Best of
Librarianship

2012

Expect More: Demanding Better Libraries For Today's Complex World


R. David Lankes - 2012
    In Expect More, David Lankes, winner of the 2012 ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for the Best Book in Library Literature, walks you through what to expect out of your library.

Howard's Gift: Uncommon Wisdom to Inspire Your Life's Work


Eric C. Sinoway - 2012
    A warm friend. A generous mentor.For more than 40 years, Howard Stevenson has been a towering figure at Harvard Business School: the man who literally defined entrepreneurship and taught thousands of the world’s most successful professionals.Now – spurred by Stevenson’s heart-stopping brush with death – his student, colleague, and dear friend Eric Sinoway shares the man’s wisdom and inspiration. Through warm and engaging conversations, we hear Howard’s timeless and practical lessons on pursuing both success and fulfillment, beginning with:• Create a vision of your own legacy through a process called “business planning for life.”• Be entrepreneurial in driving your career ahead (even if you’re not an entrepreneur).• Exploit the inflection points in your life – whether “friend,” “foe,” or “silent.”• Cut risk in tough career and life decisions by shining the “light of predictability” on them.• Plan for the ripples, not just the splash from your actions and choices. Reading Howard’s Gift is like having a wise, caring friend sit down and say, “Let’s figure all this out together.”And the deeply personal perspectives from guest contributors – such as CNN correspondent Soledad O’Brien, Teach for America Founder Wendy Kopp, two-time Super Bowl Champion Carl Banks, and legendary MTV Founder Bob Pittman – reinforce the practical lessons in this clear-sighted book that will help readers “define success in their own terms,” and “live a life with no regrets.”

Children's Book-a-Day Almanac


Anita Silvey - 2012
    http://childrensbookalmanac.com/Daily reviews of new and classic children's books.

A Parent's Guide to the Best Kids' Comics: Choosing Titles Your Children Will Love


Scott Robins - 2012
    You'll also find an educator's bibliography, website recommendations, and a bounty of resources to make this magical journey informative as well as delightful.Jeff Smith and Vijaya Iyer, producers of the highly acclaimed and award-winning Bone series, provide a Foreword for the book.

The Philosophy Shop: Ideas, Activities and Questions to Get People, Young and Old, Thinking Philosophically


Peter Worley - 2012
    Winner of the Education Resources 2013 Educational Book Award.Imagine a one-stop shop stacked to the rafters with everything you could ever want to tap into young people’s natural curiosity and get them thinking deeply. Well, this is it! Edited by professional philosopher Peter Worley from The Philosophy Foundation, this is packed with ideas, stimuli, thought experiments, activities, short stories, pictures, and questions to get young people thinking philosophically.Primarily aimed at teachers to use as a stimuli for philosophical enquiries in the classroom to get them thinking from the off, it can also be used by parents for some great family thinking or anyone fed up of being told what to think (or urged not to think) and who wants a real neurological workout.Contributors include: A.C. Grayling, Peter Adamson, Angela Hobbs, Ben Jeffery, David Birch, Phillip Cowell, and Peter Cave.The proceeds of the book are going towards The Philosophy Foundation Charity. What better time to have this available than World Philosophy Day on November 15, 2012?Peter Worley has recently been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He read philosophy at University College London and Birkbeck College, and is currently studying for a PhD at King’s College London.

Storytimes for Everyone!: Developing Young Children's Language and Literacy


Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting - 2012
    Offering practical suggestions for incorporating early literacy information and strategies into the storytime setting, early literacy authorities Ghoting and Martin-D�az ◗◗ Explain how young children develop knowledge critical for reading comprehension ◗◗ Discuss five vital storytime practices (singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing) which adults can be taught to use at home ◗◗ Present dozens of storytimes for babies/toddlers, twos, and preschoolers, that engage adults while keeping their children in focus ◗◗ Address how young bilingual children acquire language, and other current research Featuring a variety of songs, projects, and activities, this book can be used at the library, at home, or anywhere else storytimes take place.

