Human Action Recognition is a challenging area presently. The vigor of research effort directed towards this domain is self indicative of this. With the ever-increasing involvement of Computational Intelligence in our day to day applications, the necessity of human activity recognition has been able to make its presence felt to the concerned research community. The primary drive of such an effort is to equip the computing system capable of recognizing and interpreting human activities from posture, pose, gesture, facial expression etc. The intent of human activity recognition is a formidable component of cognitive science in which researchers are actively engaged of late. Features: A systematic overview of the state-of-the-art in computational intelligence techniques for human action recognition. Emphasized on different intelligent techniques to recognize different human actions. Discussed about the automation techniques to handle human action recognition. Recent research results and some pointers to future advancements in this arena. In the present endeavour the editors intend to come out with a compilation that reflects the concerns of relevant research community. The readers would be able to come across some of the latest findings of active researchers of the concerned field. It is anticipated that this treatise shall be useful to the readership encompassing students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, researchers active as well as aspiring, not to speak of the senior researchers.

Power and Authority in Internet Governance investigates the hotly contested role of the state in today's digital society. The book asks: Is the state "back" in internet regulation? If so, what forms are state involvement taking, and with what consequences for the future? The volume includes case studies from across the world and addresses a wide range of issues regarding internet infrastructure, data and content. The book pushes the debate beyond a simplistic dichotomy between liberalism and authoritarianism in order to consider also greater state involvement based on values of democracy and human rights. Seeing internet governance as a complex arena where power is contested among diverse non-state and state actors across local, national, regional and global scales, the book offers a critical and nuanced discussion of how the internet is governed - and how it should be governed. Power and Authority in Internet Governance provides an important resource for researchers across international relations, global governance, science and technology studies and law as well as policymakers and analysts concerned with regulating the global internet.

Service quality is an issue separate from internal observations of effectiveness and efficiency, and cannot adequately be conveyed by output and performance measures. Considerations of service quality require librarians to regard management and the provision of service from an entirely new perspective- from the viewpoint of the library user, for whom the outcome of a trip to the library has far greater relevance than the institutions' outputs. This book examines service quality, identifies its essential elements (including electronic service delivery), and discusses ways in which it can be assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Based on a two-year research study, this book encourages every manager to consider the impact of accountability on the library's role within the larger organization. It identifies simple and practical methods by which to implement measures representing service quality and to narrow the gap between library services and customer expectations.

1. The book provides an accessible and inclusive introduction to the far-reaching, multifaceted discipline of Information Science (IS). 2. This Basics book will be essential reading for anyone who wishes to know more about information and the impact it has on our world. It will be particularly useful to those who intend to study IS at undergraduate level, or pursue a career in database development, web design or data analytics. 3. The book includes a much more robust discussion of current and timely issues, problems, and challenges in the IS field than previously published titles. This book is also more accessible and covers new ground - particularly in its discussions about racial biases, surveillance, and universal design.

Colleges and universities throughout the world plan library orientations for first years or specific audiences such as transfer or international students. These events can vary greatly in shape and form depending on the size, resources and staff of the institution, orientation schedule, and whether it is mandatory for students. Some institutions plan day-long events, elaborate games, or scavenger hunts; some offer drop in sessions or library tours; others offer an online orientation. Planning Academic Library Orientations gathers case studies from around the world covering a wide variety of approaches as a guide to those revamping or creating new library orientations. Chapters are organized into the following thematic sections: Games; Marketing & Promotion; Partnerships; Targeting Specific Audiences; Technology; and Tours, and are cross-referenced if they touch on additional themes. Each chapter includes institutional information so readers can decide which type of orientation is appropriate for their own institution and see what resources are required.

