LIBE 467: Assign 1- Reference Work Evaluation

 

LIBE 467: Assignment 1 Evaluation of a Reference Work

Andrea Koehn                                   Feb 10, 2023

Introduction

                Geographic sources are an important part of a school library’s reference collection. In an increasingly global society it is necessary to have access to geographic resources. Many students will use the internet or digital sources to find the answers to simple queries, like the location of a country or city. Some will also turn to digital resources for more in-depth research, but there is something interesting and captivating about an atlas and seeing the world in the maps on the pages. Riedling refers to them as “works of art” that “provide aesthetic satisfaction and the opportunity to let one’s imagination wander”. (Riedling, 75) Both physical and human geography have an important place in the BC school curriculum so current, valuable resources to support that learning are important.

Part 1: Evaluation of a Current Reference Work

  

                The Nystrom Canadian Desk Atlas is one of the few reference works that is in the elementary school library that I work in. While online resources are utilized at this school, these desk atlases are also used frequently. Classroom teachers often print out maps instead of using the Atlas because of its age and the physical condition of the resources. There are two copies in the library collection as well as a class set in the book room of the building. The school contains Kindergarten to grade 7 students and the resource will be evaluated through this lens.

                When evaluating this resource I will be considering the accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, and relevance of the resource. Additionally, I will be taking into consideration the authors credentials and objectivity. The evaluation rubric at the end of the document was created to evaluate an atlas or other geographical reference source. It will be used to evaluate both the current reference work and a possible replacement.

The Nystrom Canadian Desk Atlas

	0-      Sub-Par	1-      Acceptable	2-      Good
Accuracy	The information presented is inaccurate   Information is missing resulting in an incomplete resource   The maps are not drawn to scale	Most of the information is accurate to when the resource was created   There are few gaps in the information presented   Maps and graphics are to scale	All of the information is accurate   There are little to no gaps in the information presented   Maps and graphics are to scale and easy to understand

                While the information present in the Atlas was accurate when it was created, the resource is over 20 years old (2000 Edition). Because of its age, the information presented in the resource is out of date and inaccurate. While the maps and graphics present are to scale, they are often confusing to a younger audience. Additionally, the resource contains many different kinds of maps and graphs that each require explicit teaching to understand and the students may not be familiar with.

	0-      Sub-Par	1-      Acceptable	2-      Good
Timeliness/ Currency	The resource is over ten years old and has not been updated	The resource is five to ten years old and may have been updated since	The resource is less than five years old

                This resource was published in 2000 and this paperback has not been updated since. Nystrom has published many editions since this particular resource was published, the latest being a 2018 Fifth edition Desk Atlas (not Canadian). Additionally they do have an online site that has current information.

	0-      Sub-Par	1-      Acceptable	2-      Good
Accessibility- physical	The resource is not available to the general school population   The resource is hidden or in a different location   The resource can only be used within the library	The resource is available to the entire school population   The resource is in the library collection   The resource is available to be used within the building	The resource is available to the entire school population   The resource is easy to locate without assistance   The resource can be taken home or used off site as well as on site

                The library collection houses two copies of the atlas that are supposed to be used in the library only, although I would let a student bring it home if they wanted. These copies have not been used in the 6 years that I have run the library. There is also a class set in the book room that is only accessible to teachers. These copies are used within the classrooms only. I do not believe they have been used for 3 years, although they are not barcoded and tracked. All of the copies are in poor physical condition with broken spines and pages coming out.

	0-      Sub-Par	1-      Acceptable	2-      Good
Accessibility- format	Confusing layout/ graphics/images. Text size is too small   Vocabulary and vernacular does not match the audience   The information presented is too simple or too complex for the intended audience	Most of the text is large enough to be accessible to the majority of users. The layout is understandable   The vocabulary loosely matches the intended audience   The information presented is mostly clear, but some may still be too complex for the intended audience	Text is clear and accessible to all users. The layout is engaging, simple, clear and enhances understanding   The vocabulary matches the audience   The information is clearly presented and is appropriate for the intended audience

                The resource is full of maps and graphs with little to no explanation or elaboration. This would be fine for an older audience (12+), but does not suit an elementary audience well. It is not always immediately clear what the map/graphic is showing. It is written at an adult reading level and has many unusual terms for children that are not included in the limited glossary. The text size is very small throughout the text (often as small as size 8) making it hard to see and read. The text features also lack variety making it very boring.

	0-      Sub-Par	1-      Acceptable	2-      Good
Relevance	There is little to no connections to the K-7 BC Curriculum	There are some connections to the BC Curriculum	There are many connections to the BC Curriculum

                Depending on how it is used, this resource could support the BC curriculum, especially the social studies curriculum. However, the information is grossly out of date and the teacher would have to pick through the resource with a fine tooth comb to find what they are looking for. The utter lack of indigenous inclusion in the source also makes it difficult to use with the BC curriculum. It would be far easier for the teacher to find and print relevant information and maps as needed. Additionally, it is not a browser friendly resource- meaning that a student who picks it up on their own is unlikely to get a lot of meaningful learning out of it.

