Frequently Asked Questions
About Booklist Publications
Mission Statement:
As the book review journal of the American Library Association, Booklist connects library and education workers to the books and resources needed to support and enrich their communities.
Q: What is Booklist?
A: Booklist is a book-review magazine that has been published by the American Library Association for more than 100 years, and is widely viewed as offering the most reliable reviews to help libraries decide what to buy and to help library patrons and students decide what to read, view, or listen to. It comprises two print magazines, an extensive website and database, e-newsletters, webinars, and other resources that support librarians in collection development and readers' advisory.
Q: What is Booklist Online?
A: Booklist Online is the web version of the Booklist print magazine. It offers free content to non-subscribers including a Review of the Day (a highlighted review we're featuring), and a generous selection of additional reviews and features written exclusively for Booklist Online. Subscribers also gain access to digital editions of Booklist and the full Booklist Online database, which contains more than 180,000 reviews and thousands of features dating back to 1992 and 8,000 new reviews and related features every year. Much of that content dynamically linked—review to review, review to feature, and feature to feature.
Q: What is Book Links?
A: Please note: Book Links is currently on hiatus. While we hold off publishing new magazine issues, there is much going on behind the scenes. You can read the details here. You can still catch all the previous issues in our article archive (by selecting the "Book Links" check box in the advanced search) and as digital replica issues (by selecting Archive from the menu of the latest issue).
Book Links magazine helps teachers, youth librarians, school library media specialists, reading specialists, curriculum coordinators, and others connect children with high-quality literature-based resources. Book Links articles provide comprehensive information on using books in the classroom, including thematic bibliographies with related discussion questions and activities, author and illustrator interviews and essays, and articles by educators on practical ways to turn children onto reading. Each Book Links issue focuses on a core curriculum area, including social studies, multicultural literature, language arts, and science. Book Links articles, from October 2009 onward, are available to Booklist subscribers on Booklist Online.
Q: What is Booklist Reader?
A: Booklist Reader is Booklist’s new library patron–facing magazine, featuring diverse readers' advisory recommendations, in print and on audio, for readers of all ages. Each month, the Booklist Reader is filled with high-interest lists that showcase books patrons can read and check out now. Booklist Reader is sharable: the digital-only format means libraries can feature articles in newsletters or on their library’s home page—and print them to keep by the circ desk, too. Best of all, there's no additional cost to Booklist subscribers! Learn more about Booklist Reader and how to share it with your patrons by watching this short video.
* Opinions expressed in Booklist, Book Links, and Booklist Reader columns are those of the author and do not reflect ALA views unless so stated.
Free E-Newsletters
Q: How do I sign up for Booklist Online e-newsletters?
A: By following this link. You can also use that link to modify your e-newsletter preferences.
Free Webinars
Q: How do I register for a free Booklist webinar or view an archived one?
A: Go to www.booklistonline.com/webinars to see what webinars are upcoming and to link to our archive webinar page.
Reviewing, getting reviewed, and advertising on Booklist
Q: Who writes Booklist reviews?
A: Booklist has a large team of book reviewers: contract reviewers, freelance reviewers, journalists, subject specialists, and of course, Booklist editors. If you are interested in reviewing for us, follow the instructions for getting in contact with the editor of the section you're interested in at our Reviewers page. Remember to send relevant samples of your work.
Q: How do I review books for Booklist?
A: If you are interested in becoming a reviewer for Booklist, please contact the editor of the appropriate section directly found on the Reviewers page, with relevant samples of your work.
Q: How do I have my book reviewed in Booklist?
A: Booklist is a pre-publication journal and only considers books submitted 15 weeks in advance of the on-sale date. If you would like to submit your pre-publication book, please visit our Get Reviewed page and follow the guidelines carefully.
Q: Do you review e-books?
A: Booklist recognizes the tremendous growth in the area of e-publishing. However, our core mission is to assist public and school librarians in selecting new works, and the current uncertainty regarding the delivery and storage of trade e-book originals means that these titles can be difficult for librarians to acquire through normal acquisition channels. Please note that the title must be readily available to libraries via easily accessible channels, and that we require a file that we have permission to share with a reviewer (typically EPUB, or, for heavily illustrated works, PDF). In addition, as with print items, due to the sheer volume of submissions we receive for potential review, we are only able to accept e-book submissions pre-publication.
If your e-only submission is easily available to libraries (via Overdrive, Axis 360, 3M Cloud Library, etc.), please query the relevant editor via email for more information.
Q: Do you review self-published books?
