LIBE 467 Assignment 1

 Evaluation of a Reference Work 

Background Information:

Lakeview Elementary School is a kindergarten to grade 5 school located in a small village outside of a medium-sized city. There are currently 70 students, 4 teachers, and 4 non-enrolling teachers. The library print collection is large but extremely outdated. There is one class set of laptops that are signed out by teachers using a temporary schedule. Because of the small size of the school, the budget to replace resources is limited. The reference section consists of a large set of 2002 Encyclopedias (since weeded) and one large atlas which will be evaluated in Part 1 of this assignment. There are also subject specific encyclopedias and fact books shelved within the non-fiction collection. 

 

Part 1 – Evaluation of The Atlas of Canada and the World. Text by Norman Hillmer. Designed by Philip D Clucas Msiad. Edited by Joseph, F. Ryan.

Personal photo, 2022

 Rubric:

This resource was published by Whitecap, a well recognized reputable Canadian publishing company, but one that appears to have little expertise in geographical works. The publishing company is renowned for its culinary publications (Whitecap.ca, 2022).  The author, Norman Hillmer, is a history professor at Carleton University and appears to be a respected author and scholar in the field of history and foreign relations (The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2014).  There is little information about Philip D Clucas Msiad available, but he has authored other geographic publications found online.  This resource is designed for an adult audience and has complex texts and maps unsuitable for elementary age students. It is also very large and too heavy for students to easily handle.

Personal Photo (2022

It was published in 1999 and is very outdated according to Riedling's and Houston's standards for currency of 5 years or less for atlases (2019). While there is some information provided for each province and territory at the beginning of the resource, the remainder of the book is comprised solely of complex, detailed maps. The index is comprehensive but again, too complex for elementary age students.  Due to its outdated material, any curricular connections are irrelevant. 

Part 2 – Evaluation of National Geographic Kids World Atlas 6th Edition. 

Image from Amazon.ca (n.d.)

 Rubric: 

National Geographic Kids World Atlas is the most current edition, last updated in 2021.  It is designed for students ages 11-14, but the visuals, text, and maps are suitable for intermediate elementary students, as well as primary students with teacher guidance, making it a suitable choice for this school.

Image from Amazon.ca, 2022

There are numerous eye-catching visuals, charts, and other graphics to increase comprehension and enhance engagement. There are several additional features such as information on flags, landmarks, attributes of different areas, etc. There is a comprehensive index including grid identification to assist with locating places. Scales are provided although not all are standardized. National Geographic is a highly reputable publisher and leader in geographical content. The resource is available through Amazon.ca for $19.87.

   

Reflection:

When I first saw there was a National Geographic Beginner’s World Atlas for younger students, I assumed it would be the best choice.  I was surprised to see that the text in both atlases were similar in difficulty, but the maps varied in complexity.  After looking through both resources, I concluded the National Geographic Kids’ World Atlas would be a better choice of purchase at this time.  This atlas better meets the needs of students in the school as intermediate students are more likely to require the resource for research and curricular content and there is currently no appropriate print resource for them in the library. I usually find resources designed for children overestimate students’ reading abilities, but in this case, I did not find the atlas to be overly complex.  I also felt that realistically, primary students are unlikely to be looking at an atlas without teacher support, as there is little curricular focus in these grades and lessons would be guided. The atlas is simple enough to locate major landforms, water bodies, etc and anything further would be easily supported by an adult.  While the National Geographic Beginner’s World Atlas was simple and ideal for younger students, the National Geographic Kid’s World Atlas was not so complex as to be unappealing for younger students.  In conclusion, the National Geographic Kids’ World Atlas would be the best fit to replace the current atlas for students in this school given the current budget. While there are several valuable digital sources available to students, such as Google Earth and Britannica Kids World Atlas, it is important that there is a print atlas available to students, not only as there should be a variety of formats available, but also because computer access in the school is limited. 

References:

Amazon.ca (n.d.) National geographic kids world atlas [image]. Amazon.ca. https://www.amazon.ca/National-Geographic-Kids-World-Atlas/dp/1426372272/ref=sr_1_8?crid=VX7T6NWQKOX&keywords=national+geographic+kids+atlas&qid=1644202260&sprefix=national+geographic+kids+atla%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-8

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://kids.britannica.com/kids/browse/atlas

Google. (n.d.). Google earth. Retrieved February 7, 2022, from https://earth.google.com/web/

Hillmer, N., & Ryan, J. F. (1999). The atlas of canada and the world. Whitecap Books.

Mardis, M A. (2016). The collection program in schools: Concepts and practices. (6th edition). Libraries Unlimited.

National Geographic. (2021). National Geographic Kids World Atlas.

Norman Hillmer. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/norman-hillmer

Riedling, A. M., & Houston, C. (2019). Reference skills for the school librarian: Tools and tips. Libraries Unlimited.

Whitecap Books: Reading for every taste. whitecap. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.whitecap.ca/