	0-      Sub-Par	1-      Acceptable	2-      Good
Authority	Unknown publisher or author with little or unknown credibility	Smaller or local publisher and/or author with some credibility	Well known, reputable publisher and/or author with credibility in the field (reference resources)

                Nystrom appears to be a smaller publisher. The atlases that they made circa 1990-2010 seem to be the standard in schools across North America, however they do not seem to be making them anymore. Additionally, in the copy I have it says they are a division of Herff Jones, Inc. which is a company specializing in school memorabilia. So although this atlas has been presented as the definitive atlas it seems to have questionable authority to me.

	0-      Sub-Par	1-      Acceptable	2-      Good
Bias	The content is presented with overt bias, affecting the learning   Content is missing or presented in a manner that emphasizes a bias, affecting the learning	Content is presented with some bias but it does not affect learning   Some content is missing or excluded but does not have a significant impact on student learning	Content is presented with as little bias as possible No content or groups of people are excluded. All people, places, history, and beliefs are presented as equal

                This resource presents a bias and emphasis on Canada since it is a Canadian atlas. The largest amount of physical space is given to Canada. The United States is also prioritized and is given as many pages as the entire continent of Africa and more than the other regions of the world excluding Asia and Europe. Europe is also presented with emphasis and is the only section other than Canada that includes historical maps placing emphasis on World War 1 and 2. Indigenous peoples are consistently left out of the resource and when they are included it is in a small and overly simplified way. They are almost entirely missing from the text with small, simplified to the point of insulting entries like the following: 

                Overall this resource is rated Sub-Par. Due to its age and inherit bias, it is not suitable for BC schools. Additionally, the format of the book is not suitable for elementary students.

 

Part 2: Evaluation of a Possible Replacement

*Note- this picture is of the 4^th Edition, but the publisher has put out a 6^th Edition as of 2021 so any new purchases would be the latest version.

                One possible replacement for The Nystrom Canadian Desk Atlas is the National Geographic Kids World Atlas 6^th Edition. National Geographic is a well-known and respected authority. Additionally their resources for kids are generally age appropriate. National Geographic maintains well edited and up to date websites for both kids and adults that students can use to further their learning, although, maps are not a main feature of the site. The hardcover copies of this book retail for around $30.00 (not including any discounts) so replacing the schools class set would cost $900.00. Even if the class set is not replaced, buying a couple of these for the library collection may be a good idea.

National Geographic Kids World Atlas

	0         Sub-Par	1         Acceptable	2         Good
Accuracy	The information presented is inaccurate   Information is missing resulting in an incomplete resource   The maps are not drawn to scale	Most of the information is accurate to when the resource was created   There are few gaps in the information presented   Maps and graphics are to scale	All of the information is accurate   There are little to no gaps in the information presented   Maps and graphics are to scale and easy to understand

                The resource has accurate information. The resource does not always go into great detail, however that may be due to the age of the intended audience. This resource is a world atlas so it does not go into as much detail on Canada specifically like the Nystrom Atlas did. The maps and graphics are accurate and easy to read.

	0         Sub-Par	1         Acceptable	2         Good
Timeliness/ Currency	The resource is over ten years old and has not been updated	The resource is five to ten years old and may have been updated since	The resource is less than five years old

                The 6^th edition was published in 2021. National Geographic is still actively updating and publishing works and their website has ongoing updates as well.

	0         Sub-Par	1         Acceptable	2         Good
Accessibility- physical	The resource is not available to the general school population   The resource is hidden or in a different location   The resource can only be used within the library	The resource is available to the entire school population   The resource is in the library collection   The resource is available to be used within the building	The resource is available to the entire school population   The resource is easy to locate without assistance   The resource can be taken home or used off site as well as on site

                If purchased for the library collection they will be shelved with the general collection, not in a back room. It will be displayed and the bright yellow spine will help it to stand out from the other books on the shelf. If a class set is purchased as well then those will live in the book room, and those copies will not go home with students, but the library copies will. The National Geographic Kids website is more of an encyclopaedic site, but can be used from any location as well with or without the purchase of the Atlas.

	0         Sub-Par	1         Acceptable	2         Good
Accessibility- format	Confusing layout/ graphics/images. Text size is too small   Vocabulary and vernacular does not match the audience   The information presented is too simple or too complex for the intended audience	Most of the text is large enough to be accessible to the majority of users. The layout is understandable   The vocabulary loosely matches the intended audience   The information presented is mostly clear, but some may still be too complex for the intended audience	Text is clear and accessible to all users. The layout is engaging, simple, clear and enhances understanding   The vocabulary matches the audience   The information is clearly presented and is appropriate for the intended audience

                The resource uses a variety of graphic design features and images to draw the reader in. There are text blocks that explain maps and graphics and provide background information and instructions of how to understand the features. It is written at a grade 5+ reading level which may make it a little too complex for primary students.