We carefully consider all self-published titles that meet our reviewing criteria. However, the sheer number of these titles, combined with our lack of familiarity with many of the authors and publishers, means we cannot cover this fast-growing segment as thoroughly as we wish. Self-published authors seeking an additional route to Booklist’s pages may wish to consider the services of our partners at BlueInk Review, a fee-based review service devoted exclusively to self-published books. Every month, BlueInk compiles a list of their favorites for Booklist, as a service to librarians hoping to incorporate self-published work into their collections. BlueInk was founded by Patti Thorn, former book review editor of Denver’s Rocky Mountain News, and Patricia Moosbrugger, a literary agent who represents several best-selling authors. The company delivers professional, unbiased reviews of self-published books written by critics drawn largely from major mainstream publications and by editors from respected publishing houses. Booklist is happy to bring this curated collection of the best in self-publishing to our audience, and does not accept any money for this service.
Q: How do I advertise on Booklist?
A: Please visit our Advertise page for more information.
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Subscribing to Booklist
Q: What is included in a Booklist subscription?
A: All Booklist subscriptions include 22 print issues of Booklist magazine, 12 issues of digital Booklist Reader, and 24/7 password-access to Booklist Online (one user name per subscription). A subscription to Booklist also gives you access to digital editions of Booklist. Booklist Online contains additional reviews and online-only feature content as well as the contents of the print magazine.
Q: How do I subscribe to Booklist or Booklist Online?
A: You can subscribe to Booklist or Booklist Online by filling out an application online here or through your institution's periodicals sales agency. For renewals, please go here. You may also call the customer service hotline at 1-888-350-0949 and speak with a customer service representative. Visit our Subscribe page for more information.
Q: Do you offer bulk discounts on multiple Booklist subscriptions?
A: Yes, school districts, large library systems, and others can receive substantial discounts by purchasing multiple subscriptions in a coordinated fashion. For a custom quote, please email info@booklistonline.com or call 312-280-5715.
Q: How can I get help with my Booklist subscription?
A: To begin, renew, modify, report a missing issue, or troubleshoot a subscription problem, please contact Booklist, P.O. Box 421027, Palm Coast, FL 32142 (phone: 888-350-0949; fax: 386-447-2321). New orders and renewals may also be submitted via e-mail: booklist@emailcustomerservice.com. If you are having difficulties setting up your Booklist Online profile, please contact info@booklistonline.com or call 312-280-5715.
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Setting up access to Booklist Online
Q: I'm trying to read the digital edition of Booklist or Booklist Reader, but it bounces me out after a few pages. What's wrong?
A: You should be able to see the whole issue without any problem. If you are jumping off from the Issues page, https://www.booklistonline.com/issues, and getting kicked back there after 10 pages, that means that your browser is blocking the cookie that “authenticates” your device. That could be a security setting in your browser. Switching to a different browser often will fix this issue.
Q: Can I read the digital editions on mobile devices?
Yes, you can download the mobile app and read it that way (tablet or phone). You need to have a profile set up first (https://www.booklistonline.com/my-profile), so you can sign in with the app. Download Booklist's free app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. If you have difficulties accessing digital editions, please send an email to info@booklistonline.com. We'll be happy to assist you!
Q: I subscribe to the print Booklist. How do I set up my included Booklist Online account?
A: To set up access for the first time, have a print issue in hand and go to the online profile setup form and follow the setup-steps. You may only register one Booklist Online account per subscription. If you had previously taken a trial of Booklist Online, you may be asked to update your existing profile. By adding your print account number to your profile, you will connect your print subscription to Booklist Online.
For additional help setting up or accessing your Booklist Online account, contact info@booklistonline.com or call 312-280-5715.
Q: Why do I get this message: "You have requested a page of Booklist Online that is available only to subscribers."
A: You may not have logged in yet or your previous session has timed out. You need to be logged in as a subscriber or authenticated user (a user with access via an institutional subscription) to get full access to Booklist Online. Enter your Username and Password in the boxes at the top right of any screen.
For information about the various subscription options, please visit our Subscribe page.
Q: Can I use any parts of Booklist Online without a subscription?
A: Yes, Booklist Online includes a lot of free content, accessible without logging in, including all content on the HOME page. You may also click on any link on the HOME page and read the resulting content for free. This means than many columns, departments and features of the magazine are available to all readers.
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How to share Booklist Reader with your patrons
Add Booklist Reader to your reader services. Booklist Reader is a sharable, patron–facing digital magazine, featuring diverse readers' advisory recommendations, for readers and listeners of all ages. Filled with high-interest, themed lists that showcase books patrons can read and check out now. Booklist Reader is an exclusive service for subscribers and their patrons.
Already a subscriber?
- If you have not set up a Booklist Online profile, then complete this registration form using your Booklist account number. You can find your account number on your mailing label.
How can I share Booklist Reader with my patrons?
You have options on how to share all or some of each issue of Booklist Reader:
- Watch this short video to learn how to share the Booklist Reader with your patrons.
