Best of
Librarianship

2018

The Librarian's Guide to Homelessness: An Empathy-Driven Approach to Solving Problems, Preventing Conflict, and Serving Everyone


Ryan J. Dowd - 2018
    In fact, staff at public libraries interact with almost as many homeless individuals as staff at shelters do. Empathy and understanding, along with specific actionable advice that's drawn from experience, makes all the difference in working with this group.In this book Dowd, executive director of a homeless shelter, spotlights best practices drawn from his own shelter's policies and training materials. Filled with to-the-point guidance that will help front line public library staff and managers understand and serve this population better, this resource:• includes facts about homelessness every librarian should know;• debunks widespread myths about these individuals, explaining how they see themselves, what issues they struggle with, and how libraries can shift towards supporting them;• shares de-escalation techniques like showing respect, ways to avoid making things personal, and using proper body language;• walks readers through dealing with common issues like a sleeping patron, questionable hygiene, offensive behavior, and asking a patron to leave; and• advises on how to provide backup to a colleague and when to call the police.Filled with real life stories that illustrate the effectiveness of Dowd's approach, this one-of-a-kind guide will empower library staff to treat homeless individuals with dignity.

Hacking School Libraries: 10 Ways to Incorporate Library Media Centers into Your Learning Community (Hack Learning Series Book 20)


Kristina A. Holzweiss - 2018
    They are places for research, refuge, and reflection--where students create, collaborate, communicate, and develop skills in critical thinking and compassion. Learn 10 ways to create the library learning environment that every child deserves. In Hacking School Libraries, 2015 School Librarian of the Year, Kristina A. Holzweiss, and 2017 Sensational Student Voice Award finalist, Stony Evans, bring you 10 practical hacks that will help you create a welcoming and exciting school library program. They show you how to rethink your library to become the hub of the school community, whether you are a veteran librarian or just beginning your career. Hacking School Libraries isn't just for librarians. It's for any educator who wants to learn how to transform your learning space provide hands-on learning opportunities empower your students bring curriculum to life differentiate instruction effectively raise funds advocate for modern school libraries establish global connections celebrate reading What the experts say: "When I learned that Kristina and Stony were writing a book to fit into one of my favorite series, I was so excited and couldn’t think of a better duo to do so! School librarians will find Hacking School Libraries such an amazing read and resource in so many ways. The hacks found in this book are terrific for any grade level and will help guide librarians to make a difference in their library, school, and community!" -Shannon McClintock Miller, Teacher Librarian and Iowa Future Ready Librarian Spokesperson "Authors Kristina Holzweiss and Stony Evans are two of the most respected thought leaders and practitioners in the school library field. Their book, Hacking School Libraries, is an essential resource for any modern-day library media specialist. It is filled with actionable tips and strategies that anyone can easily implement tomorrow." -Laura Fleming, Library Media Specialist, bestselling author of Worlds of Making and The Kickstart Guide to Making Great Makerspaces Grab Hacking School Libraries today, and incorporate library media centers into your learning community tomorrow.

Pushing the Margins: Women of Color and Intersectionality in LIS


Rose L. Chou - 2018
    With roots in black feminism and critical race theory, intersectionality studies the ways in which multiple social and cultural identities impact individual experience. Libraries and archives idealistically portray themselves as egalitarian and neutral entities that provide information equally to everyone, yet these institutions often reflect and perpetuate societal racism, sexism, and additional forms of oppression. Women of color who work in LIS are often placed in the position of balancing the ideal of the library and archive providing good customer service and being an unbiased environment with the lived reality of receiving microaggressions and other forms of harassment on a daily basis from both colleagues and patrons. This book examines how lived experiences of social identities affect women of color and their work in LIS.

33 Simple Strategies for Faculty: A Week-By-Week Resource for Teaching First-Year and First-Generation Students


Lisa M. Nunn - 2018
    This is especially true of first-generation college students, who are often unfamiliar with the norms and expectations of academia. College professors usually want to help, but many feel overwhelmed by the prospect of making extra time in their already hectic schedules to meet with these struggling students.33 Simple Strategies for Faculty is a guidebook filled with practical solutions to this problem. It gives college faculty concrete exercises and tools they can use both inside and outside of the classroom to effectively bolster the academic success and wellbeing of their students. To devise these strategies, educational sociologist Lisa M. Nunn talked with a variety of first-year college students, learning what they find baffling and frustrating about their classes, as well as what they love about their professors’ teaching.   Combining student perspectives with the latest research on bridging the academic achievement gap, she shows how professors can make a difference by spending as little as fifteen minutes a week helping their students acculturate to college life. Whether you are a new faculty member or a tenured professor, you are sure to find 33 Simple Strategies for Faculty to be an invaluable resource.