In recent years, there has been steady increase in the interest shown in both big data analytics and the use of information technology (IT) solutions to improve healthcare services. Despite the growing interest, there are limited materials, to addressing the needs and challenges posed by the activities and processes including the use of big data. From IT solutions' perspectives, this book aims to advance the deployment and use of big data analytics to increase patients' big data usefulness and improve healthcare service delivery. The book provides significant insights and useful guide on how to access and manage big data, in improving healthcare service delivery. The book contributes a fresh perspective, which primarily comes from the complementary use of analytics approach with actor-network theory (ANT), and other techniques, in advancing healthcare service delivery. Accessing and managing healthcare big data have always been a challenging exercise. Due to the sensitivity of the health sector, the focus on patients' big data is from either technical or social perspective. Thus, the book employs sociotechnical theories, ANT and structuration theory (ST) as lenses to examine and explain the factors that enable and constrain the use of patients' big data for health services. By doing so, the book brings a different dimension and advance health service delivery. Providing a timely and important contribution to this critical area, this book is a valuable, international resource for academics, postgraduate students and researchers in the areas of IT, big data analytics, data management and health informatics.

Beyond Books: Adult Library Programs for a New Era takes us out of the stacks and past the traditional walls of the library to reach underserved and overworked adults in our communities -- adults who might not think they need the library in their lives. Readers are introduced to the concept of adult programming through a multifaceted approach based on a solid foundation of behavioral science, real-life library experience, and data on current trends in libraries and other institutions. This book posits that offering diverse adult programs is an important catalyst for fostering community connection and individual wellness, and that no librarian needs to deliver them alone. Partnerships are not only helpful; they are essential to preventing librarian burnout. Themes of the book center on passive versus active programs, the importance of intergenerational involvement, and programs that touch a variety of topics divided by the following sections: Food & Drink, Arts & Crafts, Books & Writing, Technology & Media, Health & Wellness, Business & Finance, and Nature & Gardening. This book provides clear, step-by-step models and strategies for delivering adult programs (both in-person and online), including where to find funding, getting administrative and municipal buy-in, creating partnerships in the community, addressing possible legal issues, marketing tactics, training staff and volunteers, and how to evaluate programs. Whether you're a student, a brand new recruit, or a seasoned public or academic librarian, there will be something in this book to inspire you to move your adult library programs beyond book clubs (without losing those too!).

Higher education institutions in the United States and across the globe, are realizing the importance of enabling internal and external collaborative work, e.g., interdisciplinary research and community partnerships. In recent years, researchers have documented the benefits of organizational collaboration for research including greater efficiency, effectiveness, and enhanced research reputation. In addition, accreditors, foundations, business, and government agencies have been espousing the value of collaboration for knowledge creation and research and improved organizational functioning. As a result of both the external pressures and the known benefits, many forms of internal and external research collaborations have begun to emerge in higher education. At the heart of this change, academic libraries, who have long been models for collaborative work, are increasingly participating in the research process by providing a widening range of research services beyond traditional reference services. Innovative library services, in areas such as bibliometric analysis, research data management, and data repositories, are evolving in response to changes in education funding and policies. These funding and policy changes have also coincided with technological developments to create opportunities for academic librarians to find new roles within their institutions and the research community. There is a growing body of literature examining these changing academic library roles, but few volumes have concentrated on how the nature of collaborative work in libraries is helping to reshape institutional research practices. Academic Libraries and Collaborative Research Services fills that void by providing academic librarians and administrators with case studies and guidance on how academic libraries are establishing their place in this new collaborative research arena in the areas of emerging liaison roles, research data services, open access and scholarly publishing, and professional development programming. The book will also be useful to higher education administrators and institutional research officers looking for information on how to partner with libraries to increase the effectiveness of collaborative research.

Higher education institutions in the United States and across the globe, are realizing the importance of enabling internal and external collaborative work, e.g., interdisciplinary research and community partnerships. In recent years, researchers have documented the benefits of organizational collaboration for research including greater efficiency, effectiveness, and enhanced research reputation. In addition, accreditors, foundations, business, and government agencies have been espousing the value of collaboration for knowledge creation and research and improved organizational functioning. As a result of both the external pressures and the known benefits, many forms of internal and external research collaborations have begun to emerge in higher education. At the heart of this change, academic libraries, who have long been models for collaborative work, are increasingly participating in the research process by providing a widening range of research services beyond traditional reference services. Innovative library services, in areas such as bibliometric analysis, research data management, and data repositories, are evolving in response to changes in education funding and policies. These funding and policy changes have also coincided with technological developments to create opportunities for academic librarians to find new roles within their institutions and the research community. There is a growing body of literature examining these changing academic library roles, but few volumes have concentrated on how the nature of collaborative work in libraries is helping to reshape institutional research practices. Academic Libraries and Collaborative Research Services fills that void by providing academic librarians and administrators with case studies and guidance on how academic libraries are establishing their place in this new collaborative research arena in the areas of emerging liaison roles, research data services, open access and scholarly publishing, and professional development programming. The book will also be useful to higher education administrators and institutional research officers looking for information on how to partner with libraries to increase the effectiveness of collaborative research.