Guided Inquiry Design: A Framework for Inquiry in Your School


Carol C. Kuhlthau - 2012
    The companion book, Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century, explains what Guided Inquiry is and why it is now essential now. This book, Guided Inquiry Design: A Framework for Inquiry in Your School, explains how to do it.The first three chapters provide an overview of the Guided Inquiry design framework, identify the eight phases of the Guided Inquiry process, summarize the research that grounds Guided Inquiry, and describe the five tools of inquiry that are essential to implementation. The following chapters detail the eight phases in the Guided Inquiry design process, providing examples at all levels from pre-K through 12th grade and concluding with recommendations for building Guided Inquiry in your school.The book is for pre-K-12 teachers, school librarians, and principals who are interested in and actively designing an inquiry approach to curricular learning that incorporates a wide range of resources from the library, the Internet, and the community. Staff of community resources, museum educators, and public librarians will also find the book useful for achieving student learning goals.

Creating Time: Using Creativity to Reinvent the Clock and Reclaim Your Life


Marney K. Makridakis - 2012
    This book turns the concept of time management upside down by presenting exciting new tools for viewing and experiencing your time. Creating Time combines creativity with science in a gorgeous colorful format that presents a fascinating adventure in which you will imagine, create, and completely reshape the way you experience time. Each chapter presents a shift-making concept illustrated by real-life examples, step-by-step introspective processes, and powerful creative projects that inspire a new sense of time, a liberating view of self, and a fresh perspective on the meaning of being human, empowered, and fully alive.

Read, Rhyme, and Romp: Early Literacy Skills and Activities for Librarians, Teachers, and Parents


Heather McNeil - 2012
    This handy resource provides essential tips, techniques, and strategies for making early literacy development fun and inspiring a lifelong love of reading."Read, Rhyme, and Romp: Early Literacy Skills and Activities for Librarians, Teachers, and ParentS" explores the six basic pre-literacy skills that experts agree are necessary for a young child to be ready to learn to read. Special sections within each chapter are dedicated to the specific needs of preschool teachers, parents, and librarians, making the content relevant to different settings. Recommended book lists, personal anecdotes, and literacy-rich activities combine to create an effective and accessible plan for implementing an early literacy program.

Mastering Type: The Essential Guide to Typography for Print and Web Design


Denise Bosler - 2012
    And at the heart of that communication is type: visually interesting, interactive, expressive and captivating. Each letter must come alive; therefore, each letter must be carefully crafted or chosen. A solid foundation in typography, as well as an understanding of its nuances, will help you optimize your visual communication—in whatever form it takes.By breaking down the study of type into a systematic progression of relationships—letter, word, sentence, paragraph, page and screen—award-winning graphic designer and professor of communication design Denise Bosler provides a unique and illuminating perspective on typography for both print and digital media and for designers of all skill levels.Through instruction, interviews and real-world inspiration, Mastering Type explores the power of each typographic element--both as it stands alone and as it works with other elements--to create successful design, to strengthen your skill set and to inspire your next project.

Make Your Own History: Documenting Feminist and Queer Activism in the 21st Century


Lyz Bly - 2012
    In the last few decades, the place and practice of activism has shifted from a physical "headquarters" where activists convene to plan and strategize, to the reality where planning happens at various desks and kitchen tables across the country (or world) and activists then convene at one site for an action (the prime example of this being the WTO protest in Seattle in 1999). So much of the work is taking place in the digital environment and/or within smaller do-it-yourself (DIY) and anarchist subcultures where ideas are often shared via zines and other ephemeral materials. The challenge of the archivist and the scholar, whose work is traditionally paper-based, is to keep up with the changing modes of communication of these individuals and organizations and to make sure these activists' work is not left out of the historical record. Activists, archivists, librarians, and scholars address the following issues and topics: the practical material challenges of documenting and archiving contemporary activism; theoretical perspectives and conversations; online communities and communications; "third wave" feminism/youth and queer cultures/subcultures; the move from paper to digital archives and documents; zines; and the work of activists who employ creative/artistic/cultural approaches to work for social justice.

