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Scoring Guide explained

Books are reviewed in terms of a series of characteristics/parameters/aspects. Each characteristic is scored on a scale of 0 (worst) to 5 (best).

These characteristics are described as follows:

• Pictures and Diagrams: This is the ‘visual appeal’ that a given book has. By including pictures, diagrams, photographs, or even unconventional features such as pop-up flaps or QR codes that lead to online resources, an author can allow a book to communicate ideas to the reader in another dimension and broaden its appeal to a wider variety of readers. ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’, after all.
  • Examples of books that would score highly on ‘Diagrams' are Visual Dictionaries and Encyclopedias (such as many of the DK books), Pop up books, Graphic Novels and Manga, some illustrated children’s books, etc.
• Referencability/Ease of Navigation: This is all about navigating a book and how easy it is to find information within its pages. Features such as a table of contents, index, a glossary, or even something as simple as page numbers, can go a long way into helping a reader seek out particular idea among the forest of paper between the book’s covers.
  • Examples of books that would score highly in ‘Referencability’ are most textbooks (highschool or university level), some junior nonfiction books
• Direct usefulness to library study
  • Examples of books that would score highly in ‘Direct usefulness to library study’ are the titles of the ‘Library Education Series’, some of the ‘How-to-do-it Manuals for Libraries’,
• Pedagological (teaching value)
  • A curious example would be the ‘Head First’ book series since they are authored and designed with the intention of providing useful information in digestible chunks by emphasizing active learning strategies.
• Complexity in Language
  • Anything academic or for professionals and practitioners of various disciplines would score highly in ‘Complexity in Language’. Legal journals definitely count.
• Realism:
  • A recipe book would likely be an example of a resource that scores highly in ‘Realism’ since the aim of a recipe book is to instruct a reader to prepare assorted dishes by following detailed, actionable steps
• Readability
  • Most books that are ‘bestsellers’ would probably have high readability. Many books in the Harry Potter series are said to have been read in one sitting by audiences of different ages.

(How much visual appeal does the resource have?) | None

No pictures, diagrams, photographs, or any other graphics whatsoever are present in the text | A few

Graphics are interspersed sparsely throughout the pages, but the book is still heavily-reliant on text | Some

Graphics are noticeable and sometimes help to reinforce the ideas in the text, but are not common. | Several

Somewhere between 2 and 4 | Many

The resource relies on the unison of text and graphics in order to deliver its intended messages to the audience, meaning that images are frequent and sufficiently detailed. | Abundant

The includes a subjective abundance of graphics, or roughly equal amounts of text and images (~1:1 ratio), or the images exceed the text.

Examples might include Graphic Novels such as ‘Magus of the Library’, highschool science textbooks, or specialist monographs such as ‘The Library - a World History’ | | Reference value of components/Referencibility

(How easy is it to locate information in the resource?) | Minimal

Other than page numbers, there is no way of finding key words or ideas (other than taking notes in a separate book or using page tabs) | Has a Table of Contents + page numbers | The previous features + Title page in detail + index | The previous + Glossary with definitions | The previous + bibliography/links to other relevant sources | The previous + key terms are emphasised + in-text citation is included | | Direct usefulness to library study

(How useful is this resource for learning library skills or finding answers for course assignments?) | Unhelpful and/or irrelevant | Briefly mentions some library concepts | Mentions library concepts but lacks actionable detail | Somewhere between 2 and 4 | Reasonably relevant, and inspiring or insightful | Highly relevant, informative, instructive and encouraging | | Pedagological (teaching) value

(How well is the text designed to support active or course-related learning?) | Just body text. May as well be a novel | Has chapter summaries and/or concept explainers | Previous features + clear learning outcomes | Previous features + review questions/activities | Previous features + thinking tips/mnemonics | Previous features + worked solutions to questions | | Complexity in language

(How technical or difficult-to-understand is the text?) | Readable by toddlers (e.g., picture book) | Readable by primary schoolers | Readable by early highschoolers | Readable by late highschoolers or non-specialists | Readable by students in a tertiary course | Readable by experts, practicing professionals, and/or specialists in the field | | Realism

(How detailed and actionable is the information in the resource?) | Total fantasy, not representative of real world conventions | Fairy tales with ‘morals of the story’ | Fictional but with some basis in reality and educational value | Based in reality or educational but oversimplified | Educational and informative but not directly replicable or instructive | Highly detailed and actionable, like an instruction manual | | Readability

(How smooth or enjoyable does it feel when reading through the resource?) | Dreary and difficult to read through | Boring and/or needs effort | Okay | Interesting and/or entertaining | Insightful and fascinating | Delightful and enthralling, a ‘page-turner’ or veritable ‘bestseller’ |