Library Book Selection Decisions and Selectors' Effectiveness: Differences among Librarians, Faculty, and Students.

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Title: Library Book Selection Decisions and Selectors' Effectiveness: Differences among Librarians, Faculty, and Students.
Authors: Walters, William H.1 william.walters@manhattan.edu, Gormley, John1, Handfield, Amy E.1, López-Fitzsimmons, Bernadette M.1, Markgren, Susanne1, Paradise, Laurin1, Sheehan, Sarah E.1
Source: College & Research Libraries. May2020, Vol. 81 Issue 4, p617-645. 29p.
Subject Terms: *Book selection in school libraries, *Collection development in libraries, *Readability (Literary style), *Decision making, Patron-driven acquisitions (Libraries)
Abstract: This study examines the book selections of 22 Manhattan College librarians, faculty, and students who were asked to make yes or no decisions for 287 books reviewed in CHOICE. It focuses on four research questions. First, What characteristics are associated with selected and nonselected books? Although there is only modest agreement among selectors, yes decisions are associated with favorable reviews, appropriateness for lower-division undergraduates, reasonable price, publication by a university press, and the absence of caveats in the review. The results suggest that selectors are willing to relax certain selection criteria if others are exceeded, that selectors' generally favorable attitudes toward multidisciplinary works do not extend to all such books, and that titles in areas unfamiliar to the selector are less likely to be chosen. Second, What are the key differences among the book selections of librarians, faculty, and undergraduates? Although there are minor differences among all three groups, the main finding is that students' selections are relatively unpredictable and less closely linked to particular book and review characteristics. Third, What are the key differences among the book selections of specialists (faculty and librarians) in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities? Although the three subject groups are similar in their yes/no decisions and in the characteristics of the books they choose, most selectors demonstrate a strong tendency to favor books in their own subject areas. Finally, What individual characteristics are associated with effectiveness as a book selector? Librarians and faculty are equally effective, overall. Faculty have an advantage among selectors without book selection experience, but the positive impact of experience is greater for librarians than for faculty. In contrast, students are relatively ineffective selectors, and their choices are not closely related to those of other students, faculty, or librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of College & Research Libraries is the property of American Library Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Library Book Selection Decisions and Selectors' Effectiveness: Differences among Librarians, Faculty, and Students.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22College+%26+Research+Libraries%22">College & Research Libraries</searchLink>. May2020, Vol. 81 Issue 4, p617-645. 29p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Book+selection+in+school+libraries%22">Book selection in school libraries</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collection+development+in+libraries%22">Collection development in libraries</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Readability+%28Literary+style%29%22">Readability (Literary style)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+making%22">Decision making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patron-driven+acquisitions+%28Libraries%29%22">Patron-driven acquisitions (Libraries)</searchLink>
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  Data: This study examines the book selections of 22 Manhattan College librarians, faculty, and students who were asked to make yes or no decisions for 287 books reviewed in CHOICE. It focuses on four research questions. First, What characteristics are associated with selected and nonselected books? Although there is only modest agreement among selectors, yes decisions are associated with favorable reviews, appropriateness for lower-division undergraduates, reasonable price, publication by a university press, and the absence of caveats in the review. The results suggest that selectors are willing to relax certain selection criteria if others are exceeded, that selectors' generally favorable attitudes toward multidisciplinary works do not extend to all such books, and that titles in areas unfamiliar to the selector are less likely to be chosen. Second, What are the key differences among the book selections of librarians, faculty, and undergraduates? Although there are minor differences among all three groups, the main finding is that students' selections are relatively unpredictable and less closely linked to particular book and review characteristics. Third, What are the key differences among the book selections of specialists (faculty and librarians) in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities? Although the three subject groups are similar in their yes/no decisions and in the characteristics of the books they choose, most selectors demonstrate a strong tendency to favor books in their own subject areas. Finally, What individual characteristics are associated with effectiveness as a book selector? Librarians and faculty are equally effective, overall. Faculty have an advantage among selectors without book selection experience, but the positive impact of experience is greater for librarians than for faculty. In contrast, students are relatively ineffective selectors, and their choices are not closely related to those of other students, faculty, or librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of College & Research Libraries is the property of American Library Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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