Getting Beyond Interesting

Nesi, O. M. (2012). Getting Beyond Interesting: Teaching Students the Vocabulary of Appeal to Discuss Their Reading. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-59884-935-6

Publisher's Description 

Make use of a detailed plan and ready-to-use lessons for teaching appeal terms and Book Hook writing to students. Getting Beyond "Interesting": Teaching Students the Vocabulary of Appeal to Discuss Their Reading is a practical application book that gives librarians all the tools they need to implement the teaching of both appeal terms and Book Hook writing and sharing. When students know how to write Book Hooks and have access to an easy-to-use system for allowing students to share Book Hooks, the result is greatly increased reading through the power of peer recommendations.

This book not only supplies a detailed plan for teaching appeal terms and Book Hook writing, but it also provides two extensive appendices containing all the black line masters and forms needed to implement these lessons. As a result, practitioners will be able to enhance their students' reading culture through increased sharing of reading—and most importantly, by empowering students with the ability to clearly define their reading preferences.
  
Highlights

• Provides practical and immediately usable material

• Includes resources such as a list of more than 300 picture books that can be used to teach appeal terms, a glossary of appeal terms, 106 Book Hooks written for YA titles for immediate use and more than 60 Hooks written for YA short stories, and a number of lesson plans and lesson ideas for teaching appeal terms and Book Hook writing

• Contains useful resources such as a Book Hook template, a reading survey based on appeal, and materials to make a proposal to administration for implementing the teaching of appeal terms and Book Hook writing through the English Department

• Includes a series of professional development workshops for English teachers, complete with all necessary materials for implementation 

•  Appendix materials also available on the included CD-ROM

eBooks for Elementary School

Cavanaugh, T. W. (2015). eBooks for Elementary School. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-849-8

Publisher's Description
eBooks offer students as well as teachers, school and public librarians, and parents tremendous possibilities. This book explains how to expand and enhance the reading experience through the use of technology.

Today, eBooks are everywhere, and the use of digital learning materials is beginning to supplant traditional printed materials. As the world shifts to digital books, both teachers and students need to be comfortable and effective using materials in this format. This book helps you to apply eBook materials to existing curricula to create interactive educational activities and have access to more materials to support reading instruction, literacy, standards, and reading in the content areas.

Author Terence W. Cavanaugh, an expert on teaching with technology, describes numerous strategies for integrating eBooks into reading instruction and remediation for students in preschool through grade 6. He covers the hardware and software used, the wide range of formats available, and research conducted on the use of eBooks with students as well as how to access free resources such as digital libraries and special collections that make eBooks available for schools. The book also contains a chapter dedicated to using eBooks to help emergent or struggling readers.
 
Features

• Explains how any teacher or librarian can get started on the integration process of using eBooks as reading tools

• Covers all the key critical information regarding eBook use: the different formats of eBooks and readers as well as how to collect and hold eBook files

• Provides information on where teachers can get thousands of free digital books for their students to use, including text, audio, and video books

Think Tank Library Grades K-5

Boyd Ratzer, M., & Jaeger, P. (2015). Think Tank Library: Brain-Based Learning Plans for New Standards, Grades K-5. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-990-7

Publisher's Description
Transform your library into a "think tank" by helping teachers create an active learning environment in which students question, investigate, synthesize, conclude, and present information based on Common Core standards.

The rigors of today's mandated academic standards can repurpose your library's role as a steward of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) at your school. This guide will help you help teachers present exciting, field-tested lessons for elementary grades K through 5, addressing developmental steps and individual differences in key competencies in the CCSS. Authors and educators Mary Ratzer and Paige Jaeger illustrate how brain-based learning helps students become deep, critical thinkers and provide the lesson plans to coax the best thinking out of each child.

This tool book presents strategies to help learners progress from novice to expert thinker; challenge younger students with questions that lead to inquiry; incorporate "rigor" into lessons; and use model lesson plans to change instruction. Beginning chapters introduce the basics of instruction and provide ideas for expert cognitive growth of the brain. Sample lessons are aligned with key curriculum areas, including science, social studies, music, art, and physical education. 