Wikipedia is one of the most visited websites on the Internet, regularly bringing in millions of readers a day. But how exactly does a huge site like this work? What are its strengths? What are its weaknesses? Who edits the site? And perhaps most importantly how can you, the reader, help make the site better? In this book, Paul A. Thomas-a seasoned Wikipedia contributor who has accrued almost 60,000 edits since he started editing in 2007-breaks down the history of the free encyclopedia and explains the process of becoming an editor. Chapters include: The History of Wikipedia The Wiki-Ethos: What to Know Before You Edit Getting Started: Making Your First Edits Growing as an Editor: To Wikitext and Beyond Concrete Ways to Make Wikipedia a Better Resource Becoming a Critical Editor: Countering Bias A Short Glossary of Wiki-Slang After reading Inside Wikipedia, you will be ready to contribute to the largest, most comprehensive knowledge base the world has ever seen. What will you write about?

Reference and information services are more important than ever for today's young people. By analyzing key features of reference and information services to young people in school and public library environments, including the research behind the trends and issues, librarians can make sure that those services are appropriately responsive to children and teens. Based on standards and evidence-based practice, this book helps you to optimize those resources and services by: providing guidance in assessing youth communities, determining youth's information needs and information behaviors, developing and maintaining age-appropriate reference collections (starting with the book's core list of print and online resources), optimizing physical and virtual access to reference and information sources, interacting with youth and facilitating their reference and information literacy skills, curating and producing reference and information products, dealing with relevant legal and ethical issues, and planning effective library reference and information services for youth. Chapter sidebar examples provide food for thought.

Reference and information services are more important than ever for today's young people. By analyzing key features of reference and information services to young people in school and public library environments, including the research behind the trends and issues, librarians can make sure that those services are appropriately responsive to children and teens. Based on standards and evidence-based practice, this book helps you to optimize those resources and services by: providing guidance in assessing youth communities, determining youth's information needs and information behaviors, developing and maintaining age-appropriate reference collections (starting with the book's core list of print and online resources), optimizing physical and virtual access to reference and information sources, interacting with youth and facilitating their reference and information literacy skills, curating and producing reference and information products, dealing with relevant legal and ethical issues, and planning effective library reference and information services for youth. Chapter sidebar examples provide food for thought.

The second edition of the "Concise Dictionary of Library and Information Science" is an international, comprehensive introduction to the vocabulary of library and information science. It is a practical day-to-day tool that will help to explain clearly and concisely over 5,000 terms used in the profession. The second edition has been completely revised and approximately 2,000 new terms added, mostly in the fields of computers and telecommunications, reflecting the growth of the Internet and its impact on the profession.

All the terms are arranged in one alphabetical sequence, still incorporating the six themes present in the first edition: Information sources; Information handling; Computers and Telecommunications; Management; Research methodology; Publishing

In addition the dictionary offers full definitions for all synonymous terms and acronyms.

Shavit's book is an implementation analysis of the impact of federal aid on the organization and administration of state library agencies. He examines five state libraries in detail, supplemented by data from eight other states that have reported using federal funds for their libraries. Through the use of qualitative evaluation methods and unstructured interviews with the people involved, Shavit attempts to answer many of the questions surrounding his topic including implementation, the stimulus for institutional change, the extent of accomplishment with regard to legislatively mandated activities, how the agencies have been strengthened and improved, and the realistic expectations of the response to federal aid. Finally, he proposes recommendations for future policy regarding federal aid to public libraries and the role of state library agencies in relation to such aid.

