Metacognition is a set of active mental processes that allows users to monitor, regulate, and direct their personal cognitive strategies. "Improving Student Information Search" traces the impact of a tutorial on education graduate students problem-solving in online research databases. The tutorial centres on idea tactics developed by Bates that represent metacognitive strategies designed to improve information search outcomes. The first half of the book explores the role of metacognition in problem-solving, especially for education graduate students. It also discusses the use of metacognitive scaffolds for improving students problem-solving. The second half of the book presents the mixed method study, including the development of the tutorial, its impact on seven graduate students search behaviour and outcomes, and suggestions for adapting the tutorial for other users.
provides metacognitive strategies to improve students information search outcomesincorporates tips to enhance database search skills in digital librariesincludes seminal studies on information behaviour "

Libraries and librarians have been defined by the book throughout modern history. What happens when society increasingly lets print go in favour of storing, retrieving and manipulating electronic information? What happens after the book? After the Book explores how the academic library of the 21st Century is first and foremost a provider of electronic information services. Contemporary users expect today s library to provide information as quickly and efficiently as other online information resources. The book argues that librarians need to change what they know, how they work, and how they are perceived in order to succeed according to the terms of this new paradigm. This title is structured into eight chapters. An introduction defines the challenge of electronic resources and makes the case for finding solutions, and following chapters cover diversions and half measures and the problem for libraries in the 21st century. Later chapters discuss solving problems through professional identity and preparation, before final chapters cover reorganizing libraries to serve users, adapting to scarcity, and the digital divide .
Describes how electronic resources constitute both a challenge and an opportunity for librariesArgues that librarians can re-define themselvesPuts the case that libraries can be reorganized to optimize electronic resource management and information services based on contemporary technology and user needs"

Private Philanthropic Trends in Academic Libraries is written with the senior library administrator and the development officers of academic institutions in mind. Chapters provide a historical perspective of the funding trends of the private philanthropic foundations and corporate giving programs towards academic libraries during the first decade of the 21st century. Library fundraisers and library administrators are presented with the information needed to start the process of selecting which grant maker agencies to approach. Chapters discuss which grantmaking philanthropic foundations and corporate-giving programs will be more receptive to grant monies to library projects, which types of library projects they will be more likely to fund, and how to approach these agencies in order to increase the possibilities of receiving grant awards from them.
The work provides starting points for library development and fundraising effortsCovers the basics of fundraisingPresents the historical funding trends of private philanthropic foundations giving to academic libraries

The digital is the new milieu in which academic libraries must serve their patrons; but how best to utilize the slew of digital devices and their surrounding trends? Optimizing Academic Library Services in the Digital Milieu identifies best practices and strategies for using digital devices (such as tablets, e-readers, and smartphones) and copyrighted materials in academic libraries. Special consideration is given to e-books, iBooks, e-journals, and digital textbooks. This title describes how academic libraries can remain current, nimbly addressing user needs. An introduction gives an overview of technology in academic libraries, including the foundations of copyright law and user behavior in relation to digital content. Three parts then cover: digital rights management (DRM); practical approaches to e-content for librarians; and emerging pedagogy and technology. Finally, the book concludes by telling libraries how to remain agile and adaptable as they navigate the digital milieu.
Presents a contemporary view on DRM and fair use for librarians in the context of contemporary technologyAddresses file standards in relation to devices in librariesDemonstrates ways that librarians can support and engage students using emerging digital technologies

Workplace culture refers to conditions that collectively influence the work atmosphere. These can include policies, norms, and unwritten standards for behavior. This book focuses on various aspects of workplace culture in academic libraries from the practitioners viewpoint, as opposed to that of the theoretician. The book asks the following questions: What conditions contribute to an excellent academic library work environment? What helps to make a particular academic library a great place to work? Articles focus on actual programs while placing the discussion in a scholarly context. The book is structured into 14 chapters, covering various aspects of workplace culture in academic libraries, including: overview of workplace culture, assessment, recruitment, acclimation for new librarians, workforce diversity, physical environment, staff morale, interaction between departments, tenure track/academic culture, mentoring/coaching, generational differences, motivation/incentives, complaints/conflict management, and organizational transparency.
Includes the most current best practices and models in academic librariesRepresents the viewpoints of both the employee and managerFocuses on the academic library as workplace rather than as a service provider"

