Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Creating the Customer-Driven Academic Library

Woodward, Jeannette. Creating the Customer-Driven Academic Library. Chicago: ALA, 2008 027.70973 Woodw isbn 978038090768
With more and more scholarly content available online accessible almost anywhere, where does the traditional "brick and mortar" library fit in?
In this book, Jeanette Woodward attacks this and other pressing issues facing today's academic librarians. Her trailblazing strategies center on keeping the customer's point of view in focus at all times to help libraries
-integrate technology to meet today's student and faculty needs
-reevaluate the role and function of library service desks
-implement staffing strategies to match customer expectations
-create new and effective promotional materials
Librarians are now faced with marketing to a generation of students who log on rather than walk in, and this cutting-edge book supplies the tools needed to keep customers coming through the door.

Trustee Trouble: the misadventures of a new library board member - DVD

DVD. Trustee Trouble: the misadventures of a new library board member. Wyoming State Library. 2008. Product of IMLS LSTA grant. 021.82 Trust (DVD) see also www.wyominglibraries.org/trusteetrouble.html
Library Board membership is a great way to give back tothe community and the library. Sometimes that 1st year on the board is tough; there is a lot more to being a library board member than you might think. In this series of episodes, laugh and learn along with DAn, a new library trustee, as he muddles through his 1st year on the library board. Producers suggest viewing an episode with your board and then discussing the questions asked at the end of the segment.

2008 ALA-APA Salary Survey: Librarian - Public and Academic

2008 ALA-APA Salary Survey: Librarian - Public and Academic. Chicago: ALA, 2008 331.2810232 ALA 2008 ed. isbn 978-0-83898457

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Mother goose on the loose (book)

Diamant-Cohen, B. (2006). Mother goose on the loose: A handbook and CD-ROM kits with scripts, rhymes, songs, flannel-board patterns, and activities for promoting early childhood development. New York: Neal-Schuman.

In the award-winning Mother Goose on the Loose (MGOL) library program, inspired by Barbara Cass-Beggss work, Diamant-Cohen uses books, songs, instruments, rhymes, and props to promote early literacy, school-readiness, and other skills in children up to age two. This binder-and-CD kit provides overviews of early development and MGOLs benefits, program instructions and scripts in print and audio formats, evaluation tools, songs, rhymes, tips to share with parents, flannel-board patterns, templates, and promotional resources. Clear instructions for the structured program are given, making this an essential resource for MGOL implementation. The well-produced CD, with clear recitations of rhymes and songs by Diamant-Cohen and musician Rahel, will be particularly appreciated by childrens specialists new to programming for young children, whether they use this model or not. While others looking for content to incorporate into their established lapsits will not find this kit as flexible as Jane Marinos Babies in the Library! (Scarecrow, 2003), or as comprehensive as Linda Ernsts lapsit guides (Neal-Schuman), Diamant-Cohens developmentally appropriate ideas for incorporating musical instruments and music concepts, and promoting social and motor skills, can be useful additions to any program for the preschool-and-under set. -- School Library Journal

Reading is funny! (book)


Anderson, D. (2009). Reading is funny! Motivating kids to read with riddles. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Because they’re quick and fun to read, riddles can “hook” even reluctant readers and keep them coming back for more. Riddles also improve vocabulary, comprehension, and oral reading; enhance deductive and inductive thinking skills; and promote libraries as places for fun.

Drawing on her work with children in schools and public libraries, Dee Anderson offers easy-to-implement ideas on motivating kids to read with riddles plus a folk tale, scripts for puppet skits, sample PR handouts, reproducible games and patterns, and hundreds of carefully selected riddles, some exclusive to this book. Besides riddles on popular topics like animals, holidays, and sports (arranged alphabetically by subject for easy reference), Reading Is Funny! shares two chapters of riddles about books, libraries, and reading. You’ll learn how to:


  • encourage children to read more through interactive bulletin boards, puppetry, bookmaking, games, and activity sheets
  • incorporate riddles into lesson plans, story times, and book-related celebrations
  • use riddles to promote your library’s services and teach library skills
  • foster an environment of fun by encouraging children to share riddles with each other
  • create your own riddles
  • Twice upon a time (book)


    Bomhold, C, & Elder, T.E. (2008). Twice upon a time: A guide to fractured, altered, and retold folk and fairy tales. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