Features

• Includes relevant, rigorous, fun, and field-tested lesson plans for multiple disciplines

• Provides reproducible pages to allow librarians and teachers to easily use a lesson

• Offers a K–5 scaffolding approach to teaching information literacy skills

• Features graphical illustrations and practical schemas that explain, illustrate, and model how brain-based learning works

Table of Contents: 

Introduction: Why Thinking?
Chapter 1: Thinking and the Culture of Your School
Chapter 2: 22 Ideas for Turning Your Library Into a Think Tank
Chapter 3: Think Tank Libraries and Inquiry
Chapter 4: Thinking and the Common Core
Chapter 5: Wanted: Expert Thinkers
Chapter 6: If the Brain Could Talk
Chapter 7: Thinking and Information Literacy
Chapter 8: Thinking in ELA
Chapter 9: Thinking and Text Dependent Questions
Chapter 10: Thinking in Social Studies
Chapter 11: Thinking in Math
Chapter 12: Thinking in Science
Chapter 13: Think Tank Lessons
Chapter 14: The Primary Learning Years
Chapter 15: Primary K-2 Library and Classroom Lessons
Chapter 16: The Elementary Discovery Grades (3-5) Library and Classroom Lessons
Chapter 17: Think Tank Starter Kits: Lesson Building Block Ideas
Appendix
Bibliography
Index

Think Tank Library Grades 6-12

Boyd Ratzer, M., & Jaeger, P. (2015). Think Tank Library: Brain-Based Learning Plans for New Standards, Grades 6-12. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-988-4

Publisher's Description
Transform your library into a "think tank" by helping teachers create an active learning environment in which students question, investigate, synthesize, conclude, and present information based on Common Core standards.

The rigors of today's mandated academic standards can repurpose your library's role as a steward of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) at your school. Created for teachers of grades 6 through 12, this guide will help you help present exciting, field-tested lessons that address developmental steps and individual differences in key competencies in the CCSS. Authors and educators Mary Ratzer and Paige Jaeger illustrate how brain-based learning helps students become deep, critical thinkers, and provide the lesson plans to coax the best thinking out of each child.

This tool book presents strategies to help learners progress from novice to expert thinker; challenge students with questions that lead to inquiry; incorporate "rigor" into lessons; and use model lesson plans to change instruction. Beginning chapters introduce the basics of instruction and provide ideas for expert cognitive growth of the brain. Sample lessons are aligned with key curriculum areas, including science, social studies, music, art, and physical education.

Features

• Provides diverse, brain-friendly, and field-tested lesson plans that feature thinking targets, texts, and standards and enhance students' deep thinking skills

• Presents a school-library focus driven by inquiry process and information literacy skills

• Features graphical illustrations and practical schemas that explain, illustrate, and model how brain-based learning works

• Includes an extensive, research-based bibliography

The Collection's at the Core

Mardis, M. A. (2014). The Collection's at the Core: Revitalize Your Library with Innovative Resources for the Common Core and STEM. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-504-6

Publisher's Description
Curricula that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) areas of study aren't just important for furthering competency and careers in these fields; STEM helps ensure that future generations include inventive and critical thinkers. Digital resources offer a current, exciting direction to involve school librarians with their STEM teachers. With its specific focus on open digital multimedia learning resources, this book will enable school librarians to take advantage of this opportunity and evaluate, build, and maintain their STEM collections.

The book comprises three sections: an overview of policy initiatives; a thorough exploration of STEM education policy, digital materials, and collection considerations; and detailed explanations of strategies for collection development and promotion. You'll learn how to perform a collection analysis to determine the age and extent of your STEM collections and make priorities for enriching them with appropriate digital multimedia resources as well as how to classify resources using Dewey and Sears and with regard to the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Features

• Authored by a former school administrator and school librarian with 15 years' experience working on K–12 STEM initiatives

• Enables school librarians to understand the nature and importance of STEM as well as the value of including high-quality, free STEM digital multimedia in library collections

• Presents effective strategies for promoting collections to ultimate beneficiaries including learners, educators, parents, community members, and, importantly, other school librarians

• Gives school librarians specific criteria and sources with which to build STEM collections that meet national standards for science, health, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well as to select resources that cross curriculum areas

Table of Contents 
Preface
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: STEM Is Important to Librarians
Chapter 3: The Common Standards Movement Is Important for School Librarians
Chapter 4: Curation Part 1: Selecting and Describing STEM Digital Resources
Chapter 5: Curation Part 2: Managing and Promoting Your STEM OER Collection
Chapter 6: Summary and Conclusions: An Open Letter to School Librarians and Science Educators
Appendix A: Starting Points for Locating Vetted K-12 STEM OER
Appendix B: K-12 STEM OER Collections with Downloadable Records Available through NSDL
Appendix C: K-12 STEM OER Video Collections
Index

Conducting Action Research to Evaluate Your School Library

Sykes, J. A. (2013). Conducting Action Research to Evaluate Your School Library. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited
ISBN: 978-1-61069-077-5

Publisher's Description
How should teacher librarians or instructional leaders engage in action research to improve their school library and benefit students' learning? This book provides the answers.

