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This is a how-to book for librarians that could be used by the lay person to create a definitive collection of crime fiction. The book consists of a series of essays by various librarians, starting with librarian and mystery author Barbara Fister's essay on the creative process. Sisters in Crime and mystery conventions such as Bouchercon, Malice Domestic and Left Coast Crime are mentioned as good sources for librarians to learn about the newer authors and what is popular in the genre. The third essay explains sources and methods of buying books online. A particularly interesting article is the one about review sources for mystery fiction. Of course the big four (Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly) are mentioned. Printed and online fanzines (Deadly Pleasures, Drood Review of Mystery, Mystery News, Mystery Readers Journal, Mystery Scene, Cozies, Capers and Crimes, I Love a Mystery, January Magazine) are all reviewed as are some online review web sites, among which is reviewingtheevidence.com. Other essays tell about selecting mysteries for the juvenile reader, another about African-American mysteries, and also Native American detectives, mystery and romance, as well as sections on how specific collections were accumulated at various libraries. The bibliographies in this section offer a fine starting point for setting up a basic mystery collection. The mystery and romance section breaks these overlapping genres into type: romance, romantic suspense, and mystery with romance. My secret ambition was to become a reference librarian, never having to talk to anyone for any length of time, just find stuff for them. MANAGING THE MYSTERY COLLECTION gives a fascinating peek into the life of a librarian (mostly sans other people, of course) and gives some good tips on organizing a collection of one's own, including hints on who, what, when, where, why and how.
Reviewed by Barbara Franchi, June 2006
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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