online resources
Standard Catalogs: These regularly issued catalogs of children's and young adult fiction and nonfiction serve as benchmarks for library collections. They are available in print and electronic versions. The following are linked to their online components.
Senior High Core Collection and Middle and Junior High Core Collection: This link takes you to the Simmons Library page, where, to access the Senior High Core Collection (was Senior High School Library Catalog) and the Middle and Junior High Core Collection (was Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog), you must select "Library Literature" from the drop-down "A-Z List of Library Resources" menu, where the databases for these catalogs are archived. Once you have reached the Wilson Web, open the "Database Selection Area" to choose one or both catalogs to search.
Online Bibliographies and Selection Tools:
Sunlink's Weed of the Month Archive: Archived weeding suggestions for school and public youth librarians related to a variety of topics and organized by Dewey Decimal number.
Raintree's Weed of the Month: Raintree has continued the "weed of the month" service offered at the Sunlink site (above).
School Library Journal's Thematic Bibliographies, Nonfiction Booktalker, and "Series Made Simple" : Click the "Articles" tab to reveal a drop-down menu; select "Collection Development" and browse the articles, many of which include thematic bibliographies of children's and young adult material OR use the search screen to query "nonfiction booktalker" or "series made simple" and access these regular features related to nonfiction, its recommendation and use
Booklist Online: This is the newly created online appendage to Booklist, and it requires a subscription to access the most valuable content. New users can create a 30-day trial subscription for free access to online content.
Voice of Youth Advocate's Home page: Select "Booklists" from the "What's in VOYA" drop-down menu for a list of the journal's thematic lists of recommended fiction and nonfiction.
Booklist's "Youth Series Roundup": use the search screen to look for nonfiction series organized thematically. NOTE: This ALA-hosted site is an archive of slightly older recommendations (through 2004); check the Booklist journal's website (see link above) for more current nonfiction series recommendations.
The Center for Children's Books' Thematic Bibliographies: University of Illinois' Library and Information Science School's thematic bibliographies of children's nonfiction. The bibliographies include mostly children's literature content, though some bibliographies are devoted exclusively to young adult literature. Note: these are put together by the same folks who work for the review journal, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
ALA's Young Adult Library Services Association's Booklists and Book Awards: Links to the division's award winning booklists. The "Best Books," "Quick Picks" and "Popular Paperbacks" lists include recommended nonfiction titles for teens.
print resources
Standard Catalogs: These regularly issued catalogs of children's and young adult fiction and nonfiction serve as benchmarks for library collections. They are available in both print and online form.
Senior High School Library Catalog: The print version of H.W. Wilson's standard catalog of recommended fiction and nonfiction for senior high libraries. The catalog is organized by Dewey Decimal number (nonfiction) and author (fiction). The latest print version of the catalog is available in the library's Reference Collection--Z1037.W77
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog: Like the above title, this is the print version of the H.W. Wilson standard catalog. Where the Senior High School Library Catalog focuses on titles for grades 9-12, this catalog deals with material for readers in grades 6-8. The catalog is organized by Dewey Decimal number (nonfiction) and author (fiction). the latest print version of the catalog is available in the library's Reference Collection--Z1037.W765
Selected Topical and Thematic Bibliographies: Bibliographic resources in print are compiled by teachers, librarians, editors and organizations. Be sure to consider the goals of each person or association invested in the creation of the bibliography as you examine their selections. Take note of the publication dates of each resources, particularly those that recommend science books.
- A Core Collection for Young Adults, by Patrick Jones, Patricia Taylor and Kirsten Edwards (2003)--this is, to date, one of the definitive bibliographies for young adult collections. Copies of this title are available in the Circulating Collection at Z1037.J66 2003.
- Your Reading: An Annotated Booklist for Middle School and Junior High, edited by Jean E. Brown and Elaine C. Stephens (2003)--published under the auspices of the National Council of Teachers of English, this bibliography features detailed and lengthy annotations of fiction and nonfiction titles. Note: new editions of this bibliography are issued regularly, be sure to check the publication date! Available in the Circulating Collection at Z1037.Y68 2003.
- Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, compiled by NCTE (2001)--like Your Reading, this is another National Council of Teachers of English bibliographic resource that features the same attention to detail and inclusion. Available in the Circulating Collection at Z1037.G217 2001.
- The Guy-Friendly YA Library: Serving Male Teens, by Rollie James Welch (2007)--part guide to library services, part guide to book evaluation and bibliography of fiction and nonfiction with guy-appeal, this new title may alert readers to overlooked titles and alternative formats. Available in the Circulating Collection at Z718.5 W45 2007.
- Library Materials and Services for Teen Girls, by Katie O'Dell--like The Guy-Friendly Library, this book is part guide to teen librarianship and part bibliographic resource. Featuring both fiction and nonfiction recommendations, consult this guide to balance selections from the above bibliography. Available in the Circulating Collection at Z718.5 O34 2002.
- Serving Older Teens, edited by Shiela B. Anderson (2004)--this book from the "Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians" includes tips for serving older teens as well as lists of recommended nonfiction titles, broadly organized by theme. Available in the Circulating Collection at Z718.5 S48 2004.
- Recommended Books in Spanish for Children and Young Adults, 2000-2004, by Isabel Schon (2004)--this is
the lastest version of Schon's bibliographic guide to books in Spanish for children and young adults. Earlier editions
featured titles from 1991-1995 and 1995-2000; these older editions are available in the Beatly Library circulation collection.
The newest version (2000-2004) is available in the Reference Collection at Z1037.7S3871 2004.