Picturing the World: Informational Picture Books for Children


Kathleen T. Isaacs - 2012
    This annotated resource by veteran children's book reviewer Isaacs surveys the best nonfiction/informational titles for ages 3 through 10, helping librarians make informed collection development and purchasing decisions. With information on 250 books, this volume Features an introductory chapter which takes a close look at what makes a successful informational picture book Provides thoughtful descriptions for each title, including complete bibliographic information, age-level guidance, and notes on book awards won Works as curriculum support as well as a tool for elementary RA, with easy-to-use topical organization and a separate subject index Picturing the World is an invaluable aid to librarians and educators in their ongoing search for high quality informational children's books.

Mindfulness for the Next Generation: Helping Emerging Adults Manage Stress and Lead Healthier Lives


Holly B. Rogers - 2012
    In recent years, there has been increased awareness of the seriousness of these struggles, which may increase the risk of psychological distress and mental illness among this age group now commonly referred to as 'emerging adults.' Scientific research has shown that practicing mindfulness can help manage stress and enhance quality of life, but traditional methods of teaching mindfulness and meditation are not always effective for this developmental stage. Mindfulness for the Next Generation is an easy-to-use guide that details a four-session mindfulness-based program, called 'Koru, ' aimed at helping young adults cope with anxiety, navigate the tasks they face, and achieve meaningful personal growth. Authors Holly Rogers and Margaret Maytan, Duke University psychiatrists and the developers of the Koru program, discuss the unique challenges this group faces, identify effective teaching techniques for working with them, and review the research supporting mindfulness for stress reduction in a scientifically rigorous yet reader-friendly way. The book explains the specific model created by the authors and describes each session in a 'mini-manual' format. Mindfulness for the Next Generation is written for therapists, teachers, health professionals, and student service providers who work with college students and other emerging adults.

Rapid Video Development for Trainers: How to Create Learning Videos Fast and Affordably


Jonathan Halls - 2012
    Although producing focused, high quality video is well within the capability of nearly every development professional, the skill sets required to do so have not traditionally fallen within most trainers' job descriptions. This is where Rapid Video Development for Trainers comes in: a comprehensive tutorial covering every aspect of web-based video development, this book provides both the theoretical overview and the nuts-and-bolts instructions for creating professional quality video quickly, easily, and inexpensively. Written specifically for trainers by a 20-year media industry veteran who has worked in Europe, America, and Asia, Rapid Video Development for Trainers explains in clear, nontechnical language everything you need to know to create exceptionally instructive, cost-effective video yourself. Some of the topics discussed include: - thorough coverage of the tools you'll need, with a heavy emphasis on the most cost-effective software and hardware for your project- how to edit your video for maximum clarity, consistency, and aesthetics- a full chapter on the digital technology involved with putting your video on the web- a summary 12-point plan for achieving success with your training video- and more...At a time when training and development budgets are being decreased, staff must be able to do more with less. And, since web-based video is rapidly assuming a critical role in corporate training, the ability to create highly effective video in-house is crucial. Rapid Video Development for Trainers is your invaluable educational resource for every aspect of professional-quality, cost-effective web video production.

