Australian reviews in major Australian newspapers and journalsnewspapers and journals

Book Review Publications in Book Review Publications in Australia, Canada, and the UKAustralia, Canada, and the UK

• One database with world coverage is One database with world coverage is Lexis-Nexis, which has a section Lexis-Nexis, which has a section dedicated to news.dedicated to news.

• The database includes the category The database includes the category Arts & Sports News. It has a sub-Arts & Sports News. It has a sub-section, “Book, movie, music, & play section, “Book, movie, music, & play reviews.”reviews.”

MetasiteMetasite

• Metasite: AcqWeb Metasite: AcqWeb http://acqweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/http://acqweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/acqweb/bookrev.html:acqweb/bookrev.html:

1. General review sites for libraries1. General review sites for libraries 2. Individual titles from the popular press 2. Individual titles from the popular press

that that contains book reviewscontains book reviews 3. Scholarly and interdisciplinary titles3. Scholarly and interdisciplinary titles 4.Electronic publications4.Electronic publications

Canadian PublicationsCanadian Publications

• Other reviews are in Canadian publications.Other reviews are in Canadian publications.

For example:For example:

Canadian GeographicCanadian Geographic

• EBSCO: Academic Search Premier and EBSCO: Academic Search Premier and MasterFILE Elite MasterFILE Elite

• Both 1994-Both 1994-

• http://www.canadiangeographic.ca http://www.canadiangeographic.ca

British PublicationsBritish Publications

• And some book reviews are in British And some book reviews are in British publications. For example:publications. For example:

• EconomistEconomist

• EBSCO: Academic Search Premier, EBSCO: Academic Search Premier, MasterFILE Elite, and Business Source MasterFILE Elite, and Business Source Premier Premier

• All 1990-All 1990-

• http://www.economist.com/ http://www.economist.com/

SummarySummary

““There is little written, virtually There is little written, virtually nothing recently, on sources for nothing recently, on sources for finding book reviews. … the library finding book reviews. … the library literature contains very few guides literature contains very few guides on the topic.” (Altschiller, Wenzel on the topic.” (Altschiller, Wenzel and Zabel 2003)and Zabel 2003)

SummarySummary• By trying some of the popular online By trying some of the popular online

sources, students may find the sources, students may find the desired book review in full-text. desired book review in full-text.

• Necessary information includes book Necessary information includes book title, author, publication information, title, author, publication information, and the disciplineand the discipline

• Students need not depend on direct Students need not depend on direct access to book review print sources.access to book review print sources.

BibliographyBibliography

• Altschiller, Donald., Sarah G. Wenzel and Altschiller, Donald., Sarah G. Wenzel and Diana Diana Zabel. “Finding Book Reviews in Zabel. “Finding Book Reviews in Print Print and and Online.” Online.” Reference & User Reference & User ServicesServices QuarterlyQuarterly vol. 42, issue 3 (2003): vol. 42, issue 3 (2003): 193-205.193-205.

• Katz, William A. Katz, William A. Introduction to ReferenceIntroduction to Reference Work: Basic Information ServicesWork: Basic Information Services. 8. 8thth ed. ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2002.2002.

• Slides at: Slides at: http://library.cmsu.edu/tutorials/bookrev.ppthttp://library.cmsu.edu/tutorials/bookrev.ppt

Contact InformationContact Information

• Fu ZhuoFu ZhuoJames C. Kirkpatrick LibraryJames C. Kirkpatrick LibraryCentral Missouri State Central Missouri State UniversityUniversityTel: (660) 543-8128 Tel: (660) 543-8128 Email: Email: zhuo@libserv.cmsu.eduzhuo@libserv.cmsu.edu

• Steve WalkerSteve WalkerJames C. Kirkpatrick LibraryJames C. Kirkpatrick LibraryCentral Missouri State Central Missouri State UniversityUniversityTel: (660) 543-8784 Tel: (660) 543-8784 Email: Email: walker@libserv.cmsu.eduwalker@libserv.cmsu.edu

• Jenny EmanuelJenny EmanuelJames C. Kirkpatrick James C. Kirkpatrick LibraryLibraryCentral Missouri State Central Missouri State UniversityUniversityTel: (660) 543-4148Tel: (660) 543-4148Email: Email: jemanuel@libserv.cmsu.edjemanuel@libserv.cmsu.eduu