The Flower Can Always Be Changing


Shawna Lemay - 2018
    The flower can always be changing.”—Virginia WoolfFrom the bestselling author of Rumi and the Red Handbag comes a new collection of brief essays about the intersection of poetry, painting, photography and beauty. Inspired by the words of Virginia Woolf, Lemay welcomes you into her home, her art and her life as a poet and photographer of the every day. Lemay shares visits to the museum with her daughter, the beauty in an average workday at the library, and encourages writers and readers to make an appointment with flowers, with life.

The Instinct for Cooperation: A Graphic Novel Conversation With Noam Chomsky


Jeffrey Wilson - 2018
    The Instinct for Cooperation innovatively balances those real-life stories of struggle with conversations the author has had with Chomsky on how best to understand them. Although the themes are wide-ranging, this book is ultimately about the importance and need for spaces of resistance in countering state and other institutional forms of violence. For example, when discussing the removal of books by police and sanitation workers from Zuccotti Park in November of 2011, Chomsky paused to say "Arizona knows all about that," referring to the 2010 ban of Mexican American Studies in Tucson schools under Arizona House Bill 2281, which deemed classes that taught "ethnic solidarity" to be illegal. Rather than footnote the reference, Wilson tells that story. Like Joe Sacco's animated political journalism, this book offers a unique perspective on current issues, while providing a major contribution to the understanding of Chomsky's political theories.

The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction: Third Edition


Neal Wyatt - 2018
    A must for every readers' advisory desk, this resource is also a useful tool for collection development librarians and students in LIS programs. Inside, RA experts Wyatt and Saricks cover genres such as Psychological Suspense, Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Literary and Historical Fiction, and introduce the concepts of Adrenaline and Relationship Fiction; include everything advisors need to get up to speed on a genre, including its appeal characteristics, key authors, sure bets, and trends; demonstrate how genres overlap and connect, plus suggestions for guiding readers among genres; and tie genre fiction to the whole collection, including nonfiction, audiobooks, graphic novels, film and TV, poetry, and games. Both insightful and comprehensive, this matchless guidebook will help librarians become familiar with many different fiction genres, especially those they do not regularly read, and aid library staff in connecting readers to books they're sure to love.

Get Your Community Moving: Physical Literacy Programs for All Ages


Jenn Carson - 2018
    And the data show that they work: nearly 90% of public libraries said their movement-based programs had brought new users into their libraries, according to a recent study, while 80% said the programs contributed to community building. Carson, a professional yoga teacher who has been leading movement-based programs in schools, libraries, and museums for over a decade, presents a guidebook for serving library patrons of all ages, both mind and the body together. Filled with detailed strategies, proven program models, and real-life case studies, her book * describes the concept of physical literacy and explains why it matters, using both research and library testimonials;* shares tips for building enthusiasm among library staff, training, marketing, partnering with community organizations, and handling patron feedback;* shows how to get started regardless of staffing or budget limitations, with hints for sneaking physical literacy into existing spaces and initiatives;* includes programs for children and families, such as ABC Boom!, storytime fun runs, and a healthy nutrition lecture and tasting;* outlines a Water Wars! party, a Quidditch match, an earth walk, and other programs that convert teens’ energy into healthy movement;* demonstrates ways that adults can also get moving, from gym passes and walk/run clubs to ballroom dancing; * guides libraries on involving special populations through outreach and inreach; and* provides checklists for prep, teardown, tie-ins, and followup.This book is essential reading for any programming librarian, administrator, or community coordinator looking to boost circulation stats, program numbers, literacy rates, and foster joy and wellness in their community.

Reading Still Matters: What the Research Reveals about Reading, Libraries, and Community


Catherine Sheldrick Ross - 2018
    This new edition of Reading Matters provides powerful evidence that can be used to justify the establishment, maintenance, and growth of pleasure reading collections, both fiction and nonfiction, and of readers' advisory services. The authors assert that reading should be woven into the majority of library activities: reference, collection building, provision of leisure materials, readers' advisory services, storytelling and story time programs, adult literacy programs, and more.This edition also addresses emergent areas of interest, such as e-reading, e-writing, and e-publishing; multiple literacies; visual texts; the ascendancy of young adult fiction; and fan fiction. A new chapter addresses special communities of YA readers. The book will help library administrators and personnel convey the importance of reading to grant-funding agencies, stakeholders, and the public at large. LIS faculty who wish to establish and maintain courses in readers' advisory will find it of particular interest.

