Prompt #2 - Review Types

Look over the reviews - do you feel they are both reliable? How likely would you be to buy this book for your library?  I would buy this book for my library, just because it fits easily into the romance, chik-lit genre, it’s short and possibly a fast read, plus I wouldn’t be ‘buying’ it since it’s a free download.  Yes, I do find both reviews reliable. As all reviews go, these are a matter of opinion, especially those on Amazon and a personal blog. As far as we can tell, neither reviewer got paid for what they wrote about the book so have no reason not to give their honest opinion.  I did find the blogger’s review hard to read and cringe- worthy with all the spelling mistakes and grammatical errors - not very professional.

How do these reviews make you feel about the possibility of adding Angela's Ashes to your collection?  Since all these reviews come from professional publications, I wouldn’t hesitate to add the book to the library’s collection.  Readers love a good book about WWII and it doesn't hurt that this book is about both the depression in Ireland.

Do you think it's fair that one type of book is reviewed to death and other types of books get little to no coverage?  I don’t think it’s fair that one type of genre is reviewed to death and others get little to no coverage.  How does this affect a library's collection?  I believe this would greatly affect the library’s collection, especially if it’s small and has a small budget.  The collection would be biased towards resources that have mainly professional reviews. And how do you feel about review sources that won't print negative content?  Do you think that's appropriate?   I think review sources should print negative reviews along with the positive ones, as long the language is appropriate and not demeaning.  I don’t think that’s appropriate because if a publication gives only positive reviews of a resource, patrons and libraries get only one point of view and it’s ultimately biased in its favor.  If you buy for your library, how often do you use reviews to make your decisions?  As of now, I don’t work in a library.  If not, how do you feel about reviews for personal reading, and what are some of your favorite review sources?  For my personal reading, I do use reviews for authors I haven't read before.  If I have read the author before, then I usually don’t rely on reviews, especially if the novel is part of a series.  I usually find reviews on GoodReads and BookPage, sometimes Amazon. I also love to listen to NPR reviews and interviews. Since starting the MLIS program, I have used Kirkus, Booklist, and the NYT Book Review as well. Another review source is one of my librarians. She loves reading romance novels and has attended several RT conventions.