Story Proof (book)

Haven, K. (2007). Story proof: The science behind the startling power of story. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Like Stephen Krashen's important work in The Power of Reading, Story Proof collects and analyzes research that validates the importance of story, story reading, and storytelling to the brain development and education of children and adults. Accomplished researcher and storyteller Kendall Haven, establishes the need for understanding research findings in neural psychology and brain development and the value of a common definition if one is to fully grasp the importance and necessity of story to the development of the human mind. To support his case, he reviews a wealth of research from storytellers, teachers, and others who have experienced the power of story firsthand. The author has collected anecdotal experiences from over 100 performing storytellers and from 1,800 story practitioners (mostly teachers) who have made extensive use of stories. He has read more than 150 qualitative and quantitative research studies that discuss the effectiveness of stories and/or storytelling for one or more specific applications (education, organizational management, knowledge management, medical and narrative therapy, etc.). Forty of these studies were literature reviews and comparative studies including analysis of over 1,000 studies and descriptive articles. He has also gathered research evidence from his own story performances for total audiences of over 4 million and from conducting story writing workshops with 200,000 students and 40,000 teachers. The mind-boggling and extraordinary truth is that each and every one of these thousands of original sources agrees with the general premise that stories are effective. Story Proof" offers proof positive that stories work. (Book description)

The State Library also has the related title, Story Smart: Using the Science of Story to Persuade, Influence, Inspire, and Teach.

Children's Literature in Action (book)

Vardell, S.M. (2008). Children's literature in action: A librarian's guide. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Written in informal and engaging prose, each chapter presents the historical background, definition, and unique qualificaties of the type of literature described. An especially helpful feature is the inset boxes placed throughout chpaters, which give selected bibliographies for further information and present the work of individual authors. The highlighting of these authors and their works offers a helpful model for librarians as they create their own displays and promotions....A comprehensive index allows for easy access to the information presented throughout the book. Two useful bibliographies are also included that could be used to collection building: a bibliography of resources for further study and a bibliography of the works cited. These features make the book an indispensible resource for information proffesionals. (ARBA Online)

Contents:

Chapter One: An Introduction To Children And Their Literature
Chapter Two: Picture Books
Chapter Three: Traditional Tales
Chapter Four: Poetry For Children
Chapter Five: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Chapter Six: Historical Fiction
Chapter Seven: Fantasy
Chapter Eight: Informational Books

The Guy Friendly YA Library (book)

Welch, R.J. (2007). The guy friendly YA library: Serving male teens. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Provides some excellent insights, anecdotes and practical suggestions that should help librarians encourage male teenage users. A must read for all public and school librarians who have found themselves struggling to reach this particular audience. (Library Review)

Contents:

Introduction
Chapter 1 The Library Staff vs. Guys: Why Can't We Just Get Along?
Chapter 2 Understanding Teen Males
Chapter 3 Males as Readers: Their Reading Habits
Chapter 4 Reading and Boys--Topics of Interest
Chapter 5 Books for Boys--Genres, Titles and Topics
Chapter 6 Engaging Teen Males in Library Programming and Teen Advisory Boards
Chapter 7 School Visits and Booktalks
Chapter 8 Actively and Passively Creating Library Services for Teen Males
Conclusion
Appendix A Essential Fiction Titles or Series for Teen Males
Index

Best Books for Boys (book)

Zbaracki, M.D. (2008). Best books for boys: A resource for educators. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Looking for books guaranteed to grab the attention and interest of boys? Books that will keep them reading to the end? Books that will turn them onto reading, or turn them from reluctant readers into lifelong readers? Dip into this guide for a wealth of ideas, all carefully chosen to help librarians, teachers, and parents. The approximately 500 entries have been selected for the general appeal and for their ability to engage and involve readers. Covering a broad span of literature, the book focuses on titles published within the last decade. Genres covered include humor, realistic fiction, adventure, sports, fantasy, historical fiction, graphic novels, nonfiction, and even poetry. Entries are organized by genre and each includes a brief plot summary that highlights the appeal to boys, an indication of reading level, and complete bibliographic information. In recent years, educators and librarians have become increasingly aware of their failings with young male readers, and eager to enlist boys in books and reading. If you are among those educators hoping to more successfully reach out to boys and promote reading, this book is for you. A wonderful tool for collection development, book lists, and displays, this volume will help adults sift through the plethora of titles published for children each year and identify suitable titles for individual boys in grades 3-10. (Book description)

From Awareness to Funding

From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America.

