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Various
Religions | Christian
| Jewish
| Science
Fiction/Fantasy
Selection Sources for Congregational Libraries:
Reviews of Christian Electronic Resources
- ASDAL
Action. Association of Seventh-day
Adventist Librarians.
- ASDAL Action is a triennial newsletter, featuring the Adventist
Resources Column and book reviews. Recent books, theses, and periodical
articles accompanied by bibliographic citations and one sentence descriptions
constitute the Column. Three to five books may be reviewed,
although not every issue contains reviews. Signed evaluative reviews
include bibliographic information. Previous issues are available. Last
visited: 05/2006.
- Books and
Culture: A Christian Review. Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today,
Inc. ISSN: 1082-8931.
- A bimonthly publication providing "evangelical analysis of the books
and ideas that are shaping our society." Extensive interdisciplinary
essays by leading Christian writers mix social commentary and reviews.
Essays are descriptive and critical, signed with credentials, contain
brief ordering information, and encompass religious and mainstream publications.
In Brief column succinctly summarizes five to ten books. Newspaper
format accompanied by black and white illustrations and side bar highlights.
Includes non-print reviews. Indexed. Contains back issues, complete
reviews, and search mechanism. A highly recommended, refreshing approach.
- Christian Book Reviews
- Available since 2005, this attractive site reviews focus on books addressing “the historic Christian faith as it developed from the time of the Apostles to the Ecumenical Councils. The site is not aimed at any one particular ecclesial affiliation but all who see the early undivided Church as a standard for orthodoxy." The purpose and scope of the site are clearly stated and the reviews are lengthy, critical and signed, although lack reviewer's credentials. Each item is assigned rating and cover art is provided. Search the site, use the subject headings, or subscribe to an RSS feed. Well done!
- Christian
Library Journal. Christian Library Services. ISSN: 1097-1262.
- Begun in 1995, this publication became an online magazine in 2001.
The purpose of CLJ is to provide "...reviews of library materials from
a Christian point of view." Reviews, approximately 250 per issue, include
non-print formats and feature both religious and secular publishers.
Often signed by Christian educators and church librarians, the descriptive
reviews average 100-200 words and are arranged by age and genre. Recommended
interest levels, suggested DDC cataloging, series notes, and complete
bibliographic information included. Numeric "quality" and "acceptability"
ratings are unique and potentially helpful, since reviewing guidelines
are provided. Articles and columns provide helpful hints, and title/author/illustrator
indexes round out the publication. A purchasing cooperative is available.
Also indexed by Christian Periodical Index. Highly recommended
for its breadth of coverage, CLJ's unique features make this a worthwhile
purchase.
- Crendenda.
Moscow, Idaho: Community Evangelical Fellowship.
- A free publication published bimonthly in hard copy since 1989 and
featuring book and movie reviews in the Ex Libris column. The
only way to locate a review is by browsing each issue. Lengthy reviews,
written by Crendenda editors, are signed. Complete back issues
are available. Attractive site, but not dedicated to reviewing. Last
visited: 05/2006.
- Denver
Journal. Englewood, CO: Denver Seminary.
- "An online review of current Biblical and theological thought [which]
aims to include reviews of all recent and significant books and published
media relating to the major fields of biblical and theological studies."
Arranged by subject, the signed scholarly commentary averages 500-800
words, while the accompanying bibliographic data lacks ISBN. Arbitrary
numerical entries, designed to organize the journal by subject and submission
date, are confusing. A section providing short evaluations of noteworthy
books is planned. Clearly stated purpose, scope, and audience level
statements are noticeable in a field generally lacking this detail.
Last visited: 05/2006.
- Faithful
Reader
- This Amazon.com and Christianbook.com purchasing partner has a very
attractive, easily navigated site featuring book excerpts and reviews.
Arranged alphabetically by title the book reviews are approximately
500 words and accompanied by author, publisher, ISBN, cover art and
an assigned subject category. The reviews, although signed, lack the
reviewer's credentials. Hyperlinking the subjects and authors would
be a welcomed, simple way to allow users to browse related titles. Other
features include author interviews and short bios, a list of forthcoming
books, search engine, newsletter, and an interactive opinion poll. More
limited in content are the areas devoted to study guides for specific
titles, links to author's web sites, bestsellers, and the features section.
The section explaining the purpose or scope of the site is disappointingly
blank. A separate section is devoted to teens. Last visited: 05/2006.
- Presbyterian
Outlook
- "The online presence of the weekly, independent news and opinion magazine
serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)" contains book and movie review sections. Signed nonfiction reviews average 300-500 words, contain complete bibliographic data. The primarily descriptive reviews are dated. Quite a few titles are reviewed, although no indication is provided to clarify how books are chosen for review. The new web interface allows users to choose a font size, leave comments, see how popular various reviews are with site visitors, and provide multiple methods to save a review. Nicely done. Last visited: 05/2006.
- Reporter
Interactive
- This electronic magazine began in February 1996 intending to provide
"the best material from The United Methodist Reporter and The National
Christian Reporter." The attractive site contains a new book review
each week, as well as an archive of past reviews. Movie, music, and television
reviews are also provided. A graphic image of and short summery greet
the user who must click to read more. The 500-word signed
and dated reviews are both descriptive and mildly critical, depending
on the reviewer. The reviewer's affiliation is noted, although no criteria
is provided to explain how books are chosen for review. Older book reviews
are accessible by browsing the archives area. Last visited: 05/2006
- Tekton Bookshop
Recommended Reads
- A large number of nonfiction religious reviews, from classics to recent
publications, can be found at this site. Both religious and mainstream
publishers are represented, although all reviews are from a Christian
Apologetics point of view. The reviews are arranged alphabetically by
title; the author is duly noted and a reading recommendation stated.
Publisher, price, ISBN are provided. The majority of the dated and signed
reviews are provided by the same person, a former librarian. One could
expect a librarian to know the importance of including selection and
evaluation criteria for book reviews, but these are notably absent.
Conversely, the 50-150 word reviews can be counted on to be a critical,
rather than typical plot regurgitation. A search engine is provided
on the main page. Purchasing partners with Amazon.com. Last visited:
05/2006.
- Theology
Website's New Christian Books Highlights
- "Dedicated to providing the Internet community with academically rigorous
and doctrinally sound theological content..." this Amazon.com purchasing
partner was founded in 1997. Cover art and a brief summary invite users to read more and the user will be suprised by the long, semi-critical reviews. Last visited: 05/2006.
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