    Create dynamic story or theme units, booktalks, and other activities with this lively, comprehensive guide to more than 300 fractured, altered, and otherwise retold classic folk and fairy tales presented in picture books for K-5 students. Annotations describe each book, explaining how it diverges from the original. Settings and themes are highlighted and extras such as author's notes and glossaries are noted. Organized by original story ("Beauty and the Beast," "Cinderella," and so forth) and then by author, all entries also provide full bibliographic information. Indexes offer access by author, title, illustrator, location, and motif. This thorough and authoritative reference is also useful for collection development and reader's advisory, and researchers and students who are mapping story variations will find it invaluable. Grades K-5. (Book Description)

    More family storytimes (book)

    Reid, R. (2009). More family storytimes: Twenty-four creative programs for all ages. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

    This title from best-selling author Rob Reid features stories, fingerplays, songs, and movement activities to enhance the time families spend at the library. Brimming with all new material, More Family Storytimes offers practical, creative, and active storytimes programs that will captivate audiences of all ages with program plans at a glance, engaging activities, and relevent themes. More Family Storytimes highlights books and resources that will not only entertain young children but also keep older children and adults interested an involved. (Book Description)

    Monday, November 24, 2008

    Teens, Technology, and Literacy (book)

    Braun, L.W. (2007). Teens, technology, and literacy; Or, why bad grammar isn't always bad. WestPort, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

    Braun shows teachers, administrators, and librarians how to incorporate today's technologies into the development of literacy skills. The author backs up the grammar used in IMs and text messaging by explaining how these technologies promote better literacy in the classroom. She takes readers through literacy as it has been defined in the past and how it is being redefined for 21st-century learners. She also provides ideas for hands-on experience for using the new technologies in libraries or classrooms by giving links and examples of technology in action and its relationship to literacy. While the screen captures are blurry, Braun provides the link below the screen to view the actual site. Additional resources and uses for all the new technologies discussed are appended. This book is a must for most collections. (School Library Journal June 2007)

    Monday, November 10, 2008

    Leadership for Excellence: Insights of National School Library Media Program of the Year Award Winners



    Carr, Jo Ann, ed. Leadership for Excellence: Insights of National School Library Media Program of the Year Award Winners. Chicago: American Library Association, 2008.
    ISBN: 978-0-8389-0961-4

    Note: This publication has some very practical and easy-to-implement advice. One great example is how a school librarian uses the annual back-to-school night to offer parents a quick introduction to the library's subscription databases (p. 80). -- Jen 


    Product Description
    How do the most successful school library media specialists play a leading role in student achievement in their schools? Jo Ann Carr and AASL share behind-the-scenes details and best practices, including how and why top programs succeed, get funding, and become integral contributors in their school communities. Learn how winners integrate their programs into the school curriculum and drive excellence within these areas: learning and teaching, information access and delivery, program administration, and future vision. Explore websites of the award winners and review worksheets, fliers, and before-and-after photos to understand the process behind the success.

    Core Collection for Children and Young Adults

    Schwedt, Rachel E., and Janice A. DeLong. Core Collection for Children and Young Adults. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2008. 978-0-8108-6115-2 

    Note: In the introduction, the authors indicated that to be included in this publication, books had to have won at least one award and had to meet specific genre criteria. Contemporary fiction, for example, must deal with the challenges of everyday life yet end with hope. Nothing that appeared in Core Collection for Small Libraries is repeated here. --Jen
    Publisher's Description
    With thousands of new volumes lining the shelves of bookstores, abundant advertisements, and innumerable online reviews, it is becoming increasingly difficulty for the concerned adult to recommend literature that is of quality, yet speaks to young audiences. Core Collection for Children and Young Adults presents the best in contemporary and classic literature for children and young adults. Every book listed in this reference has a concisely worded annotation, which is followed by headings designating awards the book has won, related subjects, and character themes. With more than 350 titles reviewed, this resource will prove invaluable for teachers, librarians, parents, collectors of children's books, and college students with an interest in juvenile literature, education, or child growth and development.

    Thinking Outside the Book: Essays for Innovative Librarians


    Smallwood, Carol, ed. Thinking Outside the Book: Essays for Innovative Librarians. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2008. ISBN 978-0-7864-3575-3 020 Think

    Note: Most essays in this collection are no longer than three to five pages, so they provide concise introductions on a large variety of topics. --Jen

    Product Description
    Professionals in all areas of librarianship will find inspiration in the articles collected here--each of them innovative tips for increasing circulation, enhancing collections, and improving flexibility. With extensive experience in the nation's top libraries and media centers, the 73 contributors describe what really works based on their real-world experiences. Organized by subject, the articles offer succinct and practical guidelines for dozens of tasks. Topics include preparing and delivering distinctive presentations; forming a successful grant proposal; creating a traveling multimedia exhibition; organizing effective community partnerships; writing blogs; hosting authors; creating cybertorials; preserving local culture; and many others.