Information available through traditional business and competitive resources can be complimented by information gained through social media tools. Social Information is a must-have book for competitive and business researchers in any discipline including librarians, information professionals, intelligence analysts, students and marketing personnel, and explores how more traditional resources can be complimented by social media tools. The book outlines different categories of social tools, competitive and business applications of these tools, and provides example searches with screenshots. The book provides concrete search examples, as well as strategies and approaches for searching social tools that may be available today or that may emerge tomorrow. Readers will learn ways to quickly develop new search strategies as new tools and features emerge. The future of social tools and information, and the lasting impact that these tools have had on how information plays a part in our lives, our businesses and our careers is discussed. The title is structured into seven chapters, covering: the impact of social media, and the approach of the book; a brief history of business and competitive information and the rise of social tools; blogs and microblogs; video, audio and images; social search engines; and the future of social information.
The book specifically explores business and competitive information and approaches using social media toolsWritten by a highly knowledgeable and long-time practitioner and researcher in the fieldProvides both practical and strategic search approaches, so that the skills learned will be readily transferable to other social tools, and to social tools as they evolve"

Many libraries and museums have adapted to the current information climate, working with Google, Facebook, Twitter and iTunes to deliver information for their users. Many have not. Google This describes the variety of free or nearly free options for social media, and shows how libraries are adapting, from the Library of Congress to small public libraries. The author presents conversations with social media innovators to show how their experience can create success for your institution s library. Chapters cover important aspects of social media for libraries including: how they relate to the internet; web services such as Google Custom Search, Facebook and Twitter, Flickr, iGoogle, and more; electronic books; discovery platforms; and mobile applications. The book ends by asking: Where is this all going?
Provides step-by-step instructions for creating iGoogle gadgets in XML, iGoogle themes, Google Maps with community locations, and Google Earth links to archived library dataDescribes the full process for creating a Google Custom Search engineWritten by an award winning author who has been an academic systems librarian for 20 years"

Increasingly, library personnel are called upon to teach classes, deliver presentations and represent their organizations in an official capacity. This book is designed to assist those professionals with little to no experience designing and delivering training, instructional sessions, and presentations. Suitable for all librarians, library staff and library school students, this practical guide will get the library professional up and running as a trainer and presenter.
Written by practicing professional librarians and trainers for use in the library settingFeatures a combination of training, facilitation, and public-speaking skillsCovers all aspects of training from audience evaluation to lesson plans to evaluation to lesson delivery

Public Libraries and their National Policies is aimed at practicing librarians and scholars with an interest in public libraries. It examines the various models for providing public library services around the world and discusses differences in such areas as funding sources, standards, regulations and use. At a time when public libraries are facing shrinking budgets and increasing pressure to consolidate or otherwise modify their governance structure, this book provides a timely glimpse into international best practices.
Written by a practicing public library administrator with a working knowledge of policy applicationsLittle published work exists in book form concerning international public library policies

Examining the different bodies that publish official material, this book describes the types of material published, how it is made available and how it is recorded. Finding Official British Information focuses on the digital availability of official information and considers how much is now freely available on the web and how to locate it as well as addressing issues of web only publishing. It covers public bodies in the UK and includes publications issued by central and local government as well as the devolved assemblies and the many other organisations that issue official publications.
Quick how to find section for each areaDesigned for the non-specialistCovering central and local government, the devolved assemblies and other public bodies in the UK "

An invaluable guide for MLS professionals and students, this new book explains how librarians can select an effective method of library instruction based on their users, the objectives of the instruction and the delivery environment. The content describes the different methods available and in what circumstances the methods are most effective. It includes descriptions of curriculums for the methods currently available and describes a range of objectives the curriculums meet and the common environments librarians use for instruction. Information Literacy Instruction also introduces two new ideas for methods of instruction: one which combines information literacy with cyber-literacy (MLI) forming an instructional method appropriate for internet users and internet information and the Fully Automated Reference Instruction (FARI) that actively involves users with the instruction while completing research they are currently involved in for specific targeted classes.
Introduction to multi-literacy instructionUsing instruction to protect users from disinformation on the InternetNew active learning idea for web based instruction (MLI and FARI)

Aimed at professionals and trainee professionals within the library and information service (LIS) fields, this book reminds the reader of the frequently ignored communication-gulf between the professional and the layman, and in particular the lack of true communication between LIS professionals and the user. It focuses especially on non-standard users, such as non-native speakers or those with some disability. The author provides accessible examples of good practice, assesses their degree of success and suggests further ways to improve performance in information provision.
Written by a poacher turned gamekeeper - an information professional who is also an experienced adult educatorJargon-free and accessible style of deliveryHighlights the human aspects of using libraries, even if this is in a virtual environment"

