Association for Library Service to Children
NOTABLE CHILDREN’S RECORDINGS
COMMITTEE MANUAL
August 2008
FOREWORD
The Notable Children’s Recordings List was first published in the Winter 1977 issue of Top of the News as “Notable Children’s Recordings 1975 and retrospective recordings list”. It was compiled by the Recordings Evaluation Committee of the Children’s Services Division of the American Library Association.
The charge of the current Notable Children’s Recordings Committee of the Association for Library Service for Children is to select, annotate, and present for publication an annual list of notable audio recordings, in disc or tape form, of interest to children, to re-evaluate and recommend change as needed in the ALSC criteria for selection of recordings of interest to children, to identify titles for consideration by other committees evaluating for a specific clientele or purpose, and to carry on other audio recording evaluation projects as assigned by the ALSC Board.
This manual is primarily intended as a guide for committee members and the Chair. It also serves to lay out for public view the orderly process that leads to the selection of titles on the list. It also outlines for future committees how to conduct an even-handed, and orderly selection process aimed at recognizing the highest standards in recordings for children.
Notable Children’s Recordings Manual Task Force
Bruce Farrar, Chair (Nashville Public Library)
Jean Hatfield, (Johnson County Library)
Lucinda Whitehurst (St. Christopher’s School)
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NOTABLE CHILDREN’S RECORDING COMMITTEE MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
PART I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION 5
History 6
Committee Function Statement 6
The Committee 6
Terms, Definitions and Criteria 6
Priority Group Consultant 7
ALSC Policy for Service on Media Evaluation Committees 7
Meeting Attendance and Access to Materials 9
Checklist for Prospective ALSC Media Evaluation Committee Members 11
Guidelines to Publishers and Distributors 12
Electronic Communication 12
PART II: COMMITTEE WORK 13
Welcome 14
Calendar 15
Communication 16
Preparation and Listening List 17
Identifying, Obtaining, and Listening to Eligible Recordings 18
Eligibility 19
Note-Taking 19
Nomination Process 20
Participation of ALSC Membership 21
Annual Conference Meeting (Prior to Midwinter Selection Meeting) 21
Midwinter Discussion List 24
Midwinter Selection Meeting 24
Midwinter: After Selection 26
After Midwinter Selection Meeting 27
PART III: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 28
Introduction 29
Committee Chair 29
Priority Group Consultant 31
ALSC Staff 31
ALSC Membership 31
ALSC Board 32
ALSC President 32
ALA Public Information Office (PIO) 32
Booklist Editor 32
PART IV: SAMPLES 33
Employer/Supervisor Information Form: Sample 34
Letter to Committee Members’ Employers/Supervisors (#1): Sample 35
Letter to Committee Members’ Employers/Supervisors (#2): Sample 36
Evaluation Form: Sample 37
Evaluation Rubric: Sample 38
Nomination: Sample 39
List Announcement/Call for Suggestions: Sample 40
Voting Tally Sheet: Sample 41
PART I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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HISTORY
The Recordings Evaluation Committee of the Children’s Services Division of the American Library Association was established in January 1974.The Notable Children’s Recordings List was first published in the Winter 1977 issue of Top of the News as “Notable Children’s Recordings 1975 and retrospective recordings list”. The committee’s name was changed from Recording Evaluation to Notable Children's Recordings at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in 1998. By then the Children’s Services Division was already the Association for Library Service to Children.
COMMITTEE FUNCTION STATEMENT
To select, annotate, and present for publication an annual list of notable audio recordings, in disc or tape form, of interest to children, to re-evaluate and recommend change as needed in the ALSC criteria for selection of recordings of interest to children, to identify titles for consideration by other committees evaluating for a specific clientele or purpose, and to carry on other audio recording evaluation projects as assigned by the ALSC Board.
