Proposal+for+NoveList+k-8+Plus

Becky Schaller Media Specialist Liberty Junior High School January 6, 2008 I am proposing that we subscribe to NoveList K-8 Plus for the remainder of this school year.
 * NoveList K-8 Plus Proposal **
 * What is it? ** NoveListk-8 Plus is a readers advisory tool that will help users identify the books that best fit their needs. The K-8 designation indicates that it is suitable for schools that serve kindergarten through eighth graders and it is recommended for middle school students. It also includes books at the high school level to accommodate the reading needs of our more advanced readers. The Plus indicates both nonfiction and fiction books are included.
 * What does it do? ** NoveList k_8 Plus allows users to search for books by author, title, series, or by describing a plot. Additionally, books may be limited to teens (ages 13-18), older kids (ages 9-12) or younger kids An advanced search option allows users to try a quite sophisticated search. In addition to providing readers advisory services, NoveList K-8 Plus also includes author biographies, book discussion guides, curriculum connections, and curricular standards. What I particularly like about this database is that it will interface with the books in our catalog. Therefore, unlike many other databases, the user can immediately determine whether or not an item is listed in our online catalog. If it is, a direct link leads the user to that entry in our catalog.
 * How will it help us? ** NoveList k-8 Plus can be a very helpful tool in determining which books might best close that gaps in our collection. NoveList can help media specialists and teachers find books for particular students. Based on their interests and their reading level. On the Browse panel on the left hand side of the home page, the user may find books that are recommended for different genres such as adventure, adventure fiction, biography and memoir, contemporary, curiosities, etc. If a student likes a particular book, this site suggests other books which they may also enjoy. Teachers can use discussion guides included in this site for various books.
 * Can we get this same information elsewhere for free? ** Information which is similar to that found on much of this site can be found in other places. Follet offers book reviews. Author studies can be found by doing online searches for each author. Magazines offer book recommendations. Searching for this information on other site can be awkward and time consuming. This site has all the information in one place and it is easy to access. Additionally, the interfacing of this site with our own catalog makes it very easy to see whether or not our own collection includes a particular book. This particular feature is unique to NoveList and I believe it will be very helpful.
 * What will it cost? ** A years subscription to NoveList K-8 Plus from EBSCO costs $400 at the regular price. If we subscribe to this data base this winter, it will be pro-rated so we will only pay a fraction of that cost. Through a program with __ ___, schools which sign up before (date) are given a discount and only need to pay - --- for year’s subscriptioin. Therefore, next year we should be able to continue the subscription at this discounted rate.
 * Other Information? ** School Library Journal gave NoveList K-8 Plus an excellent review in it December 2008 issue. A copy is attached.