Check it out with Nancy Pearl.(Libraries)(Column)

Last month's column on the state of traditional book reviews and on "outsider" and self-published books drew some great reactions, a couple we thought we'd share.

Your October 17 column on the diminishing world of reviewing is right on target with the dilemma faced by librarians: credible reviews. Contrary to the thinking of nonlibrarians, we don't sit around reading all day, but instead trust a variety of sources to choose materials. Social media is wonderful for marketing, but there is a quality control filter I still seek.

As a librarian with a healthy collection budget, I especially need credible sources for purchasing nonmainstream books. So my library has been supporting writers who are moving into self-publishing. One of the things I've done is establish a panel of experienced …