Teacher librarians need to get directly involved with the research process in the learning commons in order to create actions and strategies that will enhance student learning—and benefit their own professional development as well as demonstrate accountability through their action research efforts. This book provides practical tips and work spaces for educators at the local, state, and national levels, clearly modeling and explaining the process and the tools for conducting action research in a school library setting that will identify the program's strengths and weaknesses.

The author coalesces current expert opinions on the topic of action research in the school library environment and highlighting what other teacher librarians in the field have identified as the pros and cons of using the process. Readers are directed to focus on mitigating the "cons" through the use of specific working pages and templates and by initially exploring "five favorite" links, thereby encouraging those who are new to action research to try what might otherwise seem a daunting process. School principals K–12 who read this book will be better equipped to support their teacher librarians and teachers in this important professional process.


Features

• Supplies invaluable insights from experts and practitioners on the subject of action research
  
• Provides a clear model of the process in action
  
• Directs readers to additional resources that facilitate effective action research and timely topics for school library research, such as time management and technology in learning

Digital Content Creation in Schools: A Common Core Approach

Ivers, K. S., & Barron, A. E. (2015). Digital Content Creation in Schools: A Common Core Approach. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-629-6

Publisher's Description
...Digital content creation supports the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and 21st-century learning skills by helping students use their knowledge to analyze, create, solve problems, communicate, collaborate, and innovate. This update of the popular Multimedia Projects in Education, Fourth Edition emphasizes digital content creation and the use of the CCSS as benchmarks to help you create cutting-edge classroom instruction.

The book begins by presenting research on student learning through multimedia and digital content creation. This introduction is followed by outlines of each stage of the practical, easy-to-use Decide, Design, Develop, and Evaluate (DDD-E) model, which is designed specifically for classroom use. Content also includes discussion of multiple intelligences, constructivist learning, and cooperative grouping; blackline masters to guide you and your students through the DDD-E process; and assessment and management strategies. In addition, you'll find sample activities using an array of development tools, information on mobile and web apps, and numerous other resources to support digital projects in your classroom. The book, which is most applicable to students in grades 4 through 12, will also serve as an ideal resource for media specialists who work with teachers and students. 

Features

• Uses a Common Core approach, focusing on creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, and communication and collaboration

• Details how to use the Decide, Design, Develop, and Evaluate (DDD-E) model, a process designed for the classroom

• Provides blackline masters to assist you with every phase of the DDD-E model, including management and formative assessment

• Includes sample activities and reproducible handouts and worksheets

• Offers information on a wide range of resources, including free mobile and web apps for creating digital projects

Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: The Impact of Multimedia and Digital Content Creation on Student Learning
Chapter 2: A Model for the Design and Development of Digital Content Creation
Chapter 3: Decide
Chapter 4: Design
Chapter 5: Developing Media Elements
Chapter 6: Develop: Digital Content Creation Tools
Chapter 7: Evaluate
Chapter 8: Digital Content Creation Projects: Presentation Tools
Chapter 9: Digital Content Creation Projects: Hypermedia
Chapter 10: Digital Content Creation Projects: Web Pages
Chapter 11: Digital Content Creation Projects: Video
Chapter 12: Digital Content Creation Projects: eBooks
Glossary
Index

The Common Core Approach to Building Literacy in Boys

Knowles, L., & Smith, M. (2014). The Common Core Approach to Building Literacy in Boys. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN: 978-1-61069-653-7

Publisher's Description
Written with a focus on the English Language Arts Common Core Standards, this book provides a complete plan for developing a literacy program that focuses on boys pre-K through grade 12.

Despite the fact that reading and literacy among boys has been an area of concern for years, this issue remains unresolved today. Additionally, the emphasis and focus have changed due to the implementation of the English Language Arts Common Core Standards. How can educators best encourage male students to read, and what new technologies and techniques can serve this objective? The Common Core Approach to Building Literacy in Boys is an essential resource and reference for teachers, librarians, and parents seeking to encourage reading in boys from preschool to 12th grade.

