It is the policy of the Alabama Genealogical Society, Inc. (AGS) to accept donations of books by authors and publishers. Books for review should be sent to AGS Book Review Editor, P.O. Box 293921 Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229. Following their review, all books will be made available for public use by being placed in the Special Collection Dept. of the Samford University Library or other library chosen by the Review Editor or the AGS Board. Authors and publishers should include with their book(s) a SASE to receive a copy of the review following its publication in the AGS Magazine.
When writing the book review, the following format should be used:
Name of author or compiler. Title of book in italics. Publisher Name, address; and date. Number of pages. Note any appendixes, charts, diagrams, illustrations, photos, glossary, and/or index. Type of cover, price. Shipping expenses, if applicable.
The text of the book review should be your description of the book’s content. The review should be brief but thorough and should tell prospective readers what they will learn from the book. Tell whether the book is easy to read and understand and what is good and if necessary, what is bad about the book. The book review should end with your name, city and state.
An abbreviated example of an acceptable book review is as follows:
| Marilyn Davis Barefield, compiler. Civil War Records of Jefferson County, Alabama. The Birmingham Public Library Press, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, Ala.; 1993. 155 pages. Illustrations. Soft cover.The compiler has made accessible to the researcher all available public records pertaining to the Civil War in Jefferson County, Alabama. Included in this helpful book are official records of the Union and Confederate Armies; Rolls of five C.S.A. companies; County Board of Revenue C.S.A. service listing; Civil War Pensioners list; 1907 Census of Confederate Veterans; an article on the unveiling of the Confederate Monument in Capitol Park; and various other articles. No index is included in this book, however, the rolls and lists are printed in alphabetical order. This book, compiled by one of Alabama’s best compilers of records, is a great source for Jefferson County Civil War records. Marcia K. Collier, Titus, Alabama |
All prospective reviewers should be current AGS members and must be on the active list of volunteers to receive books for review, which is kept by the AGS Book Review Editor. Reviews must be typed and sent as an email attachment or on a disk to the AGS Magazine magazine editor or to AGS review, PO Box 293921, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229. The AGS Magazine deadline dates are Spring/Summer – April 15 and Fall/Winter – October 15. AGS reserves the right to edit or reject any review that does not meet with AGS publication standards.
Any questions, suggestions or comments should be directed to the AGS Magazine Editor or the AGS Book Review Editor.