Reviewing for Fun, Professional Satisfaction, and (No) Profit

One of the superpowers librarians develop in the course of their work is recognition of what makes a book (or website, database, or other resource) a "good" one, that is, one that is a worthwhile purchase and worth recommending to users. A range of opportunities exists for librarians to write reviews of resources to aid fellow professionals in collection development, particularly in areas of particular expertise. In addition to ALA-affiliated and independent review publications, there are also at least three Florida-specific opportunities to evaluate books by Florida authors or on Florida subjects; these reviewers can be encouraging and instructional to authors with works in progress. While none of these reviewing opportunities pay for the reviewer's input, reviewing can be rewarding. Reviewing assists the library community at large and can be useful to note on resumes as professional activity. And, yes, the reviewer often gets a copy of a physical reviewed item. The panelists will present reviewing opportunities with Library Journal, Booklist, Choice, the Florida Book Awards, the Florida Writers Association, and the Florida Authors and Publishers Association; how to apply to review for these publications or groups; and what a useful review should include.

Track

Libraries & Books

Presenters

Teresa R. Faust, College of Central Florida

Jenni McKnight, Florida State University Libraries

Diane Colson, Howard Bishop Middle School

Chris Coward, Florida Writers Association

Diane Colson, currently Media Specialist at Howard Bishop Middle School, Gainesville, has mainly worked in public libraries. She started reviewing young adult books for the Voice of Youth Advocates in 1999, and later added Booklist and BookPage. She’s always been active with the Young Adult Library Services Association, participating in a number of book award and selection committees over the years, including a year as chair of the Printz Award Committee.

Chris Coward is a past president of the Florida Writers Association (FWA), longtime member of the FWA board of directors, and chairperson for FWA’s 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards (RPLA) competition. Chris has ghostwritten for presidential appointees and CEOs, headed corporate marketing departments, edited national magazines, and taught college English. She has an MA in English (concentration in professional writing and editing) from George Mason University and a BA in philosophy from the College of William and Mary.

Jenni McKnight is a Project Services Manager at the Florida State University Libraries and the Executive Director of the Florida Book Awards.

Teresa R. Faust, Library Director at the College of Central Florida, has reviewed adult reference and science books and websites for Choice and Library Journal for over 20 years, and has judged entries for the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards and the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Book Awards for the past few years.
 

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