Providing a wide array of useful, up-to-date information that emphasizes the English Language Arts Common Core Standards, the bibliographies and descriptions of effective strategies in this book will enable you to boost reading interest and performance in boys. The chapters cover 16 different topics of interest to boys, all accompanied by a complete bibliography for each subject area, discussion questions, writing connections, and annotated new and classic nonfiction titles. Information on specific magazines, annotated professional titles, books made into film, websites, and apps that will help you get boys interested in reading is also included.

Features

• Examines and evaluates the most recent research about boys and nonfiction reading

• Addresses the intersections of Common Core Standards and literacy for boys

• Provides annotated bibliographies of recommended books as well as lists of apps and other software for boys

• Offers educators effective strategies to promote reading with boys and advice for parents in developing a home reading plan for their sons

Table of Contents 
Introduction
Boys and Literacy: The Research
Common Core English Language Arts: The Research
Read Like a Detective and Write Like a Journalist
Strategies for Change
Chapter 1: Action and Adventure
Chapter 2: Art and Music
Chapter 3: Comics and Graphic Novels
Chapter 4: Exceptionalities
Chapter 5: Explorations and Journeys
Chapter 6: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Chapter 7: History and Historical Fiction
Chapter 8: Humor and Poetry
Chapter 9: LGBT
Chapter 10: Math and Numbers
Chapter 11: Mechanics and Technology
Chapter 12: Nature, Environment, and Animals
Chapter 13: Realistic Fiction and Social Issues
Chapter 14: Science and Space
Chapter 15: Sports
Chapter 16: Thriller and Mystery
Appendix A: Apps
Appendix B: Authors -- Just for Boys
Appendix C: Books Made into Films
Appendix D: Magazines -- Just for Boys
Appendix E: Web Sites
Appendix F: Annotated Professional Resources
Works Cited
Index

Crash Course in Marketing for Libraries, 2nd ed.

Alman, Susan W. and Sara Gillespie Swanson. Crash Course in Marketing for Libraries.  2nd ed. Libraries Unlimited, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-61069-870-2

Description

This easy to use book explains effective marketing strategies and identifies the tools needed to boost the visibility and increase the use of your library in the community. Each chapter of this second edition has been updated and expanded, comprehensively addressing the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages of the marketing and public relations process in libraries. The rise of social media as a powerful marketing tool is discussed in particular detail.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1: The Planning Process for Your Marketing Plan
Chapter 2: Develop a Marketing Plan
Chapter 3: Communicate to the Community: Using the Media, Newsletters, and Annual Reports to Market the Library
Chapter 4: Using Social Media to Market the Library
Chapter 5: Fund-Raising
Appendix A: Glossary
Appendix B: Boilerplate Example
Appendix C: Nominal Group Technique
Appendix D: John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Awards
Appendix E: Sample Marketing Plans
Appendix F: Sample Promotional Materials
Appendix G: Sample Annual Appeal
Appendix H: Sample Annual Reports
Appendix I: Sample Newsletters
Appendix J: Sample Friends of the Library Newsletters
Appendix K: Sample Press Release
Index

RDA Made Simple: A Practical Guide to the New Cataloging Rules

Hart, Amy. RDA Made Simple: A Practical Guide to the New Cataloging Rules. Libraries Unlimited, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-61069-485-8.

Description
This all-in-one guide to RDA keeps it simple and provides practical advice in applying the standard. It covers planning and training considerations, presents relevant FRBR and FRAD background, and offers practical, step-by-step cataloging advice for a variety of material formats.

Table of Contents

Introduction: RDA Made Simple
Chapter 1: RDA History to 2008
Chapter 2: RDA HIstory 2008alt-1-5-0
Chapter 3: Planning for RDA
Chapter 4: Implementation Issues
Chapter 5: FRBR, FRAD, and RDA
Chapter 6: RDA's Introductory Chapter
Chapter 7: Navigating RDA
Chapter 8: Tips for Using RDA
Chapter 9: The "RDA Into MARC" Workflow: An Overview
Chapter 10: RDA Section 1: Manifestations and Items
Chapter 11: RDA Section 2: Naming Works and Expressions
Chapter 12: Describing Content for Works and Expressions
Chapter 13: RDA Section 6: Relationships of a Resource to Persons, Families, or Corporate Bodies
Chapter 14: RDA Section 8: Resource-to-Resource Relationships
Chapter 15: RDA Sections 3 and 9: Authority Work
Chapter 16: RDA Quick Reference Table of Contents
Chapter 17: RDA Into MARC Overview: Quick-Ref Chart
Chapter 18: MARC Chart: RDA Impacts
Chapter 19: MARC 264 Fields and Publication Dates
Chapter 20: Content, Media, and Carrier Types in MARC 33x
Chapter 21: Collaborations and Compilations
Chapter 22: Note Fields in RDA
Chapter 23: RDA Examples
Bibliography
Index

