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Books
It is almost impossible to do a critical evaluation of a book without physically having it in hand, looking beyond its cover and title, and taking a look at its contents. If you follow the basic concepts of evaluation explained in the overview, you should not have much trouble evaluating books. Listed below are a few extra things to consider when evaluating books.
Read the preface | Scan the table of contents and index | Book reviews resources
Read the preface
A preface is the introductory section of a book that provides explanatory information about the contents and purpose of the book. Sometimes the preface will be located on the back or on the last few pages.
Scan the table of contents and index
The table of contents consists of the subheadings of different sections and chapters of a book, while the index is an alphabetical arrangement of material located in the back of the book. By using the table of contents or index you can skim through the contents of a book to see if there is any information about the topic you are researching.
Book reviews resources
If you do not have physical access to the book, use a book review to get a short synopsis of its contents. Listed below are reliable sources that give reviews of books.
- Book Review Digest
Lockwood Reference (Index Area) Z1219 .C96 - Book Review Index
Lockwood Reference (Index Area) Z1219 .B6 - Books in Print
Lockwood Reference (Desk Area) Z1215 .P972 - Booklist
Lockwood Periodical Collection Per Z1035.A1 B65
Online: http://www.ala.org/ala/booklist/booklist.htm - Choice
Lockwood Periodical Collection Per Z1035 .C5 - Library Journal
Lockwood Periodical Collection Per Z671 .L7
Online: EBSCOhost MasterFILE Premeir (Press "Connect" > Press "Publications" > Click on "L" for Library Journal > Scroll down the list of journals to "Library Journal" > Select "Library Journal" for full-text online issues.)
- New York Times Book Review
Lockwood Periodical Collection Per AP2 .N65
CAPEN Multimedia Center MicFilm AN256. N52
Undergraduate Periodicals (Current three months. No call number.)
Online (2001 to present): Literature Resource Center - Publisher's Weekly
Lockwood Periodical Collection (1928-1981) Per Z1219 .P98
CAPEN Multimedia Center (1872-2004) MicFilm Z1219. P9
Online: (1996 to present) ABI/INFORM Global
(1998 to present) Library Literature & Information Science FT
(1997 to present) EBSCOhost MasterFILE Premeir
(1987 to present) Literature Resource Center
(1987 to present) Business Index ASAP
(2000 to present) LexisNexis Academic
(2000 to 2002) Contemporary Women's Issues (CWI)