Established: 1974
Members: 8 members plus Chair
Term: 2 years
THE COMMITTEE
The Notable Recordings Committee consists of eight members and one Chair. Members are appointed by the President. Members serve for two year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive terms. The term of service begins at the end of Midwinter Meeting in the year under consideration and concludes at the end of the committee’s Midwinter selection meeting.
TERMS, DEFINITIONS, AND CRITERIA
Terms
- The Notable Recordings List is developed annually from recordings for children released in the United States during the preceding year. There are no limitations as to the number of titles nor the type of recordings included on the list.
- The committee, in its deliberations, is to consider only the recordings eligible for the List which:
a) were released in the year preceding the Midwinter meeting during which the selections are made.
b) are currently available through a U. S. distributor
c) are available on audiotape and/or compact disc (new formats will be included in the evaluation based on the recommendation of the Chair and the approval of the Board)
d) are produced in English. This requirement does not limit the use of words or phrases in another language where appropriate in context.
Definitions
- “Respects young people’s intelligence and imagination” indicates either the lyrics of music or the text of an audiobook. This also indicates that recordings to be considered are those for which children are a potential audience. The recording exhibits respect for young people’s understandings, abilities, and appreciations.
- Children are defined as persons of ages up to and including fourteen and recordings for this entire age range are to be considered.
- “Exhibits venturesome creativity” shall be recordings which provide an auditory experience that is appealing to children and that goes beyond the ordinary
- The committee shall consider all forms of recordings – music, storytelling, informational, audiobook, book and recording combinations. Reissues of previously recorded works are not eligible.
- “Released in the year preceding” means that the recording was released to the public in that year, was available for purchase in that year, and has a copyright date no later than that year.
Criteria
Recordings are evaluated on the following criteria:
- respects young people's intelligence and imagination
- exhibits venturesome creativity
- in exemplary ways reflects and encourages the natural interest of children and young adolescents
- depicts excellence through the effective use of voices, music, sound effects, and language
- maintains high standards in aesthetic and technical aspects
- adapted materials remain true to, expand, or complement the original work
PRIORITY GROUP CONSULTANT
A Priority Group Consultant from Priority Group II (Evaluation of Media) is assigned to the committee to deal with questions from the Chair and the committee regarding procedure, personnel, and the eligibility of recordings.
The Priority Group Consultant works with the Chair to review the procedures of the committee and to make recommendations for improving the process. The recommendations range from those that can be implemented easily to those requiring action by the ALSC Board.
Committee members consult the Priority Group Consultant should there be unusual issues that the Chair cannot resolve, particularly issues regarding the Chair.
ALSC Policy for Service on Media Evaluation Committees
ALSC affirms its confidence in the integrity of members who are appointed to serve on media evaluation committees, and in the integrity of the officers responsible for making these appointments. Because of the nature of the work of such committees, those who serve on them must be especially sensitive to conflict of interest situations and the appearance of impropriety. The purpose of this policy is to clarify the eligibility and responsibility of candidates asked to serve on such committees.
Conflict of Interest
It is the policy of the Association for Library Service to Children, its Board of Directors and committees to insure that members in all of its activities avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest resulting from their activities as members of committees of the Association. In particular, no person should obtain or appear to obtain special advantages for themselves, their relatives, their employer or their close associates as a result of their services on a committee.
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's personal or private interests may lead an independent observer reasonably to question whether the individual's professional actions or decisions are influenced by considerations of significant personal or private interest, financial or otherwise.
Confidentiality
While media evaluation discussion meetings are open, portions of the voting process may be closed, as outlined in committee manuals.
Committee members may reveal only their own votes, and may not reveal the votes of other committee members or indicate in any way which members nominated or voted for which books It is understood that all eligible materials are being considered up until the discussion lists are announced.