    Friday, November 7, 2008

    Booktalking Bonanza (book)


    Diamant-Cohen, B. & Levi, S.K. (2009). Booktalking bonanza: Ten Ready-to-use multimedia sessions for the busy librarian. Chicago, IL: American Library Association .
    NOTE: When I browsed through this book I didn't like how it was organized, and some of the booktalk scripts weren't my style or I didn't like the book it was about. But, there are some excellent ideas and resources on how to integrate multimedia into your booktalks. And, you can take the media ideas from book and integrate them into booktalks you already do on the books you love. Another thing I like is the sections on "expanding your options" to adapt for different ages and the "resources cited" at the end of each chapter/session. If you like the books and booktalks in this book, then you've got ten booktalking sessions ready to go! Katie
    Transform your booktalks to engage your audience! With multimedia infusing nearly every activity, today’s audiences from toddlers to elders expect lively, interactive presentations. Now two award-winning experts outline their kid-tested, proven models for enlivening traditional booktalks.

    Get up to speed with exciting media technologies like YouTube videos, online music, PowerPoint presentations, Internet resources, and audio and video from the library collection, along with food, games, puppets, and magic or science experiments. Using these ten themed step-by-step presentations, it's easy! Quickly add whole new dimensions to the staid booktalk and

    *Actively engage your young audiences
    *Access ready-to-go 30-minute programs
    *Present dynamic, interactive talks
    *Enthrall listeners with spellbinding multimedia

    Each chapter offers a complete script, along with "stage directions"—which song or film clip or web link to insert when. End-of-chapter resource lists encourage librarians to tailor the subject matter to grades 4–6 or to YA audiences. Enticing, kid-friendly themes include lightning, wishes, mummies, immigration, dreams, body parts, lies, art, names, and cats and dogs.

    Children's librarians, school library media specialists, and teachers will welcome these time-saving programs. Adult and YA librarians and subject specialists will be inspired to jazz things up in their own presentations. Here's the know-how to make booktalks crackle with multimedia excitement. (Book Description)

    KidzCat (book)

    Karpuk, D.J. (2008). KidzCat: A how-to-do-it manual for cataloging children's materials and instructional resources. New York: Neal-Schuman.

    At last--practical cataloging guidance specifically for youth materials!

    This user-friendly introduction to the basics of cataloging children ’s materials will help you and your staff keep your collections organized, accessible, and manageable. In 13 information-packed chapters, Karpuk covers everything you need to know about cataloging —description, authority control, automation systems and retrieval, MARC, subject headings,classification, and more. Each chapter includes illustrative exercises (with answers) to help librarians learn to catalog their most important and popular resources, like:

    * Board and picture books
    * Sound recordings, including children’s music and audio books
    * DVDs, including animations
    * Computer programs, including games and rewriting software
    * Multimedia kits
    * Series books
    * Children ’s Web sites, Internet portals, and online resources

    Additional coverage includes outsourcing, local policy issues, future directions, and more. This is an essential resource for both new and seasoned librarians charged with cataloging children ’s materials. (Book Description)

    The official YALSA awards guidebook (book)


    Frolund, T. (2008). The official YALSA awards guidebook. New York: Neal-Schuman.

    This information-packed volume compiles bibliographic information about the books and authors honored by the Alexander, Edwards, and Printz awards given by YALSA-the division of the American Library Association (ALA) that serves the librarians who work with young adults. Essays written by experts in young adult content are included, and there are separate chapters about each award and its criteria. In addition, you'll find complete lists of award-winning books to date, speeches by and interviews with the winning authors, along with brief annotations, publisher information, subject/thematic descriptions and display and programming ideas. (Book Description)

    Thursday, November 6, 2008

    Public Library Data Service Statistical Report 2008

    Public Library Data Service Statistical Report 2008. Chicago: PLA, 2008. Q027.473021 Publi2 2008
    isbn 978-0-8389-8453-6

    Not to be confused with the state's annual statisical report, the Public Library Data Service (PLDS) Statistical Report is a project of the Public Library Association. It is designed to meet the needs of public library administrators and others for timely and effective library-specific data that illuminates and supports a wide variety of management decisions.
    Published annually, the PLDS report presents timely data from 800 public libraries across the United States and Canada on finances, library resources, annual use figures, and technology. In addition to these valuable topics, each year's edition contains a special survey highlighting statistics on one service area or topic. The 2008 report contains a special survey on public library finance.