Insights and Essays on the Music Performance Library


Russ Girsberger - 2012
    The music performance library is the heart of a musical ensemble, supplying music to performers and information to an entire organization. This essential resource provides step-by-step directions on how to purchase and rent music, catalog new works, distribute and collect parts, store and preserve music, mark bowings, correct errata, locate and choose editions, prepare programs, communicate efficiently, and prepare manuscripts. There is valuable information here for all musicians music directors, conductors, student librarians, community volunteers, and professional performance librarians written by librarians from the following organizations: Alabama Symphony * Boosey & Hawkes * Boston Symphony Orchestra * Cleveland Orchestra * Dallas Symphony Orchestra * European American Music * Finnish Music Information Centre * Florida Orchestra * Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra * Glimmerglass Opera * Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra * Interlochen Center for the Arts * Jazz at Lincoln Center * Juilliard School * Kansas City Symphony * Los Angeles Philharmonic * McGill University * Metropolitan Opera * Milwaukee Symphony * Minnesota Orchestra * National Symphony Orchestra * New England Conservatory * New York Philharmonic * Philadelphia Orchestra * San Diego Symphony * San Francisco Ballet * San Francisco Symphony * Seattle Symphony Orchestra * United States Army Field Band * United States Marine Band * United States Military Academy Band.

The Story Within Us: Women Prisoners Reflect on Reading


Megan Sweeney - 2012
    The women share powerful stories about their complex and diverse efforts to negotiate difficult relationships, exercise agency in restrictive circumstances, and find meaning and beauty in the midst of pain. Their shared emphases on abuse, poverty, addiction, and mental illness illuminate the pathways that lead many women to prison and suggest possibilities for addressing the profound social problems that fuel crime.   Framing the narratives within an analytic introduction and reflective afterword, Megan Sweeney highlights the crucial intellectual work that the incarcerated women perform despite myriad restrictions on reading and education in U.S. prisons. These women use the limited reading materials available to them as sources of guidance and support and as tools for self-reflection and self-education. Through their creative engagements with books, the women learn to reframe their own life stories, situate their experiences in relation to broader social patterns, deepen their understanding of others, experiment with new ways of being, and maintain a sense of connection with their fellow citizens on both sides of the prison fence.

Making Sense of Business Reference: A Guide for Librarians and Research Professionals


Celia Ross - 2012
    An "accidental business reference librarian by trade," Ross explains how to provide quality reference help on issues from marketing to finance--for business people, students, and even business faculty. Honing in on fundamentals, this practical guide Explains how to conduct the reference interview, with tips for helping clients help themselves Identifies important business resources, both free and fee-based Offers chapters devoted to industry and market information; small-business needs; international business research; investing and the stock market; and marketing and demographics A detailed bibliography functions as both a standing reference for desk use as well as a collection development aid for building a core business collection. Including numerous illustrative case studies, Making Sense of Business Reference takes the guesswork out of doing business research.

The Readers' Advisory Guide to Historical Fiction


Jennifer S. Baker - 2012
    The definitive resource for librarians and other book professionals, this guide ◗◗ Provides an overview of historical fiction's roots, highlighting foundational classics, as well as covering the latest and most popular authors and titles ◗◗ Explores the genre in terms of its scope, style, and appeal ◗◗ Includes lists of recommendations, with a compendium of print and web-based resources ◗◗ Offers marketing tips for getting the word out to readers. Emphasizing an appreciation of historical fiction in its many forms and focusing on what fans enjoy, this guide provides a fresh take on a durable genre.

Teaching Research Processes; The Faculty Role in the Development of Skilled Student Researchers


William B. Badke - 2012
    Teaching Research Processes suggests a novel way in which information literacy can come within the remit of teaching faculty, supported by librarians, and re-conceived as "research processes." The aim is to transform education from what some see as a primarily one-way knowledge communication practice, to an interactive practice involving the core research tasks of subject disciplines.

The No-Nonsense Guide to Archives and Recordkeeping


Margaret Crockett - 2012
    Utilising checklists, practical exercises, sample documentation, case studies and helpful diagrams, the authors ensure a very accessible and pragmatic approach allowing anyone to get to grips with the basics quickly.

User Experience (UX) Design for Libraries


Aaron Schmidt - 2012
    User experience (UX) characterizes how a person feels about using a product, system, or service. UX design incorporates the practical aspects of utility, ease of use and efficiency to make your Web design and functionality decisions with patrons in mind. This book shows you how to get there by providing hands-on steps and best practices for UX design priciples, practices, and tools to engage with patrons online and build the best Web presence for your library.

