Many educators now agree that graphic novels inform as well as entertain, and to dismiss the educational potential of the graphic novel is to throw away a golden opportunity to reach out to young readers. This dynamic book takes a look at the term "graphic novel," how the format has become entwined in our culture, and the ways in which graphic novels can be used in the library and in the classroom. To set those unfamiliar with the format at ease, graphic novel expert Karp - Introduces the history, the symbols, and the conventions of the form - Provides annotated lists of core titles to help K-12 librarians build their collections - Offers lesson plans that use graphic novels to impart facts and enliven discussion on everything from life skills and dating to history A one-stop resource which keeps the school library firmly at center stage, this eye-opening book will change your view of graphic novels.

This readable and practical book examines the changes in school libraries brought by the digital revolution-and describes how new and experienced librarians can take advantage of them. Both a book of practical solutions to today's budgetary and staffing problems in school libraries as well as an advocacy book, The Indispensable Librarian: Surviving and Thriving in School Libraries in the Information Age, Second Edition provides a practice-based overview of all management topics that also supplies real-world scenarios, step-by-step instructions, and pragmatic solutions to specific problems. In this follow-up to his original book, Doug Johnson offers more practical methods and sage advice for leveraging technology's popularity and effectiveness to build stronger programs and cultivate beneficial professional connections and friendships. He defines and clarifies the role of the school library media specialist in a technologically enhanced school, providing relevant examples and useful advice on a variety of topics; and underscores the importance of strong management skills, especially regarding collaborative planning and communications. The book is written especially for K-12 school librarians, both new and experienced, and is also suitable for pre-service librarians as a textbook. Provides both practical and visionary insights from an experienced, currently practicing librarian/library supervisor Supplies accessible and often humorous coverage of the subject without being simplistic Includes provocative ideas to stimulate thought and discussion Highlights the impact of technology on the library program and serves as a straightforward guide to changes needed in the field Offers an essential foundation of all aspects of managing a school library program

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. 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

Covering the genres popular with today's teens-fiction and nonfiction, including poetry and graphic novels-this resource provides 110 great book choices for young adult reading, interactive booktalks, and individual writing activities. All educators and library professionals need practical resources with easily accessible information and activities that can be immediately applied. Teen Talkback with Interactive Booktalks! is such a resource, supplying ready-to-use, interactive booktalks and curriculum connections for more than 100 recently published young adult books. This unique book is an invaluable tool for motivating teens to read. It shows how to make booktalks interactive and get teens participating in the presentation, rather than passively listening. Book selections include titles published from 2008 to 2012 organized in seven categories: Issues, Contemporary, Adventure/Survival, Mystery/Suspense, Fantasy, Heritage, and Multiple Cultures. Complete bibliographical information for each selection is included along with a literary classification as well as an age/grade level and gender designation. The read-alouds passages include talkback questions to facilitate discussion, and related works are supplied as suggestions for additional reading choices. Provides complete bibliographical information, literary designations, and age and gender suggestions Offers tools for custom-designing booktalks, noting passages for read-alouds with talkback questions and prominent themes Identifies related works and supplementary Internet sources Supplies values designations, lists of book trailers, and study guides that will be especially useful to school librarians

Learn why special or corporate libraries must align with their parent organizations in order to survive in these difficult economic times-and how to foster and demonstrate this critical relationship. Special Libraries: A Survival Guide analyzes what has happened-and is still continuing to happen-to corporate libraries in order to identify the strategies that must be taken to protect their staff's survival. Through a careful examination of a series of case studies of corporate library reductions and closures, authors James M. Matarazzo and Toby Pearlstein suggest key strategies, tactics, and survival tools that all types of special library managers can use to minimize their chances of becoming a victim. The book underscores the importance of collecting data as a survival tool. Additionally, it identifies what needs to be taught to students currently enrolled in library and information science (LIS) programs to give them a leg up in careers. This advocacy book is essential reading for staff at special/corporate libraries in the English-speaking world who wish to retain their positions, but it also contains information applicable to today's academic, public, and even school libraries. It is appropriate for students in the field of library and information science, LIS faculty, and corporate executives responsible for the management of the information function. Presents case studies of corporate and other special library reductions and closures and provides strategies to minimize your chances of becoming a victim Demonstrates how to integrate your information services and skills with essential functions of your parent organization Underscores the critical nature of documenting your contribution to your parent organization's mission Provides a useful predictive model to assess if your library is in danger of being severely cut back or closed outright Makes comparisons of corporate libraries in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand

