Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Proven Strategies for Building an Information Literacy Program

Curzon, Susan Carol and Lampert, Lynn D., eds. Proven Strategies for Building an Information Literacy Program. New York: Neal Schuman, 2007 1-55570-608-8 028.7071 Prove
Review Bottom line:
Recommended for readers who are trying to get an overview of information literacy efforts beyond the K-12 arena. --Teacher Librarian

Product Description
Developing an information literacy program in the 21st century requires more than simple planning it requires a thoroughly designed strategy based on proven success. In this book, twenty information literacy experts, including Michael Eisenberg, Virginia Walter, and Lesley Farmer, explore various techniques and contribute perspectives on information literacy programs in educational environments from kindergarten through higher education, including public libraries. The result is an indispensable volume that provides an integrated, comprehensible approach for creating a successful, sustained program. The book is divided into chapters, each focusing on one of the 17 components that make up what authors Curzon and Lampert identify as the information literacy wheel . Each section of the wheel planning, teaching models, collaboration, marketing, assessment, and more undergoes in-depth analysis by one of the information literacy professionals. Here is a key resource, packed with compelling analyses and real-world examples from the experts themselves, for developing an effective, multi-dimensional information literacy program in the 21st century.

Learn Dewey Decimal Classification

Mortimer, Mary. Learn Dewey Decimal Classification. 1st North American Ed. Friendswood, TX, TotalRecall Publications Inc., 2007 978-1-59095-804-9 025.431 Morti

From Library Journal
The current trend in cataloging courses is to emphasize theory with little or no practical experience given. However, it is important for professionals, paraprofessionals, and library students to at least have a working knowledge of cataloging basics. Both of these books cover the basic skills necessary to classify in either the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) or the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). The chapters and exercises are clearly written and to the point, with the answers also included. Both workbooks should be used in sequence as each chapter builds on the lessons of the previous ones. Not every LCC schedule is used. Examples and exercises were chosen to reinforce the general principles that apply across all schedules. Recommended for professionals and paraprofessionals seeking professional development, students wanting to supplement their courses with practical applications, and library schools offering distance learning courses in cataloging.

Product Description
This combined text and workbook covers the theories and principles of Dewey Decimal Classification and then offers readers immediate practice in putting the information to use. Plentiful, clear explanations, examples and practice exercises illustrate every aspect of Dewey Decimal Classification and help students master creating DDC numbers. The book also includes a new chapter on WebDewey; a glossary that defines technical terms in simple language; and an index. It is an easy to use study tool for all library students and library staff who need to be familiar with at least the basics. Unlike other materials available for learning the DDC, this book combines workbook with instructional text. As such, the student can refer to it beyond the course.

Managing Budgets and Finances: A How-To-Do-It Manual

Hallam, Arlita W. and Dalston, Teresa R. Managing Budgets and Finances: A How-To-Do-It Manual. New York, Neal-Schuman, 2007, isbn 1-55570-519-7 025.11 Halla
From Booklist
This budgeting manual, another in the Neal-Schuman group of How-To-Do-It guides, offers the new or seasoned library administrators, board members, department heads, or finance professionals a way to budget carefully and clearly by offering a variety of strategies, definitions, and suggestions. The manual is divided into three parts: basics for librarians, special topics in financial management for libraries, and alternative library funding. Each chapter is divided into an overview, subtopic, and a summary. Definitions of terms, examples of reports, sources, and detailed steps in budget preparation are just some of the helpful aspects of this book. Special topics include outsourcing, capital projects, contracts, and RFP. The appendixes include a sample accounting manual, annual report, and RFP. This practical tool will enable readers to understand and prepare a budget, understand the fiscal matters, and be able to make decisions on funding or managing a capital project.

Review
"...easy-to-understand...the nuts and bolts of budgets, including auditing processes, fund allocations, capital projects, insurance, and sources of funding." --American Libraries

Academic Manager's Forms, Policies, and Procedures Handbook

Brumley, Rebecca. The Academic Manager's Forms, Policies, and Procedures Handbook (with CD ROM). New York, Neal-Schuman, 2007, isbn 1-55570-597-9 027.7 Bruml

Review
...more than 600 policies from college, community college, and university libraries on many topics that directors or deans might find useful to adapt. --C & RL News, March 2008

Product Description
Rebecca Brumley's Public Library Manager's Forms, Policies, and Procedures Handbook (Starred Review, Library Journal) revolutionized the way public libraries create their policy and procedures manual. Now Brumley brings her winning formula to the academic library with this invaluable collection of expertly vetted sample policies, forms, and procedures for the college or university environment. This new handbook and CD-ROM package is divided into three parts: Student and Faculty Services, Administrative Policies, and Collection Maintenance. Coverage includes: Borrowing policies for students, faculty, alumni, visiting researchers, and university staff; Guidelines for interlibrary loan, reserves, holds, and recalls; Procedures for reference staffing, services, and resource sharing; Policies for computer workstation and Internet usage, and Administrative documents for facilities maintenance, fundraising, exhibits and displays, and more. The companion CD-ROM reproduces all 600+ forms, procedures, and policies, which can be used as is or customized for a specific library. This time- and labor-saving tool will find great use in college and university libraries of all sizes.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

3 new school library titles

-Bradburn, Frances B. Output Measures for School Library Media Programs. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1999.

Book Description from Amazon.com:Numbers can provide concrete proof to demonstrate that a problem exists as well as evidence that steps are being taken to find solutions. Bradburn, chief consultant for library media programs for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, provides a much-needed format for taking data traditionally collected by library media specialists and showing how it can be used to talk about existing programs - or to document the need for a program change.
She addresses the use of statistics to justify the need for resources or to provide input for programs, ways to collect the data with limited time and staff, and the use of that data by systems or individual schools to argue for increased funding. Detailed information, clearly illustrated by examples and charts, is supplied on which data will best support a given need, collecting the data so they are reliable and useful, and interpreting and using them most effectively. "Hotspots" warn the reader of potential pitfalls in the use of these statistics. The major output measures are: media center use, materials use, materials availability, teaching availability, and staff development opportunities. Fully developed case studies illuminate the strategic use of output measures by the school library media specialist.



Bridges, Karl. Great American Novels You've (Probably) Never Read. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
Product Description from Amazon.comBridges has compiled a list of 100 American novels published between 1797 and 1997 and worthy of the title "great." Although the idea is to bring light to the obscure, these titles are physically accessible to readers--either in print, or represented in library collections and available through library loan. For each title, he provides a brief quotation from the book, a plot summary and review, a biographical sketch of the author, a list of the author's other publications, and resources to consult. Intended as a ready reference, this guide will be of particular interest to readers' advisors, as well as faculty and students of American literature.



Garner, Carolyn. Teaching Library Media Skills in Grades K-6; A How-To-Do-It Manual and CD-ROM. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2004.
Book DescriptionHere’s a comprehensive new guide and CD-ROM with the tools busy school library media specialists need to teach elementary children to successfully navigate today’s libraries. This valuable grade-by-grade manual provides ready-to-teach lessons for introducing and reinforcing 12 essential learning objectives with practical, fun and challenging activities. The topics range from learning library manners and proper care of books (for K-2 learners) to computer use and locating information from CD’s and the Internet (for upper-elementary grades). Whether you need a good lesson for teaching call numbers, the Dewey Decimal System, what the title page of a book contains, thesaurus and dictionary use, or using online catalogs and search engines—it’s all here. Garner’s ready-to-go lessons have all been field-tested with kids and can be used either as-is from the book or easily adapted and customized from Word files located on the CD-ROM.