Poet-Librarians in the Library of Babel: Innovative Meditations on Librarianship


Shannon Tharp - 2018
    

Representing the Rainbow in Young Adult Literature: LGBTQ+ Content since 1969


Christine A. Jenkins - 2018
    

Learning Transported: Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality for All Classrooms


Jaime Donally - 2018
    Immersive technology resources can be far less costly than many believe, but there are issues school districts should resolve before making purchases and implementing this technology. Learning Transported provides practical insights and classroom examples to help educators plan and establish goals so that their investment in immersive technology benefits the greatest number of students. Topics covered include definitions and examples of augmented, virtual and mixed reality; comparison of devices and platforms, and tips for selecting the best one; lesson plans mapped to standards and content areas and ideas for using immersive technology tools in the classroom. Immersive technology has great potential to transform learning and create engaging experiences for students. Before bringing it to the classroom, educators must consider the most important factors: that the instruction addresses student outcomes and standards, and that the mechanism for delivering this learning (no matter the device) is safe, affordable and suitable for the situation.

Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies: How to Find Trustworthy Information in the Digital Age


Donald A. Barclay - 2018
    - Learn how to identify the alarm bells that signal untrustworthy information. - Understand how to tell when statistics can be trusted and when they are being used to deceive. - Inoculate yourself against the logical fallacies that can mislead even the brightest among us. Donald A. Barclay, a career librarian who has spent decades teaching university students to become information literate scholars and citizens, takes an objective, non-partisan approach to the complex and nuanced topic of sorting deceptive information from trustworthy information.

Library Makerspaces: The Complete Guide


Theresa Willingham - 2018
    It features guidance on: -Holding stakeholder discovery sessions for community-driven space and program development -Evaluating existing library spaces for the most cost-effective and user-friendly facilities design and programming -Asset mapping for developing community partnerships -Best practices from different types of library makerspaces in the United States and internationally -Sample budgets, inventories, and space plans -Risk management considerations -Programming recommendations and resources for a range of patrons from youth to seniors and business to hobby groups -Funding and in-kind support This book will help librarians develop and implement makerspaces, write grant proposals to fund such spaces, and help frontline staff and administrators learn about the technologies and processes involved.

Access to Online Resources: A Guide for the Modern Librarian


Kristina Botyriute - 2018
    OpenAccess, get it free here: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-739...The book offers a concise guide for librarians, helping them understand the challenges, processes and technologies involved in managing access to online resources.Librarians will benefit from this quick and easy read, which demystifies the technologies used, features real-life scenarios, and explains how to competently employ authentication and access management.

The Readers' Advisory Guide to Teen Literature


Angela Carstensen - 2018
    Moving far beyond merely offering lists of book titles, this RA guide specifically helps librarians and educators in public libraries, middle and high school libraries, and colleges and universities expand their knowledge of young adult literature.

Reference Librarianship & Justice: History, Practice & Praxis


Kate Adler - 2018
    Reference Librarianship & Justice: History, Practice & Praxis highlights the unique position of reference librarianship, a liminal and dialectical space, potentially distinct from the power dynamics of classroom instruction and singular in its mission and practice. At heart, reference is a conversation and partnership. The stakes are significant, not only because of the unique potential for social justice work but because of the risk that the profession is now overlooking reference's central importance. This book makes a passionate case for reference work in a manner that is historically, socially and politically compelling.The book's three sections explore the praxis, history and practice of reference librarianship in the context of social justice. Praxis grounds us theoretically while seeking to trouble and broaden traditional academic conventions, drawing on diverse epistemological frameworks and disciplines both inside and outside of LIS literatures. History grounds us in the past and makes the case that reference librarianship has a long tradition of social justice work, providing intellectual access, partnership and guidance from the Jim Crow South to the War on Poverty. Finally, Dispatches from the Field explores the contemporary practice of social-justice oriented reference librarianship, in prisons, in archives and beyond. We see how the rich genealogy of social justice in reference librarianship is at work today.

