Preview Book Procedures Using the Google Spreadsheet

Preview books are sent by various publishers to Doris Miller Center for librarians to evaluate. It is expected that the reviews generated by librarians be shared across the district. To this purpose, we have created an Excel Spreadsheet (on the Google website) that can be shared by all librarians who participate in the review process.

 How it works:

1. Publishers send books to Library Services. The books are cataloged by the Processing Center. Cataloging consists of created a MARC record for each book, creating a spine label, and laminating the book jacket. The MARC record is saved into a preview book database and the book is placed on the Preview shelf in the auditorium.

2. Librarians may select 25 titles at a time. Write the titles you are taking on the  form located on the preview books shelf and leave the list with the receptionist, Yolanda Sauceda.  Ms. Sauceda will add your e-mail to the Google spreadsheet list so that you will have access to post reviews. After posting reviews on Google Spreadsheets, contact Library Services to request a file with the MARC records for the books that were evaluated.

3. Posting reviews to Google Spreadsheets and Documents ----

a.                          Create a Google account - A Google Account is made up of an email address and password of your choosing. Please note that if you already have a Gmail account, it comes with a built-in Google Account. To create the account, go to this link:

https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount

b.                          Let Ms. Sauceda know if you are a first time user so she can create an account for you. You will receive an invitation which will contain a link to the Google spreadsheet site to get started posting your reviews. Log in to your Google account, then click on the link for google documents.. You will see the spreadsheet, scroll down to the end and start creating your review. Bookmark this link so that you can return to it easily and post more reviews. You have to login each time.

c.                          Please follow these guidelines when creating your review:

Column A – author – last name, First initial

Column B- Title

Column C Classification – FIC, NF or Dewey #, SPA, or E or a combination of these designations like SPA FIC

Column D- Publisher

Column E – Brief summary – 1-2 sentences

Column F Review – last name only

Column G – School

Column H – Rating – Excellent; Good; Fair or Unacceptable *

*If you rate a book unacceptable, please explain your rating in the Brief summary/review section. For example, you might say that a book was poorly written or inaccurate.

4. Each time you complete posting your reviews to the Google Spreadsheets and   documents website, send an e-mail to David Hernandez requesting MARC records for your books that you just reviewed. David will send your records on a disk or e-mail your records to you with instructions for importing the records.