Rethinking Information Literacy: A Practical Framework For Supporting Learning


Jane Secker - 2012
    The curriculum adopts a broad definition of information literacy that encompasses social as well as academic environments and situates IL as a fundamental attribute of the discerning scholar and the informed citizen. It seeks to address in a modular, flexible and holistic way the developing information needs of students entering higher education over the next five years. Interweaving the authors' research and the reflections of internationally-recognised experts from the library, education and information literacy sectors, it will illustrate how and why this new curriculum will work in practice. Contributors include: Sarah Pavey, Boxhill School Andy Priestner, University of Cambridge Geoff Walton, Staffordshire University Susie Andretta, London Metropolitan University Libby Tilley, University of Cambridge

How to Do Things with Books in Victorian Britain


Leah Price - 2012
    When did the coffee-table book become an object of scorn? Why did law courts forbid witnesses to kiss the Bible? What made Victorian cartoonists mock commuters who hid behind the newspaper, ladies who matched their books' binding to their dress, and servants who reduced newspapers to fish 'n' chips wrap? Shedding new light on novels by Thackeray, Dickens, the Brontes, Trollope, and Collins, as well as the urban sociology of Henry Mayhew, Leah Price also uncovers the lives and afterlives of anonymous religious tracts and household manuals. From knickknacks to wastepaper, books mattered to the Victorians in ways that cannot be explained by their printed content alone. And whether displayed, defaced, exchanged, or discarded, printed matter participated, and still participates, in a range of transactions that stretches far beyond reading. Supplementing close readings with a sensitive reconstruction of how Victorians thought and felt about books, Price offers a new model for integrating literary theory with cultural history. How to Do Things with Books in Victorian Britain reshapes our understanding of the interplay between words and objects in the nineteenth century and beyond.

Religious Objects in Museums: Private Lives and Public Duties


Crispin Paine - 2012
    The last generation has seen faith groups demanding to control 'their' objects, and curators recognising that objects can only be understood within their original religious context. In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in the role religion plays in museums, with major exhibitions highlighting the religious as well as the historical nature of objects.Using examples from all over the world, Religious Objects in Museums is the first book to examine how religious objects are transformed when they enter the museum, and how they affect curators and visitors. It examines the full range of meanings that religious objects may bear - as scientific specimen, sacred icon, work of art, or historical record. Showing how objects may be used to argue a point, tell a story or promote a cause, may be worshipped, ignored, or seen as dangerous or unlucky, this highly accessible book is an essential introduction to the subject.

RDA and Serials Cataloging


Ed Jones - 2012
    Easing catalogers through the RDA: Resource Description and Access transition by showing the continuity with past practice, serials cataloging expert Jones frames the practice within the structure of the FRBR and FRAD conceptual models on which RDA is based. With serials' special considerations in mind, he Explains the familiarities and differences between AACR2 and RDA Demonstrates how serials catalogers' work fits in the cooperative context of OCLC, CONSER and NACO Presents examples of how RDA records can ultimately engage with the Semantic Web Occasional serials catalogers and specialists alike will find useful advice here as they explore the structure of the new cataloging framework.

Let's Start the Music: Programming for Primary Grades


Amy Brown - 2012
    Luckily, storytimes are ideal opportunities to promote music and songs. In this collection of easy-to-use, easy-to-adapt library programs for children in grades K-3, Brown connects songs and musical activities directly to books kids love to read. Offering several thematic programs, complete with stories, songs, and flannelboard and other activities, her book includes ◗◗Music activities, lists of music-related books, mix-and-match activities, and additional web resources ◗◗ Terrific tips on how to teach songs to young children ◗◗Ways to develop original songs and rhythms to enliven children's books Even if you can't carry a tune in a bushel basket, this handy resource has everything you need to start the music in your storytimes.