Principal contributors: Cathy De Rosa, Vice President for the Americas and Global Vice President of Marketing Jenny Johnson, Executive Director, Branding and Marketing Services

Free download (PDF) from OCLC or you can order a print copy.

From the OCLC website:

OCLC was awarded a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to explore attitudes and perceptions about library funding and to evaluate the potential of a large-scale marketing and advocacy campaign to increase public library funding in the U.S. The findings of this research are now available in the OCLC report, From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America. Though this study was based on data from the United States, there are findings in the report that could be applicable to any library seeking to understand the connections between public perceptions and library support.

Among the findings from the report:

• Library funding support is only marginally related to library visitation
• Perceptions of librarians are an important predictor of library funding support
• Voters who see the library as a 'transformational' force as opposed to an 'informational' source are more likely to increase taxes in its support

The report suggests that targeting marketing messages to the right segments of the voting public is key to driving increased support for U.S. public libraries.

The Library Security and Safety Guide to Prevention, Planning, and Response (Book)

The Library Security and Safety Guide to Prevention, Planning, and Response, by Miriam B. Kahn, Chicago : American Library Association, 2008. 129p.

From the ALA website:

Libraries need to be open and inviting, yet safe for patrons, staff, and collections. How can you ensure your library is both accessible and secure? Security planning, part of disaster response and continuous operations planning, is the key to proactively addressing potential safety issues.

Look over the shoulder of disaster expert Kahn as she walks through key safety and security issues step by step. This new book outlines hands-on plans to:

• Identify potential security problems
• Put prevention strategies in place
• Create guidelines for libraries and staff in case something does happen
• Minimize risk, whether to building, collections, patrons, staff, or computers

Case studies, along with 20 checklists and 10 sample policies and forms, are the basis for organizing and evaluating security plans tailored to your institution. Library administrators, building managers, special collections and preservation staff, IT managers, and facilities directors at libraries and cultural institutions of all sizes and types can easily adapt the tools. Follow these proven strategies to keep problems small and manageable, and know what to do “in case of emergency.”

About the author:
Miriam B. Kahn, founder of MBK Consulting, helps libraries, archives, corporations, and cultural institutions plan for, recover from, and prevent disasters that interrupt services. Since 1989, she has been working in the field of preservation, consulting on disaster response, and offering hands-on assistance during disasters. She is the author of Disaster Response and Planning for Libraries, second edition and Protecting Your Library’s Electronic Resources (ALA Editions). She is a popular presenter and teacher, offering courses at Kent State University’s Graduate School for Library and Information Science and throughout the Midwest. She holds an MLS from Queens College.

FRBR (Book)

FRBR: A Guide for the Perplexed. Chicago : American Library Association, 2008.

From the ALA website:

“FRBR has the potential to inspire dramatic changes in library catalogs, and those changes will greatly impact how reference and resource sharing staff and patrons use this core tool.”
--netconnect, 2005

FRBR – Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records– is an evolving conceptual model designed to help users easily navigate catalogs and find the material they want in the form they want it – be that print, DVD, audio, or adaptations. Developed by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Cataloging Section, FRBR is now being integrated into cataloging theory and implemented into systems and practice.

Cataloging expert Maxwell offers clear concise explanations for every librarian interested in the next phase of access to their library’s digital information. He answers such questions as

• What is FRBR and how does it work?
• How will FRBR affect libraries?
• Do all librarians need to be concerned, or just those doing cataloging?
• How do authority records fit into the picture?