	0         Sub-Par	1         Acceptable	2         Good
Relevance	There is little to no connections to the K-7 BC Curriculum	There are some connections to the BC Curriculum	There are many connections to the BC Curriculum

                Because this is a World Atlas it does not focus on Canada the way a lot of the BC curriculum does. This atlas does contain areas on immigration and migration, the planet and physical landforms, climate as well as maps and facts about the countries of the world. It is a more diverse tool to use than the Nystrom Atlas was but is limited because it is an Atlas, not a textbook.

	0         Sub-Par	1         Acceptable	2         Good
Authority	Unknown publisher or author with little or unknown credibility	Smaller or local publisher and/or author with some credibility	Well known, reputable publisher and/or author with credibility in the field (reference resources)

                Most people know National Geographic Society for their magazine publications, but the society is highly involved in all levels of geographic and historical research, publication, and education. It is an established and trusted source.

	0         Sub-Par	1      Acceptable	2     Good
Bias	The content is presented with overt bias, affecting the learning   Content is missing or presented in a manner that emphasizes a bias, affecting the learning	Content is presented with some bias but it does not affect learning   Some content is missing or excluded but does not have a significant impact on student learning	Content is presented with as little bias as possible No content or groups of people are excluded. All people, places, history, and beliefs are presented as equal

                This resource attempts to place equal emphasis on all people and areas of the world. It does seem to give slight preference to Canada and the United States as they get a full page spread each while all of the other countries share pages. (The other exception is Russia which gets its own page- possibly due to the size of the country itself) Other than that, it does seem to try to present information with as little bias as possible. Indigenous groups and content is barely included, there is a small blub on the Canada page. This is a little more understandable in this text as it is not trying to highlight Canada, but the library collection would need an Indigenous based resource as well to balance it out.

                Overall, this a Good resource that would be beneficial to the school community. Even though it is more expensive to buy new Atlases than to keep the old ones, the age of the Nystrom Atlases makes it worth it. The National Geographic Kids World Atlas would be an excellent replacement for The Nystrom Canadian Desk Atlas.

 

Rubric for Evaluation of a Children’s Atlas

	0         Sub-Par	1         Acceptable	2         Good
Accuracy	The information presented is inaccurate   Information is missing resulting in an incomplete resource   The maps are not drawn to scale	Most of the information is accurate to when the resource was created   There are few gaps in the information presented   Maps and graphics are to scale	All of the information is accurate   There are little to no gaps in the information presented   Maps and graphics are to scale and easy to understand
Timeliness/ Currency	The resource is over ten years old and has not been updated	The resource is five to ten years old and may have been updated since	The resource is less than five years old
Accessibility- physical	The resource is not available to the general school population   The resource is hidden or in a different location   The resource can only be used within the library	The resource is available to the entire school population   The resource is in the library collection   The resource is available to be used within the building	The resource is available to the entire school population   The resource is easy to locate without assistance   The resource can be taken home or used off site as well as on site
Accessibility- format	Confusing layout/ graphics/images. Text size is too small   Vocabulary and vernacular does not match the audience   The information presented is too simple or too complex for the intended audience	Most of the text is large enough to be accessible to the majority of users. The layout is understandable   The vocabulary loosely matches the intended audience   The information presented is mostly clear, but some may still be too complex for the intended audience	Text is clear and accessible to all users. The layout is engaging, simple, clear and enhances understanding   The vocabulary matches the audience   The information is clearly presented and is appropriate for the intended audience
Relevance	There is little to no connections to the K-7 BC Curriculum	There are some connections to the BC Curriculum	There are many connections to the BC Curriculum
Authority	Unknown publisher or author with little or unknown credibility	Smaller or local publisher and/or author with some credibility	Well known, reputable publisher and/or author with credibility in the field (reference resources)
Bias	The content is presented with overt bias, affecting the learning   Content is missing or presented in a manner that emphasizes a bias, affecting the learning	Content is presented with some bias but it does not affect learning   Some content is missing or excluded but does not have a significant impact on student learning	Content is presented with as little bias as possible No content or groups of people are excluded. All people, places, history, and beliefs are presented as equal

 

References

Bolotta, A., Chalk, J.R., Donovan, W., & Lohrenz, J. (Eds.). (2000). The Nystrom Canadian Desk Atlas. Chicago: Herff Jones Education Division.

British Columbia Ministry of Education. B.C.’s New Curriculum. (2016) Retrieved from https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/

National Geographic (2021). National Geographic Kids World Atlas (6^th ed.). National Geographic.

Riedling, A. M. & Houston, C. (2019). Reference Skills for the School Librarian: Tools and Tips (4th ed.). Libraries Unlimited.