At the beginning of each month over 1000 new children’s titles are added to the NSLS site , with 200-400 of them hand picked for teacher-librarians. Colin Fidock heads the team that selects these titles. We asked Colin how he approaches this task.

As librarians in the field and at the coal- face of teaching our young, I'm sure I don't have to go into the great detail about the standards of selecting material for a specific library. Rather, I would outline to you the process that I work through each month on the prepublication information that I receive.

I guess you could liken this to many large boxes left by a bookseller! This as you know is a daunting task. I do have four weeks to consider the material about to be released and I have the pleasure of sifting through over 3000+ titles. Impossible you say? True! Fortunately these titles are divided into four main sections, Adult fiction/ non-fiction, and Juvenile Fiction/ non-fiction.

This means that most of my time is spent reviewing material for children and sifting through the adult material for titles of interest, suited to teachers and secondary students. Finally, I also check the non-book materials for suitable items to include.

My experience as a teacher librarian in Primary, Secondary and Community (public) libraries helps tremendously, Needless to say that I have children, both young and adolescent in mind as I discover new titles that they will enjoy or find challenging in their discovery of information. I don't forget you either and hope that you have noticed from time to time a few treasures included for you and school staff.

Having made a decision on the available information (NB - I never choose any title unless I have adequate information) I give it a broad level, primary or secondary, and include it in the school's list.

Naturally I am always pleased to discover new titles by favourite authors and new editions of books much treasured. I am also aware of budget constraints and for this reason seldom include hardcover fiction apart from picture books. These are usually published in hard cover first and then some months later the paperback edition becomes available. This also applies to some non-fiction titles. Reissues are not normally included in my selection but are included in the backlists each month.

Apart from the general standards I apply, do I censor? I guess in my selection I continue to try to choose appropriate material, especially for the very young, but for adolescents I do include titles that focus on specific issues relating to growing up! The final choice of course rests with you as the librarian and the policies your school or college may have in relating to specific material.

Selection for such a wide client base can be difficult and I know that when I was school based I often asked my chosen bookseller to keep eyes open for specific materials. Please feel free to contact me as well so that this task can become a joint exercise in providing the best possible material, items that you want to see more of.

Collection building can indeed be a challenge but it is also fun! What more can we ask for than happy and eager readers clamouring for more!

Colin Fidock
Consultant Librarian

NSLS customers order from over 400 teacher-librarian selected, new forthcoming titles every month.

You can test their quality without cost or obligation, with a six-month trial of "Colin's Picks" our shortlist of the very best title each month.

This free trial is designed to give you a taste of the benefits you'll enjoy by moving to the National School Library Service.

Click here to experience Colin's Picks now.

NB: By signing up you give us permission to occasionally contact you to tell you more about NSLS and why you should buy your books and multimedia from us.;-) Please note that this service is only available to primary and secondary school librarians.

Not the end of the world by McCaughrean, Geraldine 0192719726 Oxford University Press, HB, General, , 10+, 192 p., RRP $29.95 Everyone knows the story of the Flood, the men God chose to survive, the animals that went in two-by-two. But what about the others that sailed on the Ark, the women and the children? This adventure story asks what it was really like when the heavens opened and the world drowned - and what might have happened in the days that followed. With a frighteningly zealous and single-minded Noah; Japheth and his young wife Zillah concerned for the welfare of the animals; the stowaway boy and baby found by Noah's daughter Timna; and the animals themselves, continuing to act as animals do, whatever their surroundings, this is an extremely compelling and at times very frightening story, beautifully written as ever by Geraldine McCaughrean.
Web of lies by Naidoo, Beverley 0141314664 Puffin Books, PB, Literary, , 12+, 192 p., RRP $12.95 Two years after their flight from Nigeria, 14-yr-old Sade, her younger brother Femi and her father are living in a council flat in London, waiting for their claim for asylum to be approved. Sade is upset when Femi is drawn into a violent possibly drug-dealing gang, and even more upset when their father doesn't seem to notice. He's too taken up with his new friend Mrs Wallace, a refugee from Sierra Leone. But when Femi is arrested for murder, and the gang set fire to their flat, the family has to pull together to get through this most difficult time.
Billywise by Nicholls Judith 0747569088 Bloomsbury, PB, Picture Book, , 4+, 32 p., RRP $14.95 In this story, the first faltering steps of a little owl chick are depicted, from the struggle out of the egg, to the final exhilarating first swoop of flight. The lyrical text from a children's poet is complemented by artwork by prize-winning artist Jason Cockcroft.

Art, land, story by Nicholls, Christine 1876288418 Working Title Press, PB, , Art, Aboriginal / Australian, 7+, 32 p., RRP $12.95 Indigenous Australian art today is recognised throughout Australia and the world for its strength and vitality. In her book Art, Land, Story, Christine Nicholls looks at some of the traditions this art has come from and emphasises the continuous links between Indigenous art, place and The Dreaming_the central core of Indigenous law and religion. Sections of body painting, art from the central and western deserts and bark painting from Arnhem Land, highlight the extraordinary diversity that is and always has been a hallmark of Indigenous Australian art.
Paint me a poem : new poems inspired by art in the Tate by Nichols, Grace 071366648X A&C Black, HB, , Poetry - Collections, 8+, 96 p., RRP $35.00 This book is a celebration of the ways in which art and writing can influence and inspire each other. In 1999-2000, Grace Nichols was the first Writer-in-Residence at the Tate. During this time she worked with children from London schools, helping them respond to art by writing poetry. She herself was inspired to write over 25 memorable and perceptive new poems, collected in this book. In addition, Paint Me a Poem contains Grace's highly personal reflections on the paintings and sculptures, as well as fascinating insights into the inspirations for the paintings, written by Colin Grigg, Head of Young People's programmes at Tate. Included towards the back of the book are many lively activities designed to inspire children to write their own poetry and to have fun with language.
100 greatest inventions of all time by Tom, Philbin 0806524049 Citadel Press Inc., PB, , Inventions, , 352 p., RRP $29.95 Here, for the first time ever, is an in-depth look at the top 100 inventions through the ages, ranked in order of their impact on the world. Discover the scientific, historical and cultural factors that determine each invention's rank and read how the inventors brought seeds of inspiration to fruition. Also included is a fantastic array of authentic patent drawings that illustrate with meticulous detail exactly how these ingenious creations actually work. Packed with details of the setbacks and the breakthroughs, plus anecdotes describing the methods and the madness behind the innovations that have shaped our world, The 100 Greatest Inventions Of All Time is entertaining and illuminating reading for anyone interested by the miracles of ingenuity.