Guidelines for Media Evaluation Committees
The Association for Library Service to Children grants a number of lists of recommended children’s media, including the Notable Books for Children, Notable Children’s Recordings, Notable Children’s Videos, and Great Interactive Software for Kids, and it is very important that conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest be especially avoided. It is a privilege to serve on a media evaluation committee and with that privilege come specific responsibilities to assist the Association for Library Service to Children in preventing conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest. Each person who is appointed to serve on a media evaluation committee is expected to consider carefully whether any of his or her personal or professional interests, obligations, activities, or associations could reasonably lead to even the appearance of a conflict of interest, or breach of confidentiality, and to discuss any such potential conflicts with the ALSC Executive Director prior to accepting the appointment. Situations that arise after a committee member has begun to serve should be directed to the ALSC President, Committee Chair, Priority Group Consultant, and Executive Director. The final decision rests with the Executive Committee.
Those who accept appointment to the media evaluation committees, should adhere to the following guidelines:
1) Members who have written or illustrated a book, produced or created a video or recording, or produced software that may be eligible for consideration during the period of service on the award committee should not accept an appointment or nomination to an award committee.
2) Members employed by publishers or producers of such media should not accept an appointment to a media evaluation committee.
3) Members who have served as an advisor or consultant to, a creator, publisher, or producer of media to be evaluated, beyond the scope of assigned library duties, such as providing reference service, should not accept appointment if the media on which they advised may be eligible for consideration during the period of service on the committee. This includes writing teachers guides or readers’ group guides at the request of a trade book publisher or media producer.
4) Members should not accept appointment to a media evaluation committee if they have a close family relationship (parent, spouse/partner, son/daughter) or a personal relationship with the creator, publisher, or producer of media that may be eligible which could reasonably be seen by an independent observer to cause a conflict of interest.
5) Members should not accept appointment to a media evaluation committee if they have a close family relationship (parent, spouse/partner, son/daughter) with a person employed by a U.S. trade publisher or a producer of videos, recordings, or software for children.
6) Members should not accept appointment to a media evaluation committee if they, or a close family member, directly own(s) equity (stock ownership, stock options, convertible note(s), or other ownership interest) that represents more than a 5% stake in a U.S. trade publisher or a producer of videos, recordings, or software for children.
7) Members may not serve concurrently on the ALSC Board and an ALSC award selection or media evaluation committee.
8) From time to time, the Association for Library Service to Children may take other action or establish such other guidelines as may be necessary in the Association’s sole discretion to protect the integrity of the media evaluation process.
Meeting Attendance and Access to Materials
Persons appointed to a media evaluation committee should:
1) Be able to attend all required discussion and decision meetings scheduled for the Annual and Midwinter meetings of ALA and follow procedures established by the committee.
2) Have ready access to the major part of the current output of children’s media under consideration. It is recognized that there will be an occasional item under consideration which a committee member is unable to obtain. In such an instance, arrangements for review copies may be made as prescribed in the committee’s guidelines.
Although these requirements may limit membership on a committee, wise selection requires complete participation of all members of the committee.
Violation of any of the above guidelines may result in dismissal from the media evaluation committee and may preclude service from future committees.
Do you understand and agree to adhere to the guidelines for service on the media evaluation committee as outlined herein and agree to adhere to such other guidelines as the Association for Library Service to Children may hand down from time to time?
___ Yes ___No
Signed: ______
date
Name: ______
Please fill out and return the attached checklist.
Policy revised, August 2008
Checklist for Prospective ALSC Media Evaluation Committee Members
Please respond to the following questions. A “yes” answer does not necessarily preclude service on a media evaluation committee. These questions are intended to alert prospective committee members to situations that may or may not pose a problem; the answers will enable the Executive Committee to assess individual situations.
Are you under contract for a children’s book, video, recording, or piece of software that will be published or produced during the period of your committee service? ____Yes ____No
Have you served as an advisor or a consultant for a children’s book publisher, author or illustrator, or a video, recording, or software producer in the past three years? ____Yes ____No
Do you have a close relative (i.e. parent, spouse/partner, son/daughter) who is creator, publisher, or producer of children’s media that may be eligible during the year of your committee service?