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SadakoAs you select materials, consider their value individually and also as part of the collection. For example, you may have a number of books related to the story of Sadako and the legend of the paper crane such as Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. You might explore videos that would be available as a companion to this topic such as How to Fold a Paper Crane. As you read reviews, ask yourself: What information do reviews provide? Why is it important to find multiple reviews?

Your library patrons may have had strong interest in the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, so you might consider purchasing the DVD movie. Before you purchase, look for multiple reviews. A quick way to check reviews is at a sales sites such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon. However use caution when reading reviews that have been posted on the Internet. They often include only part of the entire review. This is often that case at When you see three periods before or after a statement, it means that some of the statement was left out. Sometimes these short quotes are intended to draw the reader into learning more about the product. In other cases, they are used to show only favorable reviews. What do the complete reviews include that is left out of the quotes about the product?

In the past, it was possible to preview films and other materials. Today, very few companies provide preview copies. However many provide short clips. For example, check out the Discovery Channel Store and Library Video.

Because of limited previewing, librarians are much more dependent on professional reviews of products. With the introduction of the Internet, everyone has become a movie critic. As you explore and evaluate review sources consider whether they are intended are consumer reviews or professional reviews.

Consumer Reviews

Many popular publications contain reviews. Some of these have both print and online versions. If you want to do a search for online reviews, consider the Movie Review Query Engine. Also, explore a huge list of Movie Review sites from Edmonton Public Library.

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Professional Reviews

A number of subscription periodicals provide reviews of audio and video materials. Visit the online presence of a few of these resources.

  • Booklist from American Library Association (professional)
    digital counterpart to ALA’s Booklist magazine, you can examine a selection of reviews and articles from the print version.
  • Children’s Video Report (print only)
  • Choice from Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), American Library Association (professional)
    contains a few sample reviews and articles online.
  • Educational Media Reviews Online (professional)
    database of reviews of videos, DVDs and CD-ROMs from major educational and documentary distributors
  • Gramophone Magazine: The Classical Music Website (UK)
    provide information, articles, news, and reviews on Classical Music.
  • Library Journal from Reed Business Information (professional)
    electronic offshoot of print version – aimed at public, academic, and special libraries, contains news, articles, book reviews, best audiobooks, and more.
  • Media & Methods Magazine
  • Publisher’s Weekly (professional)
    articles on audiobooks, no reviews - - mainly focused on print
  • School Library Journal from Reed Business Information (professional)
    for librarians who work with young people in school and public libraries, contains ‘best audiobooks’ list
  • Science Books & Films Online from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (professional)
    critical review journal devoted exclusively to print and nonprint materials in all of the sciences and for all age groups -- archived best videos and software list
  • Video Librarian Online (professional) from Ingram Library Services Inc.
    electronic addendum to the print version, Video Librarian, is a video review magazine: has video and DVD reviews. - best resource for video
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    Collected Reviews and Buying Sites

    These websites are primarily interested in sales, but they often have good collections of reviews and large databases.

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