Provide your mystery fans with background information on their favorite writers and series characters, and use this as a guide for adding contemporary titles to your collections. This book examines 100 of today's top mystery novels and mystery authors hailing from countries such as the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, South Africa, and Australia. Equally valuable to students writing research papers, readers craving new authors or more information about their favorite authors, and teachers seeking specific types of fiction to support curricula, 100 Most Popular Contemporary Mystery Authors: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies provides revealing information about today's best mysteries and authors-without any "spoilers." Each of the accomplished writers included in this guide has established a broad audience and is recognized for work that is imaginative and innovative. The rising stars of 21st century mystery will also be included, as will authors who have won the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award. Provides interesting and informative profiles of 100 popular, contemporary mystery and crime writers as well as overviews of their series characters Contains over 60 author photographs A bibliography lists information on each author's works as well as supporting source materials for the profiles

In a world that often questions the value of libraries and librarianship, this collection of reflective essays and future-focused research emphasizes the ways in which being an information professional continues to be a rewarding and vital profession. Including sixteen chapters written by library practitioners, researchers, and educators, this book covers topics, among others, such as the impact of K-12 school librarians on media literacy, the community power of public libraries, the transformative power of community-focused library collaborations, and strategies for implementing effective outreach for underserved populations. It is by sharing their thoughtful, vibrant, and at times painfully honest perspectives on the varied and essential roles that librarians and libraries play in our world that the authors display their passion for librarianship and demonstrate why continued support for libraries is essential.

Information value and quality can be considered an essential factor to evaluate both conceptual and practical contributions in organisational, technical, and scientific tasks and projects. It is important to effectively observe and implement these concepts in real organisational plans and efforts. Rethinking the Conceptual Base for New Practical Applications in Information Value and Quality discusses the re-evaluation of the conceptual base of information value and quality found in different forms of media; and how these concepts can be analyzed in real applications and business scenarios. This book is a vital reference source for scholars, practitioners, IT specialists, and students interested in information and knowledge management.

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What can culture, and its manifestations in artistic and creative forms, 'do'? Creativity and resistance in a hostile world draws on original collaborative research that brings together a range of stories and perspectives on the role of creativity and resistance in a hostile world. In times of racial nationalism across the world, this volume seeks to understand how creative acts have agitated for social change. The book suggests that creative actions themselves, and acting together creatively, can at the same time offer vital sources of hope. Drawing on a series of case studies, this volume focuses on the past and emergent grassroots arts work that has responded to racisms, the legacies of colonialism or the depredations of capitalist employment across several contexts and locations, including England, Northern Ireland and India. The book makes a timely intervention, foregrounding the value of creativity for those who are commonly marginalised from centres of power, including from the mainstream cultural industries. The authors also critically reflect on the possibilities and limitations of collaborative research within and beyond the academy. -- .

This is the first book to provide practical guidance for library staff on virtual storytime planning and production. Learn how to design virtual youth services tailored to patrons in different communities, and how virtual programs serve as a form of community outreach. Included in this guide: Case studies of successful virtual storytime programs Creative examples of potential programs, which can be developed and adapted Simple tips on how to increase production value, regardless of available space and equipment Features of virtual storytime software with which presenters should familiarize themselves A comprehensive list of websites, software applications, and assets for creating and sharing virtual programs An overview of laws concerning online privacy and the use of copyrighted materials in virtual storytimes Background information and talking points addressing the benefits and drawbacks of screen time for young patrons Sample training syllabus, outline, script, and reflection questions for virtual storytime staff Children's librarians will find useful case studies, tips, and resources in this volume.

This work provides a comprehensive examination of the life and professional career of E.J Josey within the broader historical and political landscape of the civil rights movement. In the era of Jim Crow, Josey rose to prominence in the library profession by challenging the American Library Association (ALA) to live up to its creed of equality for all. This was not easy during the 1950s and 1960s, during segregation. Using interviews with Josey and his contemporaries, as well as several archival sources, library educator Renate Chancellor analyzes Josey's leadership, particularly within modern day racial currents. During his professional career, spanning over fifty years (1952-2002), Josey worked as a librarian (1953-1966), an administrator of library services (1966-1986), and as a professor of library science (1986-1995). He also served as President of the American Library Association and perhaps his most notable achievement, he successfully drafted a resolution that prevented state library associations from discriminating against African American librarians. This essentially ended segregation in the ALA. Josey's transformative leadership provides a model to tackle today's civil rights challenges both in and outside the library profession. This authoritative work copublished by the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) documents for the historical record a significant period of history that is underexplored in the scholarly literature. The target audience for this book are researchers, historians, LIS educators and students interested in understanding the complex struggle for civil and human rights in professional organizations.