With an understanding of the FRBR model, public and academic librarians, technical and public services librarians, and administrators can get a jump on this vital new cataloging technology to make catalogs more user-friendly.

About the Author:
Robert L. Maxwell, one of the foremost authorities in the cataloging field, is senior librarian and section head for the Special Collections and Metadata Cataloging Section at the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University. He has chaired RBMS Bibliographic Standards Committee of ACRL and currently serves on the Committee on Cataloging: Description and Access (CC:DA) of ALCTS. He is the author of the Highsmith Award-winning Maxwell’s Guide to Authority Work and Maxwell’s Guide to AACR2. He holds a MLS from the University of Arizona, JD and MA from Brigham Young University, and PhD in classical languages and literature from the University of Toronto.

Teaching about disabilities through children’s literature (book)

Prater, M.A. & Dyches, T.T. (2008). Teaching about disabilities through children’s literature. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

This book is written to provide teachers, social workers, school psychologists, counselors, and other professionals who work with children a comprehensive guide to selecting and using children's books to teach about disabilities. With the support of this book readers will be able to:

• Select appropriate children's literature that includes characters with disabilities;
• Use children's books to teach awareness, knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of individuals with disabilities;
• Follow unit and lesson plans for recommended books that include characters with disabilities;
• Implement standard lesson plans and discussion guides for self-selected books that include characters with disabilities; and
• Recognize what books are available and recommended in this genre.

The book includes reproducible lesson and unit plans and extensive annotated bibliographies of over 100 books. Grades K-12. --Book description

Understanding diversity through novels and picture books (book)

Knowles, L. & Smith, M. (2007). Understanding diversity through novels and picture books. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

A guide for using novels and picture books to help children in grades 4-8 with diversity issues. The authors move away from cultural food, fashion, festivals, and famous people towards realistic fiction librarians/teacher can appropriately match with diverse children so they can relate to people like themselves, and with others to provide the “walk a mile in my shoes” experience. The first chapters provide an overview of diversity demographics, statistics, controversial issues, etc. Subsequent chapters are organized by subject: ability, ethnicity, religion, exceptionalities, ageism, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender. Each chapter includes a short annotated bibliography, a bibliography without annotations, discussion questions, information about a representative author, a journal article, and other resources.

What Every Librarian Should Know About Electronic Privacy

Woodward, Jeannette. What Every Librarian Should Know About Electronic Privacy. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2007. isbn 978-1-59158-489-6 025.50285 Woodw

This book addresses many forms of privacy invasion and the parties who are responsible for them. It includes an index and glossary of terms and acronyms....No treatment of electronic privacy would be complete without a study of government privacy intrusions; Woodward provides a critical analysis of the U.S. government's track record on privacy invasion, noting how the government's overdependence on technology has led to inefficient and inadequate law enforcement....Every library should have a copy of this book. It is an excellent guide to the kinds of privacy intrusion that libraries and those who frequent them experience and how to avoid them.

Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries, 7th ed

O'Gorman, Jack, Ed. Reference Sources for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries, 7th ed.. Chicago, IL: ALA, 2008. isbn 978-0-8389-0943-0 011.02 Refer2 7th ed.

This is a valuable resource of reference titles appropriate for any public or academic library. The volume includes Dewey and LC numbers for every entry. The annotations are thorough and concise; slightly longer and more evaluative entries are included for works that are highly recommended or offer unique features. The lack of a subject index is surmounted by the arrangement of chapters by Dewey classification.

Evaluation and Measurement of Library Services

Matthews, Joseph R. Evaluation and Measurement of Library Services. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2007. isbn 978-1-59158-532-9 025.10973 Matth

After a thorough discussion of methodology, Matthews devotes several chapters to particular aspects of library service, such as reference and interlibrary loan. Finally, he tells us how to use all the information we've gathered to make our case about the library's value to patrons and stakeholders and answer the most important question of all--what difference do we make?

