Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages.

The Booklist offices are located in the American Library Association headquarters in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood.

"[2] With an annual subscription fee of 50 cents, Booklist was initially subsidized by a $100,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation, known for its public and university library endowments, and at first mainly contained the briefest 25- to 50-word summaries.

Amidst a world crisis, the editor helped library patrons to have their questions answered while presenting various viewpoints.

Artistic design choices for the magazine were minimal, with the only visual change between issues being the plain cover's solid colour.

Under Brawley’s editorship, beginning with 16mm film strips and spoken-word recordings, Booklist began to accept submissions and print reviews of audiovisual products.

To celebrate the centennial, the acting editors published a feature article entitled "The Booklist Century", wherein they chose a book from each year of the preceding hundred to highlight its social impact — ranging from Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth (1905) to the 9/11 Commission Report.

Within the database, subscribers have access to digital editions of the print magazine, an archive of over 170,000 reviews, and a host of feature content.

Book Links provides thematic bibliographies with related discussion questions and activities, author and illustrator interviews and essays, and articles written by educators on practical ways to turn children on to reading.

Each issue includes specific suggestions for tying Common Core State Standards to books featured in the publication.

Published in September, November, January, and April, each Book Links issue focuses on a different core curriculum area, including social studies, multicultural literature, language arts, and science.

The Carnegie Medals are administered by an annually appointed selection committee, including a chair, three Booklist editors or contributors, and three former members of the RUSA CODES Notable Books Council.

Editors' Choice and Top of the List titles are announced in December and printed in the subsequent January 1 & 15 double issue of Booklist.