Best of
Librarianship

2007

Head First SQL


Lynn Beighley - 2007
    Using the latest research in neurobiology, cognitive science, and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory SQL learning experience, Head First SQL has a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep. Maybe you've written some simple SQL queries to interact with databases. But now you want more, you want to really dig into those databases and work with your data. Head First SQL will show you the fundamentals of SQL and how to really take advantage of it. We'll take you on a journey through the language, from basic INSERT statements and SELECT queries to hardcore database manipulation with indices, joins, and transactions. We all know "Data is Power" - but we'll show you how to have "Power over your Data". Expect to have fun, expect to learn, and expect to be querying, normalizing, and joining your data like a pro by the time you're finished reading!

Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures


Anne C. Bromer - 2007
    A dazzling array of books on subjects ranging from Shakespeares plays and the Holy Bible to politics and presidents, childrens books, the pleasures of life, and more are shownwith few exceptionsat their actual size. Here is the prayer book that Anne Boleyn carried to her execution, seen open to its sole illustration, a portrait of Henry VIII. Here also are the worlds two smallest books (impossible to be sure which is tinier). There are books studded with gemstones, books that Napoleon carried with him on his campaigns, books illustrated by artists such as Picasso, Mir, and Edward Gorey. And there is a section dealing with the papers, printing, and binding of these tiny marvels. The text is lively and accessible, full of great stories and fascinating people. It will appeal to the experienced collector, but also to the one just starting out and to anyone who loves the look and feel of a good book.

Mechanisms: New Media and the Forensic Imagination


Matthew G. Kirschenbaum - 2007
    Kirschenbaum examines new media and electronic writing against the textual and technological primitives that govern writing, inscription, and textual transmission in all media: erasure, variability, repeatability, and survivability.

Editions and Impressions: Twenty Years on the Book Beat


Nicholas A. Basbanes - 2007
    This title includes the essays that include an endnote, telling the behind-the-scenes story about the article. One critic has written:- This collection of articles from Basbane's columns in BIBLIO and FINE BOOKS & COLLECTIBLES and other sources is an okay read, but not as in depth or detailed as his previous 4 books. A good read for bibliophiles, but its constant referencing back to A GENTLE MADNESS (his 1st and best book) is slighly irritating after a while, as this book becomes more of a sales pitch for those who missed that book 15 years ago.

The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges


James LaRue - 2007
    This approach helps you understand the people who challenge library materials--as individuals and as members of various groups--turning enemies into allies and building an intellectual, freedom-friendly community. You'll learn what materials get challenged and why and how you can effectively respond to challenges while meeting diverse community needs. Here are stories from the frontlines, practical guidelines on policies and procedures as well as common-sense tips on how to maintain your cool while dealing with specific groups or individuals--all presented with common sense and humor. If you have been struggling with challenges and wonder how you can uphold your ideals while dealing with harsh realities, this is the book you have been waiting for.

The Readers' Advisory Guide to Nonfiction


Neal Wyatt - 2007
    She focuses on eight popular categories: history, true crime, true adventure, science, memoir, food/cooking, travel, and sports. Within each, she explains the scope, popularity, style, major authors and works, and the subject's position in readers' advisory interviews.Wyatt addresses who is reading nonfiction and why, while providing RAs with the tools and language to incorporate nonfiction into discussions that point readers to what to read next. In easy-to-follow steps, Wyatt explains the hows and whys of offering fiction and nonfiction suggestions together; illustrates ways to get up to speed fast in nonfiction;

What'll I Do with the Baby-o?: Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Stories for Babies


Jane Cobb - 2007
    All of the activities recommended encourage bonding, fun, and brain and emotional development that enriches parents’ and babies’ lives in ways that last a lifetime. This resource contains useful chapters on a baby's brain, early language, and literacy development; program planning and presentation tips; 350 rhymes and songs arranged by type for easy access; and other resources and bibliographies for further reading.

Summer Reading: Program and Evidence


Fay H. Shin - 2007
    Shin and Krashen report that children who read recreationally over the summer return to the school year with gains in literacy, while children who do not backslide. Independent, voluntary reading will occur--whether skilled or challenged--as long as children are given access to books of quality and interest. An informative but friendly narrative explains the research-based plan for designing successful summer literacy programs. The appendix includes activities, blackline masters, and advice for commonly experienced challenges, such as working with administrators on summer program needs.

