Voyager may help locate books, but it does not tell you if a book is good, bad, or mediocre.  Use book reviews to:

• Determine if a book is worth using before reading it and investing time on it.  Is it worth reading?  Is there a better book on the same topic.
  
  

• Find in-depth information about the book.  Long reviews:

1.      Evaluate a book.

2.      Comment on its viewpoint, data, and methodology.

3.      May provide biographical information about the author.

Book reviews are sources of criticism written at approximately the same time as a book was published, usually appearing within several months to two years of its publication date.  These reviews appeared in national magazines, journals, and newspapers.

It is important to realize that not all books get reviewed. The more prominent the author is, the more likely the book will be reviewed.  However, don't expect to find Shakespeare's works reviewed; there are other sources for literary criticism of older works.  Likewise, don’t expect books published by small publishers or written about items of local interest to be reviewed in national publications.

Access to the book reviews is provided by book review indexes.  Reviews are generally listed by the author's name and by the title of the book.  When looking for a book review, note the publication date of the book and check the appropriate book review index for that year and for the two following years.