This book outlines issues surrounding diversity among students, faculty, and staff and how one urban university library is working to embrace and celebrate the diversity found in its building, on campus, and in the local community. This book illustrates how universities are uniquely situated to engage students in discussions about diversity and how academic libraries in particular can facilitate and ease these discussions. A Diversity Council and the projects and programs it has developed have been instrumental in this work and may serve as an inspiration and launch pad for other libraries. Diversity Programming and Outreach for Academic Libraries details anecdotal experiences, and provides practical suggestions for developing diversity programs and forming collaborations with other campus units, regardless of size, staff, or focus of the academic library.
Written by three academic librarians currently active in university level diversity initiativesProvides real-world examples of diversity programming and events for academic librariesIndicates how to find commonalities in the range of diversity issues at universities internationally

Presents a broad examination of the nature of virtual worlds and the potential they provide in managing and expressing information practices through that medium, grounding information professionals and students of new media in the fundamental elements of virtual worlds and online gaming. The book details the practical issues in finding and using information in virtual environments and presents a general theory of librarianship as it relates to virtual gaming worlds. It is encompassed by a set of best practice methods that libraries can effectively execute in their own environments, meeting the needs of this new generation of library user, and explores ways in which information literacy can be approached in virtual worlds. Final chapters examine how conventional information evaluation skills work falls short in virtual worlds online.
Maps out areas of good practice and technique for information professionals and librarians serving in virtual communitiesProvides a clear foundation with appropriate theory for understanding information in virtual worldsTreats virtual worlds as real environments and observes the behaviour of actors within them"

This book reviews both the historical and future roles that public, private, academic and special libraries have in supporting and shaping society at local, regional, national and international levels. Globalisation, economic turmoil, political and ethnic tensions, rapid technology development, global warming and other key environmental factors are all combining in myriad and complex ways to affect everyone, both individually and collectively. Fundamental questions are being asked about the future of society and the bedrock organisations that underpin it. Libraries and Society considers the key aspects of library provision and the major challenges that libraries - however defined, managed, developed and provided - now face, and will continue to face in the future. It also focuses on the emerging chapter in cultural, economic and social history and the library s role in serving diverse communities within this new era.
Looks at all types of library in a period of major and discontinuous change, tackling the fundamental questions of the future of libraries in the context of major societal, political and environmental issuesPoses important questions for the profession and policy developmentFills a major gap in literature (recent discourse and debate on the future of democracy, for example, the library is rarely included)"

Web 2.0 technology is a hot topic at the moment, and public librarians in particular are beginning to feel the pressure to apply these tools. Indeed, Web 2.0 has the potential to transform library services, but only if the policy and strategy for those services are ready to be transformed. The author not only reviews these tools and provides practical advice and case studies on how they can be applied in the public library setting, but also recommends the policies and business cases that begin to create a new strategy for public libraries.
Particularly geared to the public library settingAdvice on using in conjunction or integrated with other public library servicesExamples of best practice

Written from the perspective of a librarian, this book offers a comprehensive overview of the impact of e-books on academic libraries. The author discusses advantages to both researchers and librarians and provides current examples of innovative uses of e-books in academic contexts. This book reviews the current situation in e-book publishing, and describes problems in managing e-books in libraries caused by the variety of purchase models and varying formats available, and the lack of standardisation. It discusses solutions for providing access and maintaining bibliographic control, looks at various initiatives to publicise and promote e-books, and compares e-book usage surveys to track changes in user preferences and behaviour over the last decade. E-books have already had a huge impact on academic libraries, and major advances in technology will bring further changes. There is a need for collaboration between libraries and publishers. The book concludes with reflections on the future of e-books in academic libraries.
Describes how e-books have changed library services and how they have enabled academic libraries to align with the e-learning initiatives of their universitiesDiscusses problems with e-book collection development and management and lists examples of solutionsExamines trends in user behaviour and acceptance of e-books

This book is about news search and monitoring. Aimed at professionals with a strategic need of monitoring the surrounding world, users with a need to find the best news sources, monitoring services and news search strategies and techniques will benefit from reading this book. The main purpose is to present a practical handbook with an analysis of readily available tools, blending with passages of a theoretical nature. It is also useful for students at LIS programmes and related information programmes and for librarians and information professionals. The authors aim to aid the reader in reaching a greater understanding of the core in news search and monitoring.
Presents effective tools to evaluate news search engines and databasesHarness the power of RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feeds in online news search and monitoringLearn how to navigate and critically question the news found in the blogosphere

