Book Lists: What we know, what we need to know

by Sharon L. Baker
RQ Vol. 33, No. 2, Winter 1993, pp. 177-180.

Professor Baker's three-page article begins with practical, almost trivial, advice on what librarians have learned about using book lists.

• Lists focus attention on what is available and, sometimes, bring together titles not linked in library catalogs.
• Borrow lists from other librarians.
• Make sure items on borrowed lists are in your library before distributing lists.
• Place lists where readers will find them, not on out-of-the way counter tops.

We need to learn to write colorful annotations that have...

1. "insight into the author's work"
2. "an organized structure"
3. "language that is powerful and evocative"
   

Baker encourages librarians to take an extra 10 to 20 minutes to learn more about the works we annotate and take more care in writing annotations that excite, entice, and captivate readers. She provides several examples.