Unlocking the Mysteries of Cataloging: A Workbook of Examples

Haynes, Elizabeth, Joanna F. Fountain, and Michele Zwierski. Unlocking the Mysteries of Cataloging: A Workbook of Examples. 2nd edition.  Libraries Unlimited, 2015. ISBN: 978-1-61069-5

Description
Ideal for students and both beginning and practicing catalogers in public, school, and academic libraries, this updated workbook offers targeted, hands-on exercises that enhance understanding of description, classification, subject analysis, subject heading application, and MARC 21 subject analysis.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Exercises 1-100
Appendix A: Selected Genre/Form Terms
Appendix B: MARC Records for Selected Exercises: AACR2r and RDA
Index to Exercises in Numerical Order
Index to Titles of Materials in the Exercises
Index to Types of Materials
Index to Topics, Themes, Etc. in the Exercises

Cataloging and Managing Film & Video Collections: A Guide to using RDA and MARC21

Higgins, Colin. Cataloging and Managing Film & Video Collections: A Guide to using RDA and MARC21. ALA Editions, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-8389-1299-7

Description
This handbook clarifies the RDA cataloging protocol for DVDs and Blu-ray discs, expanding upon established guidelines for AACR2 and integrating them into the new standard. Along the way, Higgins introduces the fundamentals of filmmaking, including its history and technical vocabulary, providing context that will help catalogers quickly find the information relevant to their bibliographic records.

Table of Contents

Introduction 

1 A Brief History of Film and Its Formats 

2 Production and Distribution, Cast and Crew 

3 Contents 

4 Technical Features 

5 Television 

6 Older and Unusual Formats 

7 MARC 21 Records and AACR2 

8 Managing the Collection 

9 Streaming Video and the Future of the Optical Disc

Further Resources

Appendices

A Sample Records

B Symbols Found on DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, and Their Cases

Getting Started with Demand-Driven Acquisitions of E-Books

Arndt, Theresa S. Getting Started with Demand-Driven Acquisitions of E-Books. ALA TechSource, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-8389-1314-7

Description
This guide from the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) introduces the concept of demand-driven acquisitions (DDA) in relation to e-books and offers 200 criteria questions to help you develop a DDA e-book program that’s right for your library.

Table of Contents

1 What Is Demand-Driven Acquisition, and Why Do It? 

2 Local Policy Considerations and DDA Management 

3 Optimizing User Access with DDA

4 Budgeting for DDA

5 Cataloging Aspects of DDA—by Kirk Doran 

6 A ssessment of DDA

7 Participating in DDA with a Consortium 

Appendixes

A: Example of a DDA Workflow Using a Library Services Provider and an E-Book Aggregator

B: Common Characteristics of Successful DDA Programs

Guide to Reference in Genealogy and Biography

 

Mannix, Mary K., Fred Burchsted, and Joe Bell Whitlatch (eds.) Guide to Reference in Genealogy and Biography. ALA Editions, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-8389-1294-2

Description
A great starting point for both reference librarians and for library users seeking information about family history and the lives of others, this resource is drawn from the authoritative database of Guide to Reference.

Table of Contents

GENEALOGY

Introduction: Genealogy Sources

Mary K. Mannix

1 International

2 North America 

3 Latin America 

4 Europe 

5 Asia 

6 Australia and Oceania 

7 Heraldry 

9 African Americans 

10 Hispanic Americans 

11 Jews 

12 Native Americans

13 Quakers

BIOGRAPHY 

Introduction: Biography Sources

Fred Burchsted and Anna Esty

14 International 

15 North America 

16 Latin America and the Caribbean 

17 Europe 

18 Africa 

19 Asia 

20 Australia and Oceania

INDEX