Libraries/information centres are continuously evolving to keep up with rapid changes in information gathering, processing, and distribution. Corporate and non-profit special libraries face special challenges in revitalizing their physical space and providing efficient access to digital content. This book provides solo-librarians or special library managers with practical advice as to revitalize their libraries both in the physical space and the digital space. The book uses case studies, surveys and literature review to provide practical, innovative and evidence-based information to help special librarians develop information centres that will remain relevant to their organizations.
Written from an evidence-based perspectiveEach section includes case studies, interviews or examples from libraries and librariansWritten specifically for special librarians

Making a Collection Count connects the various pieces of library collection management, such as selection, cataloguing, shelving, circulation and weeding, and teaches readers how to gather and analyze data from each point in a collection s life cycle. Relationships between collections and other library services, such as reference, programming, and technology, are also explored. The result is a quality collection that is clean, current, relevant, and useful, and which connects and highlights various library services.
Offers practical applications for collection librarians and managers who are practitioners in the field. It is more than just a theoretical discussion of collection quality and collection management because useful, realistic advice is offeredThis is not a book about collection development. It is unique in that the focus is on collection quality: making the most of a library collection budget, performing physical inventory, and gathering/using data and statistics about collectionsBroad, international appeal to various library types: public, academic, school, and special"

In a world where computing power, ubiquity and connectivity create powerful new ways to facilitate learning, this book examines how librarians and information professionals can utilize emerging technologies to expand service and resource delivery. With contributions from leading professionals, including lecturers, librarians and e-learning technologists, this bookl explores strategic approaches for effectively implementing, living with, and managing revolutionary technological change in libraries.
Explores the impact of the social and technological aspects of Web 2.0 on libraries and library servicesDraws on empirical researchExperienced practitioners

Throughout its history, the Western library has played a significant role in bringing the book to the hands of Western scholars. This book analyses that history, examining constructs of librarianship, publishing and scholarship within that history as gate keeping access to knowledge. Exploring significant events in the field from the time of the Lyceum to the present day in the development of repositories of books and their access by scholars. Gatekeepers of Knowledge engages in an analysis of those events from a perspective that makes visible the ways in which the production, storage and access of books, have been privileged, while others have been marginalised.
Examines its material as analyses of significant events in the development of libraries, books, and scholarship in the western worldEmbeds those developments in significant political, economic, social and cultural fields of particular erasTies scholarship to class structures and associated protocols in its treatment of scholarship as the generation of knowledge

The sustainability of Networked Collaborative Learning (NCL) is a key topic of discussion amongst the institutions where it has been or may potentially be introduced. In order to determine the extent of NCL's sustainability, the added value university education may yield by adopting collaborative learning strategies must be quantified. In turn, an understanding of the implications NCL produces in terms of design and management is gained. After comparing NCL with other Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) approaches and discussing the possible reasons for adopting it, a multidimensional model for the sustainability of NCL is proposed. The model is characterized by four dimensions: pedagogical approaches, e-teacher professional development, instructional design models and valuation/assessment approaches. Each of these dimensions is examined on the basis of the author s direct experience gained through applying NCL to his university teaching.
Delineates a framework for NCL sustainabilityProvides an instructional design model for NCDescribes an original approach to the evaluation of collaborative learning processes"

Targeted at Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals, this book concentrates on usability evaluation methods used to design usable and user-centered library websites. Aimed at the practitioner, it is a practical guide to methods that are used to gather information from potential users that shape the design of the website based on an interactive design process. From planning the study to writing the report, this book guides the reader through the process of usability evaluation using examples from the author s experience with usability evaluation of library interfaces. It describes usability techniques, procedures, report writing, and design changes that lead to a user-centered interface.
A concise, practical guide to completing usability evaluation methods with an emphasis on creating user-centered library websitesIncludes examples that draw on the author s practical experience with usability evaluationUseful guidelines to creating participant recruitment letters, scripts, thank you notes, and forms illustrated with practical examples"

One of the major challenges facing librarians and curators of digital repositories are the innovative born digital documents created by scholars in the humanities. These documents range from the parsed corpora created by linguists to traditional reference information presented in electronic databases, to rich, multi-media hypertexts combining audio, still and moving video and text, and many other sorts of material. Too often, librarians think of electronic resources solely as providing access to subscription databases. This book encourages librarians to think holistically of the life cycle of electronic resources from new items being created at their institution, to end-user access, to long term preservation of digital resources.
Focuses on role of a digital library in the complete life cycle (creation, access, long term preservation) of digital objects created by scholars in the humanitiesCovers recent developments in humanities computing and their implications for digital librariesPresents accessible technical information about fields such as information retrieval and computational linguistics for a non-technical audience"