Our Shared Shelf Book Selection

[Helen, Our Shared Shelf Moderator]

Dear OSS Members:

So many books, so little time.

Books that are selected for Our Shared Shelf undergo a rigorous selection process and we wanted to share some of this process with you. We scour book lists, book reviews and read member suggestions. It’s a team approval process. Moderators and other OSS team members suggest books that pass our criteria. We look for all kinds (fiction, nonfiction, memoir, short stories, anthologies, poetry, essays, graphic novels…) of inspiring books:

- by empowering feminist writers and underrepresented voices
- with diverse, intersectional themes
- by international authors
- that have been translated into many languages
- that are affordable and accessible for our global members
- that are timely or offer wisdom that is currently relevant

At OSS, we are constantly searching for books that fit our criteria that are also translated into other languages, so all our global members can participate. The fact remains that the vast majority of book publishers are based in the U.S., UK or Canada. While we are continually grateful to publishers as this must be a challenging business these days, we also really wish that they were more willing to publish and translate international authors that do not originate works in English. Generally, books must be very popular in their original language before a publisher will take on the work and expense of translating it. This definitely narrows the field of available intersectional feminist books that are readily available in multiple languages. Even classic works can be difficult to find in multiple languages or can be prohibitively expensive. Perhaps we should expand our selection to self-published books?

Ideally, we want all our books to fit in a reasonably affordable range and be available in libraries with plenty of stock worldwide. E-books, audio books and pdf’s definitely help, though we realize that not everyone likes to read the same way. We limit the number of new releases that we feature in a year for that reason. Sometimes we find a book that we really want to share that doesn’t check all the boxes, so we debate and weigh pros and cons before deciding to bring it forward. With books that are newer releases, we work hard to get book publishers to donate books and postage for giveaways to our members.

We are huge fans of libraries and work with library associations to let them know what books we are featuring in hopes that they will order them for our members before they even have to ask.

OSS strives to support small presses when we can. Small publishers lift up underrepresented voices and can take chances on new authors that bigger publishers may not. However, this also means that the books are often more expensive. It’s a tough choice. We wish it weren’t this way, but once in a while, we hope you’ll understand that paying more for books from a small press (when you are able) can mean supporting more diverse voices and emerging writers.

Our Shared Shelf never favors a single publisher and does not consider book solicitations from authors who approach us. We encourage author engagement and do our best to create opportunities for author-member interaction and original content.
We have never accepted money or renumeration in exchange for selecting a book or for helping to promote a book. In fact, OSS incurs expenses for staff, social media management, book purchases, video production, office supplies, postage and other expenses that must continually be funded for OSS to continue operating.

We look forward to member choice months where you pick the book. One of the most popular books this past year was Rebecca. It was a classic that was widely translated, available worldwide, used and in paperback and not too pricey. We can see why many loved it. Others felt it was not very feminist or intersectional, but no choice is perfect. We know that we make mistakes and just keep trying to learn from them. With limited time and budgets, we also understand not everyone can join on every discussion of every book. We are grateful that when you can, so many of you have chosen to share and walk alongside us on this book-lovers journey.

With love,

Team Our Shared Shelf

[Agnes Szalkowska]

Wow that’s look on very complicated progress in finding new book . I will have in mind the criteria for my next search for new books for suggestions.
Thank you Helena

[Julie]

Thanks for all the work, moderators & team. I'm not able to come as often as before and join in the discussions, but I still find what I was looking for when I first join with the first book.

[I]

I think it's time to thank you with all my love. You educate women. And this is good. You do a good job. Congratulations.

[K8]

Thank you for finding books that are accessible to all and for allowing us to make group decisions such as Rebecca. I love OSS as it is a community where I can meet up with fellow feminists, discuss certain feminist topics and to read great feminist literature! I cannot wait to see what comes next.

[Shana]

Wow. I knew the book selection process was no easy task but often wondered how it was done. Thank you Helen for posting about the process. Now more than ever I thank every OSS team member for your incredibly hard work.

[Mara]

Thanks to all the moderators for this wonderful work, it's not easy and thanks for reading us!!!

[[deleted user]]

Thank you Helen, I have been waiting for such a post for months. I feel this is one of the most important announcement by far because it explains what you do.

Thanks.

Edit: also, I am tempting to say that this announcement would deserve to be pinned.

[[deleted user]]

Roger that 👍👍 Keep punching !!

Feministicaly yours

[Dustin]

Thank you for sharing. I was actually wondering about the selection process, perhaps not for the first time, so to find this in the inbox was very timely and appreciated!!

I love you, OSS, and everyone you all do!

[Ashley]

Thank you for sharing and putting so much effort into this group! "No selection is perfect" might also be expanded to "no two people's opinions/perspectives/readings are the same." You can't please everyone, and that shouldn't be your goal. I think your criteria is a great starting point, and debating choices that might not fit all criteria and bringing some of those forward is also good, as it could bring diversity to the choices that wouldn't be there otherwise.

[Dustin]

Ashley wrote: "Thank you for sharing and putting so much effort into this group! "No selection is perfect" might also be expanded to "no two people's opinions/perspectives/readings are the same." You can't please..."

These are great points, Ashley.😊

I agree that pleasing everyone shouldn't be the objective of OSS, or any group for that matter For one, it's impossible, but more pressing is the fact that this group has always (as far as I know, at least,) prided itself on diversity, and bringing awareness to marginalized concepts, lifestyle choices, etc... In fact, becoming aware of underrepresented books and authors was a big part of why I joined OSS initially.

[Anne Elisabeth]

I just have to say thank you to everyone involved. It might be very easy to critique the selection because you maybe don't like it or find it challenging, but this proves to me how very serious you all are in your work.

A huge thank you again, for all the wonderful work you do.
I am not always so active on the forum, but I shall try to improve my participation and I have read nearly all the titles chosen.

I buy almost all the titles and then I pay them forward. I hope many people will join me in doing this :)

[Baya]

can we make members suggestions ?

[Ashley]

Baya wrote: "can we make members suggestions ?"

There are threads for member suggestions. Check this out for more information: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...