Canadian Copyright: A Citizen's Guide


Laura J. Murray - 2007
    If you?re an artist, consumer, or teacher, copyright is likely a part of your everyday life. Completely updated, this revised edition of "Canadian Copyright" parses the Copyright Act and explains current Canadian copyright law to ordinary Canadians in accessible language, using recent examples and legal cases.

Organising Knowledge: Taxonomies, Knowledge and Organisational Effectiveness


Patrick Lambe - 2007
    In this groundbreaking book, Patrick Lambe illustrates how taxonomies play an integral role in helping organizations coordinate and communicate effectively. Through a series of real-world case studies, decision-making frameworks, and example questionnaires, Lambe demonstrates the wide range of ways in which taxonomies help organizations leverage and articulate their knowledge, and offers a clear description of how taxonomies relate to technology application. Accessible and jargon-free, this step-by-step guide to running a taxonomy project offers practical advice for knowledge managers and business owners alike.

Social Software in Libraries: Building Collaboration, Communication, and Community Online


Meredith G. Farkas - 2007
    Social software lets libraries show a human face online, helping them communicate, educate, and interact with their communities. This nuts-and-bolts guide provides librarians with the information and skills necessary to implement the most popular and effective social software technologies: blogs, RSS, wikis, social networking software, screencasting, photo-sharing, podcasting, instant messaging, gaming, and more. Success stories and interviews highlight these tools ease-of-use and tremendous impact. Novice readers will find ample descriptions and advice on using each technology, while veteran users of social software will discover new applications and approaches. Supported by the author s Web page.

Teaching Information Literacy: A Conceptual Approach


Christine A. Gavin - 2007
    Teaching Information Literacy meets that challenge by providing teaching librarians and others who deliver instruction in information literacy fresh approaches to teaching specific concepts, such as developing a topic and thesis, constructing Boolean search strategies, and evaluating the credibility of a source. The primary pedagogical framework for this book is a concept-based approach that teaches students the information seeking strategies and critical thinking abilities needed to do effective research. Crucial to this approach is the emphasis on thinking skills, which include the basic skills (observing, comparing, contrasting, and classifying) and the more complex skills (analysis, logical reasoning, problem solving, and evaluating). Chapters are arranged sequentially to simulate a typical research process and discuss preparing a research topic and thesis; focus on the search strategies and content evaluation for online book catalogs, periodical databases, and Internet search engines; and give examples of Boolean search methodology that can be applied to each of these research tools. Within each chapter, a set of learning objectives is discussed, followed by class activities, instructor guides, and assessment tools developed by the author and other instructors. This useful book will assist instructors in developing custom assessment instruments and will help them to adapt pertinent content to deepen and enliven lectures.

A Practical Guide to Information Literacy Assessment for Academic Librarians


Carolyn J. Radcliff - 2007
    This practical guide provides an overview of the assessment process: planning; selection and development of tools; and analysis and reporting of data. An assessment-decision chart helps readers match appropriate assessment tools and strategies with learning outcomes and instructional settings. Assessment tools, organized by type, are accompanied by case studies. Various information literacy standards are referenced, with emphasis given to ACRL's Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.

The New Downtown Library: Designing with Communities


Shannon Mattern - 2007
    From Brooklyn to Seattle, architects, civic leaders, and citizens in major U.S. cities have worked to reassert the relevance of the central library. While the libraries’ primary functions—as public spaces where information is gathered, organized, preserved, and made available for use—have not changed over the years, the processes by which they accomplish these goals have. These new processes, and the public debates surrounding them, have radically influenced the utility and design of new library buildings. In The New Downtown Library, Shannon Mattern draws on a diverse range of sources to investigate how libraries serve as multiuse public spaces, anchors in urban redevelopment, civic icons, and showcases of renowned architects like Rem Koolhaas, Cesar Pelli, and Enrique Norton. Mattern’s clear and careful analysis reveals the complexity of contemporary dialogues in library design, highlighting the roles that staff, the public, and other special interest groups play. Mattern also describes how the libraries manifest changing demographics, new ways of organizing collections and delivering media, and current philosophies of librarianship. By identifying unifying themes as well as examining the differences among various design projects, Mattern brings to light the social forces, as well as their architectural expressions, that form the essence of new libraries and their vital place in public life.Featured libraries are located in Brooklyn, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle, and Toledo.Shannon Mattern is assistant professor of media studies and film at The New School.