This book covers the emerging research in library service innovation. It explicitly covers the latest developments and technological advancements in library service by public, academic, special, and school libraries. It presents a range of innovative practices covering innovation in building design, programs and events, customer experience and approach, literacy programs, administration and management, metadata creation and management, information retrieval, knowledge management, and digital tools. It also provides an international perspective on library service innovations and activities and practical advice for librarians who wish to emulate the services of the libraries. This book examines both the big picture of emerging global trends and themes and highlights the daily experiences of individual libraries/researchers in library innovation. The book will be useful to library professionals, researchers, and faculty members who want to know the recent advancements in library service innovation.

The WWW era made billions of people dramatically dependent on the progress of data technologies, out of which Internet search and Big Data are arguably the most notable. Structured Search paradigm connects them via a fundamental concept of key-objects evolving out of keywords as the units of search. The key-object data model and KeySQL revamp the data independence principle making it applicable for Big Data and complement NoSQL with full-blown structured querying functionality. The ultimate goal is extracting Big Information from the Big Data. As a Big Data Consultant, Mikhail Gilula combines academic background with 20 years of industry experience in the database and data warehousing technologies working as a Sr. Data Architect for Teradata, Alcatel-Lucent, and PayPal, among others. He has authored three books, including The Set Model for Database and Information Systems and holds four US Patents in Structured Search and Data Integration.

Since the spread of COVID-19, conferences have been cancelled, schools have closed, and libraries around the world are facing difficult decisions on which services to offer and how, ranging from minimal restrictions to full closures. Depending on the country, state, or city, a government may have a different approach, sometimes ordering the closure of all institutions, others indicating that it's business as usual, and others simply leaving decisions up to library directors. All libraries worldwide have been affected, from university libraries to public library systems and national libraries. Throughout these closures, libraries continue to provide services to their communities, which has led to an emerging area of research on library services, new emerging technologies, and the advancements made to libraries during this global health crisis. The Handbook of Research on Library Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic consists of chapters that contain essential library services and emerging research and technology that evolved and/or has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the challenges and opportunities that have been undertaken as a result. The chapters provide in-depth research, surveys, and information on areas such as remote working, machine learning, data management, and the role of information during COVID-19. This book is a valuable reference tool for practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in the current state of libraries during a pandemic and the future outlook.

Research in the domains of learning analytics and educational data mining has prototyped an approach where methodologies from data science and machine learning are used to gain insights into the learning process by using large amounts of data. As many training and academic institutions are maturing in their data-driven decision making, useful, scalable, and interesting trends are emerging. Organizations can benefit from sharing information on those efforts. Applying Data Science and Learning Analytics Throughout a Learner's Lifespan examines novel and emerging applications of data science and sister disciplines for gaining insights from data to inform interventions into learners' journeys and interactions with academic institutions. Data is collected at various times and places throughout a learner's lifecycle, and the learners and the institution should benefit from the insights and knowledge gained from this data. Covering topics such as learning analytics dashboards, text network analysis, and employment recruitment, this book is an indispensable resource for educators, computer scientists, faculty of higher education, government officials, educational administration, students of higher education, pre-service teachers, business professionals, researchers, and academicians.

Applied Theatre: Creative Ageing examines the complex social, political and cultural needs of a diverse group in our society and asks how contemporary applied theatre responds to those needs. It allows an examination of innovative national and international practice in applied theatre that responds to the needs of older adults to encourage outcomes such as wellbeing and social inclusion. The book does this while also questioning how we, as a society, wish to respond to the complex needs of older adults and the process of ageing and how applied theatre practices can help us do so in a way that is both positive and inclusive. In Part One Sheila McCormick reviews and historicises the practice of applied theatre with, for and by the elderly. It argues that pioneering applied theatre strategies are vital if the creative practice is to respond to the growing needs of older members of society, and reflects on particular cultural responses to ageing and the elderly. The second part of the book is made up of essays and case studies from leading experts and practitioners from Britain, America and Australia, including consideration of applied theatre approaches to dementia, health, wellbeing, social inclusion and Alzheimer's disease.

"What information do these data reveal?" "Is the information correct?" "How can I make the best use of the information?" The widespread use of computers and our reliance on the data generated by them have made these questions increasingly common and important. Computerized data may be in either digital or analog form and may be relevant to a wide range of applications that include medical monitoring and diagnosis, scientific research, engineering, quality control, seismology, meteorology, political and economic analysis and business and personal financial applications. The sources of the data may be databases that have been developed for specific purposes or may be of more general interest and include those that are accessible on the Internet. In addition, the data may represent either single or multiple parameters. Examining data in its initial form is often very laborious and also makes it possible to "miss the forest for the trees" by failing to notice patterns in the data that are not readily apparent. To address these problems, this monograph describes several accurate and efficient methods for displaying, reviewing and analyzing digital and analog data. The methods may be used either singly or in various combinations to maximize the value of the data to those for whom it is relevant. None of the methods requires special devices and each can be used on common platforms such as personal computers, tablets and smart phones. Also, each of the methods can be easily employed utilizing widely available off-the-shelf software. Using the methods does not require special expertise in computer science or technology, graphical design or statistical analysis. The usefulness and accuracy of all the described methods of data display, review and interpretation have been confirmed in multiple carefully performed studies using independent, objective endpoints. These studies and their results are described in the monograph. Because of their ease of use, accuracy and efficiency, the methods for displaying, reviewing and analyzing data described in this monograph can be highly useful to all who must work with computerized information and make decisions based upon it.

The library has always been an essential part of the collegiate experience, providing students with access to knowledge and literature. However, as virtual services and online learning become more prominent within collegiate environments, the ways students conduct research and access resources has been altered. Innovative Solutions for Building Community in Academic Libraries examines new methods librarians use to engage both on-campus and online users in library services, taking into account the significant impacts of online learning on students' interaction with library resources. Focusing on various outreach practices, techniques of literacy instruction, and the utilization of library spaces, this research-supported book is a pivotal reference source for distance educators, program planners, academics, and library professionals interested in new ways to attract users to library services.

This newly updated and expanded second edition of Collaborating for Inquiry-Based Learning explains effective IBL scaffolding and the school librarian's role as the lead in the collaborative process of inquiry-based teaching. Want to learn how to easily put inquiry theory into practice in your school library? This newly revised and expanded practical resource links pedagogical theory, research, and practical application of Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL). An important resource for school librarians, classroom teachers, and school library preparation programs, this thoroughly updated second edition of Collaborating for Inquiry-Based Learning explores Inquiry-Based Learning in greater depth and addresses new educational insights. Readers will learn the new research model PLAN and understand how the steps Prepare, Learn, Analyze, and New Discoveries define a deliberative, metacognitive process that offers simplicity and flexibility. This step-by-step guide moves new and experienced educators seamlessly from assessment of students' needs and prior knowledge through formative and summative assessments to reflection. It offers practical applications for immediate use by educators with students and makes it clear why the school librarian is ideally suited to be the lead in the collaborative process of inquiry-based teaching. This comprehensive guide to IBL is appropriate as a main text or supplementary reading for courses in instructional design and curriculum. Positions the librarian as a key leader and collaborator in the inquiry process Offers educators an alternative resource and tech-based approach for integrating inquiry into instruction Presents a research-based methodology with step-by-step instructions that ease real-world implementation Introduces the research model PLAN that can be used with all grade levels and is built on educational theory