In 1950 Robert L. Gitler went to Japan to found the first college-level school of library science in that country. His mission, an improbable success, was documented in an assisted autobiography as Robert Gitler and the Japan Library School (Scarecrow Press, 1999). Subsequent research into initiatives to improve library services during the Allied occupation has revealed surprising discoveries and human interest of the lives of very diverse individuals. A central role was played by a librarian, Philip Keeney, who later became well-known as an alleged communist spy. A national plan, designed for Japan's libraries, was based directly on the county library system developed by progressive thinkers in California, itself a dramatic story. The School of Librarianship at the University of California and its founding director, Sydney Mitchell, was found to have deeply influenced key figures. The story also requires an appreciation of the deployment of American libraries abroad as tools of foreign policy, as cultural diplomacy. Meanwhile, library services in Japan were seriously underdeveloped, despite Japan's extraordinarily high literacy rate, very well-developed publishing and book retail industries, and librarians who were far from backward. The difference in library development lay in the huge divergence between the ethos of the American public library (dominated by support for individual self-development and Western liberal democracy) and the evolving political ideology of Japanese governments after the Meiji Restoration (1868). After absorbing authoritarian French and German administrative practices Japan became a militarist dictatorship from the 1920s onwards until surrender in 1945. The literature on the Allied Occupation of Japan is vast, but library services have received very little attention beyond the creation of the National Diet Library in 1948. The story of initiatives to improve library services in occupied Japan, the role of libraries as cultural diplomacy, the dramatic development of free public library services in California have remained unknown or little known - until now.

New technology and services are fundamental to maintaining the relevance of libraries today, but which technologies and/or services make sense to implement, and which to avoid? Building from a framework drawn in the overlap of design thinking with best practices in emerging technology and library practice, this book is a go-to guide for the active library practitioner and LIS student alike. From the 3D printers and laser cutters of today's library makerspace to collection development and library outreach, this primer offers clear examples that illustrate the practical and collaborative approach that ensures alignment and increases the likelihood of success. Written as a textbook for LIS students in the crossover areas of emerging technology, design thinking, and library management, the book will also meet the needs of the active library practitioner in public, academic, and special libraries, both those new to the field and seasoned professionals. The practical treatment and examples provided will be of interest and immediate use. Questions at the end of each chapter give readers an opportunity to think about the concepts presented. The book is also designed to let the enduring values of librarianship and library practice shine through, guiding the reader to navigate the future of library technology.

The health of scientific enterprise has become a critical political and social issue as nation states tackle austerity, diversity, global challenges, whilst simultaneously supporting a competitive and innovative national economy. A key asset in achieving such ambitions is for a scholarly information system which enables the fruits of the research effort to be disseminated efficiently. As the information support system struggles with adapting from a print-based to a digital process, the dysfunctionality current within STEM publishing in particular becomes evident. New ways of supporting research are emerging which require a new approach to publishing, an approach which takes on board the many demographic, social, technical and administrative changes taking place in both science itself and society. A radical strategic assessment is required and this book tracks key aspects required for any new future strategy. This book provides a catalogue of issues to which a future STEM information industry will need to adapt. They range from the effects of technology on the neurological processes of research to the growing use of technology to speed up the exchange of information among groups and collaboratories; from considerations about quality control yet maintaining intellectual ownership; from changing from an elitist STEM system favouring academics to a more democratic process with wider appeal. There is the neglected non-academic market and its need to share in the results of the research effort, often through partnership and being part of a 'hive mind'. This is the large world of the unaffiliated knowledge workers, of which academia is numerically but a small part. The many changes taking place in scholarly information dictate that the future is unlikely to be a smooth and gradual evolution from the past. Radical new approaches are required, a revolution which takes on board the perfect storm of changes listed in this book. Just as such changes have changed the face of industries such as music and retail in recent years, so similar dramatic changes are likely to result in a restructuring of STEM into a more technologically-focused industry within the next decade. The implications for the current STEM stakeholders are profound.