- Adding your library’s unique link code to your library’s website or newsletter will send your patrons to the Booklist Reader landing page. You can display the current cover by inserting the short embed code into your website.
- You can download and copy individual pages for inclusion in your newsletter or on your library’s website. (We ask for attribution as "Booklist Publications" and a link back to Booklist Online.)
- You can also print individual pages to keep by the circ desk.
- Feel free to innovate! Let us know how you've shared Booklist Reader.
Not a subscriber yet?
Does your professional review source publication give you additional monthly printable lists, including LibraryReads and roundups of books and audiobooks for all ages? Booklist and Booklist Reader do. Subscribe today and get:
- 22 print and digital issues of Booklist
- 12 digital issues of Booklist Reader
- Booklist Online archive access
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Using Booklist Online
Q: What do the icons mean?
 The title is available in book format.
 The title is an audiobook.
 The title is available as an e-book.
 The title is a video, whether available as DVD or digital download.
 A star is assigned by Booklist editors to indicate that the title is exceptional in its genre or format.
 The blue ribbon indicates that the title has received an award. Look to the right of the review under the heading "Awards and Honors" to see which award it has received. We list all American Library Association awards and major non-ALA award such as the Pulitzer Prize, Man Booker Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award, and National Book Award.
Q: Do I need to pay attention to capital letters when I search?
A: No, searching in Booklist Online is case-insensitive. You can use ALL UPPER CASE or all lower case or a Mixture to search authors, titles, and keywords.
Q: I revised my Advanced Search, changing the items in Booklist Taxonomy, but the results are puzzling.
A: It's difficult to see all the items in Booklist Taxonomy, and previously selected terms are not automatically erased when you click new terms. Scroll through the entire taxonomy to make sure you only have those items selected that you want selected. You might want to click on the brown CLEAR SEARCH button at the top of the Advanced Search screen, which will remove all search criteria and return to default settings.
Q: What parts of a record does a Keyword search scan?
A: In Quick Search, a Keyword search looks through the entire record, including title and review text. In Advanced Search, you may search on Keyword in Title, Keyword in Subject, or Keyword in Review, alone or in combination. Use the drop-down "Search On" boxes to select your fields.
Q: What are Booklist Editors Recommends lists?
A: These are hand-picks read-alikes chosen by the Booklist editors. These are handy tools for making quick readers' advisory recommendations for people who liked the book in question, or books of its type. The editors use a "book sense" that comes from reading millions of pages. If that’s not enough, you can perform a custom search by selecting your favorite subjects in the original review, then ranking them in your preferred order.
Q: What is the meaning of the “High-Demand Backstory” note I see on some reviews?
A: In our print magazine, an “HD” icon before a review indicates a book we expect to be in high demand on library reserve lists, giving library selectors an opportunity to acquire accordingly. (These titles are almost always reviewed well in advance of actual publication.) The “High-Demand Backstory,” which we preserve online, explains some of the factors our editors have taken into account, such as author or series popularity, prominent media tie-ins, and extensive marketing plans by the publisher.
Q: Why aren't all of the books discussed in some feature articles linked to Booklist reviews?
A: We are working to add links to all of the books we've reviewed in Booklist. Features such as Top 10s will be fully linked because Top 10 books are chosen only from books we've reviewed. Some award lists, however, were not chosen by Booklist editors and there might not be reviews for all of the books in the Booklist Online database. We provide such lists as a service to our users and link to Booklist reviews when available. (For more about Booklist's recommended-only policy, click here .)
Q: How can I read the full text of multiple reviews without going back to the search results?
A: On your results list, select the reviews you want by checking the box next to each title, then click the VIEW SELECTED ITEMS button at the top or bottom of the page. The full review for the first title you’ve selected will display—just click NEXT to get to the next review.
Q: How can I make Booklist Online better fit the way I search?
A: You can personalize some of the features of Booklist Online through the My Profile feature, found toward the right on the top navigation bar. Here you can specify new defaults on the Quick Search menu: the field searched, scope and sections, and the order in which results are displayed. You can also create a subject profile from the Booklist taxonomy and receive alerts when Booklist Online is updated.
Q: Nothing happens when I click PRINT to print search results and when I click EMAIL to send them.
A: You must have "Allow pop-ups" enabled on both your Web browser (Internet Explorer, for example) and your Internet security software (Norton, for example) for PRINT and EMAIL to work.
Q: I still can't get the EMAIL to go. When I click, I get an error message and then the page returns to the previous one.
A: Please note exactly what happens and what error message results and discuss this with your system administrator or send the results to info@booklistonline.com.
Q: Why didn’t the person I sent an email receive it?
A: It may be because emails generated in this way are commonly blocked by spam filters or routed to a spam folder. Ask your colleague to check the spam folder and to query his or her system administrator.
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If you have a question not covered here, please email Booklist Online at info@booklistonline.com.
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