Small Public Library Survival Guide

Landau, Herbert B. Small Public Library Survival Guide. Chicago, 2008: Libraries Unlimited, 2008. isbn 978-0-8389-3575-0 025.1974 Landa

If you're among the nearly 80% of libraries deemed "small," serving populations of 25,000 or fewer, then Landau's survival guide will give you tested and practical techniques to ensure your small library's survival and growth.

Author Event Primer: How to Plan, Execute and Enjoy Author Events

Langemack, Chapple. Author Event Primer: How to Plan, Execute and Enjoy Author Events. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2007. isbn 1-59158-302-0 021.26 Lange

Langemack gives practical guidance that will be useful to experienced and novice planners on how to host an author event. She covers everything, from reasons for having author visits to carrying off "the really big do", with humor and experience. The text is supplemented with charts; sample event proposals, fact sheets, letters, forms, and emails; and sidebars that illustrate the good, the bad, and how good planning can keep disasters to a minimum. If you aren't a list maker, Langemack will turn you into one before she is through. The index is thorough and useful. Libraries that do such programs should add this to their professional collection and buy a copy for the circulating collection as well, since there is a chapter for the author who'd like to approach a libary about an event. Booklist

Grants for Libraries: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians

Gerding, Stephanie K., and Pamela H. MacKellar. Grants for Libraries: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians. New York, NY: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2006. isbn 1-55570-535-9, 025.11 Gerdi

The authors of this book take the reader through every phase of the grant-writing cycle, offering details, examples, and relevant tools. Dividing the process into 10 steps, each covered in a separate chapter, the book offers practical advice and easy-to-follow suggestions appropriate for every type of library. Highlights include a detailed strategic planning procedure, a process for selecting the right grant, writing the RFP and parts of a typical grant application, and implementing the project once it is funded (many manuals stop with the application process). There is a section of two-page spreads featuring real success stories. The accompanying CD-ROM contains these success stories and all of the book's checklists, worksheets, and templates, which can be downloaded and adapted to a specific situation. The glossary, bibliography, and index enhance its usefulness. This book should be at the side of every grant-writing librarian. Rochelle Glantz

Creating Your Library Brand : Communicating Your Relevance and Value to Your Patrons

Doucett, Elisabeth. Creating Your Library Brand : Communicating Your Relevance and Value to Your Patrons. Chicago, IL: ALA, 2008. isbn 978-0-8389-0962-1 659.1902 Douce

In the new media mix, libraries need to stand up and effectively communicate their benefits as preferred providers of information and entertainment resources. By following the step-by-step guidance of Doucett, branding pro turned librarian, libraries can begin to develop branding that makes a difference and is tailored to the nonprofit public library arena.

Tell the world: Storytelling across language barriers (book)

MacDonald, M. (2008). Tell the world: Storytelling across language barriers. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

This is an indispensable guide for those wanting to share stories with audiences who speak another language. The author's advice, along with that of other experienced tellers, covers myriad facets of this special and relevant method of connecting with members of our greater yet smaller world community. MacDonald says, "…the human heart finds ways to connect across language barriers." Interest in and respect for other cultures, histories, languages, and mores are prerequisites for storytelling in general, and, in this specialty, are absolutely essential. She also presents the pluses and minuses of various ways of translating (line by line; in tandem; summarizing; bilingual). Equally important to words are the rhythms, gestures, intonations, and facial expressions that are vital to the audience watching and listening to the teller. The book includes priceless advice about glitches that others have faced and surmounted. Preparation time with a translator is ideal. Suggestions for programs for hearing-impaired audience members and those who know no translatable languages are included. A clear, complete, practical, and readable treasure trove from a master teacher.

--Review from School Library Journal by Judy Sokoll, Florida Storytelling Association

Across cultures (book)

East, K. & Thomas, R.L. (2007). Across cultures: A guide to multicultural literature for children. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Easy to use, well organized guide to multicultural resources for preschool through 6^th grade. Chapters are arranged thematically, there are two chapters on parent-child discussion groups and literature circles. The content chapters are followed by almost every kind of index you could want: author, title, illustrator, subject, grade level, and award winners. The authors also include information needed for purchasing these titles.