Louis Shores 1 listed six broad areas that form an ideal. Although they were originally written with monographs, and particularly reference works, in mind, they can be applied to any format with a minimum of modification. Reality dictates that a selector will rarely be able to consider all these factors when making a decision. Each of the six factors are briefly described below and are followed by a discussion of what will probably prove to be more realistic.
Authority includes the qualifications and reputations of the authors and publishers.
It also asks the selector to consider whether this is an original work or a revision of a previous work. Scope considers whether the work covers what it claims to cover. It also examines the currency of the contents, including bibliographies and their levels of scholarship. Treatment requires the selector to examine the accuracy of the information, identify biases, and determine how well the authors balance the coverage of the subject. Treatment also considers the level at which the work is written.