Sustainable Thinking: Ensuring Your Library's Future in an Uncertain World


Rebekkah Smith Aldrich - 2018
    How do we connect with our communities, remain relevant, make good use of the funds invested in our organizations and care for the people, places and things that constitute our institutions? Public libraries are uniquely positioned educational institutions; we have the ability to teach not only through our collections and programs but our choices as leaders. Libraries that choose the path of greening a facility project are sending a message to their community: we care about the Earth, we care about our community, we care about our workers, we care about your tax dollars - we care about you"--

McCarthyism in the Suburbs: Quakers, Communists, and the Children's Librarian


Allison Hepler - 2018
    She had been called before the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee and, when asked if she'd ever been a member of the Communist Party, she declined to answer, relying on her Fifth Amendment rights. She was fired less than three weeks later. Knowles thought she was unlikely to find a position as a librarian again and left the area. She found a job at a small library outside Philadelphia, where anticommunists who learned of her past tried to create public support for a Loyalty Oath, resulting in the loss of public funding for the library. The resulting controversy eventually brought national attention to the local Quakers who had hired Knowles, the FBI was asked to investigate, Knowles was convicted of contempt of Congress, and the Quakers were subpoenaed and testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Knowles, however, was never fired from this position, retiring from the library in 1979.This book illustrates the impact of McCarthyism on small towns and "ordinary" people and local officials, some of whom abided by the standards of the era. There were others however, who challenged the status quo. Their actions provide readers with models of behavior often at odds with what has been thought of as the 1950s. People who spoke up risked families and jobs. At the same time, anticommunists also tapped into citizens' fears of the cold war, not just of Communists but of a broad swath of people who promoted social justice and equality. The resulting interactions as described in this book offer important lessons on how fear and bravery operate local communities against the backdrop of (and involvement with) national events.--Christopher Densmore, Swarthmore College "Journal of American History"

Dear Client: This Book Will Teach You How to Get What You Want from Creative People


Bonnie Siegler - 2018
    Her advice is nonjudgmental, with a sense of authority derived from working with clients such as Oprah and Saturday Night Live. Each concise chapter of this prescriptive book will walk you through the different phases and experiences of the creative process, such as how to communicate to a design team exactly what you want (adjectives are your best friend), which words or phrases to avoid so as not to stump the designer’s creativity (don’t say “Make it bigger”), the importance of designating one decision-maker, how to be open to something you didn’t imagine, and how to establish clarity of purpose. With informative and amusing stories of good and bad clients, How to Work with Creative People is a game-changing and approachable handbook for achieving a productive and enjoyable relationship with creative professionals, and is sure to join the canon of breakout visual business books such as Rework or The Power of Habit.

Finding the Answers to Legal Questions


Virginia M. Tucker - 2018
    legal system, more people than ever are using the library to obtain legal information and legal research advice. The new edition of Finding the Answers to Legal Questions is a comprehensive guide to help librarians confidently assist users in finding the legal information they need. Newly revised and updated, this timely, clearly organized, and easy-to-use resource is packed with guidance to help librarians answer questions that span the gamut of the law. An ideal book for practicing librarians looking to better serve users' legal needs, as well as for students preparing for careers as librarians, it provides an overview of fundamental legal information, including the basic structure of the U.S. legal system and primary law; how-to instructions for finding primary law in print sources, free websites, and pay-for-view databases; information on how to evaluate the trustworthiness of online and print resources; tips for conducting a legal reference interview; guidance for handling common legal questions, such as lawsuits, family law, landlord-tenant disputes, wills and estate planning, debt, bankruptcy, employment, and criminal law; and advice on how to build a basic legal reference collection. This book will help librarians connect users to the most accurate, up-to-date legal information.

Power Searching the Internet: The Librarian's Quick Guide


Nicole Hennig - 2018
    With concrete examples and practical how-to tips, you'll learn to effectively search Google, Wolfram Alpha, social media platforms, and other internet search tools--and how to teach your patrons to do the same. The information comprised in this volume can be easily shared with patrons to help them in their searches and may be used in information literacy courses.

The Reference Librarian's Bible: Print and Digital Reference Resources Every Library Should Own


Steve W Sowards - 2018
    Drawing on their collective experience in reference services and sifting through nearly 30,000 reviews in ARBAonline, editors Steven Sowards, associate director for collection at Michigan State University Libraries, and Juneal Chenoweth, editor of American Reference Books Annual, curated this collection of titles, most of which have been published since 2000, to serve collections and reference librarians in academic and public libraries.From the Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Social Sciences and Encyclopedia of the Civil War to the Encyclopedia of Physics, Encyclopedia of Insects, and Taylor's Encyclopedia of Garden Plants to the formidable Oxford English Dictionary, The Reference Librarian's Bible encompasses every subject imaginable and will be your first stop for choosing and evaluating your library's collections as well as for answering patrons' questions.