Written by a well-known intellectual freedom advocate, this book is a one-stop source for school librarians on intellectual freedom and privacy issues that blends principles with best practices. In order to sort out fact from fiction and become effective, critically thinking adults in a global society, children need access to diverse points of view from authoritative sources in their school libraries. This book provides school librarians with easy-to-read guidance on specific aspects of intellectual freedom and privacy, explaining how the core values of the library profession translate into everyday practice. The readings supply current information and targeted, practical advice on a broad range of topics, including privacy and confidentiality in the context of a school library; working with homeless students, English language learners, and other special needs students; challenges to school library materials; filtering issues; and advocacy for intellectual freedom. Each of the nine chapters begins with an introductory essay examining the topic and concludes with a "key ideas" summary; a list of annotated resources to lead the reader to more information on the individual column topics; and discussion questions. The volume's appendices include the text of the ALA Library Bill of Rights and the Code of Ethics as well as an annotated list of pro-First Amendment and privacy protecting organizations with contact information. Presents practical guidance on important access and privacy issues facing school librarians, such as overdue materials, overcoming restrictive filtering, working with students with special needs, privacy concerns related to students' library records, preparing for challenges to school library materials, and advocating for intellectual freedom Provides up-to-date information on ALA and AASL statements on intellectual freedom and privacy, relevant state and federal laws, as well as court decisions Supplies sidebars with additional relevant information and interesting facts and furnish key ideas summaries for each chapter's topics, annotated resources lists, and discussion questions Offers practical evaluation tools such as a "Challenge-Proofing Your School Library Checklist" and a "Privacy Checklist: Evaluating the Library Media Program"

This book is an invaluable resource for school library aides who conduct storytime activities, providing everything from instruction on how to read to children to a week-by-week read aloud curriculum for the entire school year. School Library Storytime: Just the Basics is the perfect resource for library aides, paraprofessionals, or other library staff who conduct storytime in a school library media center. It provides all of the essential information, materials, and step-by-step guidance needed to facilitate these all-important events for children in kindergarten through second grade, allowing library staff without previous training or experience to get started with confidence. The fifth title in the highly regarded Just the Basics series, this book starts with an introduction, followed by explanations of how to read aloud and tips for managing and working with children in the primary grades. The authors suggest specific picture books that tie into school year-based themes and supply materials that can be used as listed or easily modified to meet the individual library's needs. Event-specific lessons are supplied for many weeks within the school year, making this title one that educators will rely on for storytime ideas from September through May. Follows the school calendar, providing a lesson for nearly every week of the school year Uses both fiction and nonfiction readalouds Supplies a resource page for each month

Documenting Feminist Activism addresses the practical and theoretical challenges and advantages of researching, documenting, and archiving recent and contemporary activists in the feminist and queer movements. In the last few decades, the place and practice of activism has shifted from a physical "headquarters" where activists convene to plan and strategize, to the reality where planning happens at various desks and kitchen tables across the country (or world) and activists then convene at one site for an action (the prime example of this being the WTO protest in Seattle in 1999). So much of the work is taking place in the digital environment and/or within smaller do-it-yourself (DIY) and anarchist subcultures where ideas are often shared via zines and other ephemeral materials. The challenge of the archivist and the scholar, whose work is traditionally paper-based, is to keep up with the changing modes of communication of these individuals and organizations and to make sure these activists' work is not left out of the historical record. Activists, archivists, librarians, and scholars address the following issues and topics: the practical material challenges of documenting and archiving contemporary activism; theoretical perspectives and conversations; online communities and communications; "third wave" feminism/youth and queer cultures/subcultures; the move from paper to digital archives and documents; zines; and the work of activists who employ creative/artistic/cultural approaches to work for social justice.

Patients, caregivers, family members, and information professionals deserve a Medical Library Association endorsed, essential resource on heart disease. The Medical Library Association Guide to Finding Out About Heart Disease does the organizing for you and offers evaluated print and online resources to help you develop a collection or research your personal medical options. This must-have reference incorporates important data and key concepts about risk factors and symptoms of heart disease. Each resource is annotated to provide you with the essential information you need to determine if that resource is right for you. The librarian can turn to the section on heart disease reference interviews; the patient can explore the resources available on his specific condition; the family member can research the resources for caregivers. With nearly 1,000 annotated resources, this is the most comprehensive book on heart disease resources available.

Students and professionals alike can benefit from the information in this book, which offers insights into a range of topics in the field. For instructors, and undergraduate and graduate level students, it will serve as an introduction to records and information management in archives, records and information management programs. Experienced archives and records professionals, as well as supervisors and managers charged with oversight will get a new perspective on their field, while upper-level managers, executives, and other decision makers responsible for effectively managing their organization's information assets will find it a useful guide. This book follows the records and information lifecycle model, encompassing paper, electronic (databases, office suites, email, IM), and new media records (blogs, wikis), as well as records residing in "the cloud" (software as a service).

Children love seeing ordinary objects such as paper and string transformed into extraordinary things. This book provides a collection of fun make-and-take tales that enable educators and librarians to take storytelling to a higher level. Can something as simple as a handkerchief, rubber band, paper plate, or piece of rope be used to captivate children during a storytelling? An expansion of the original, best-selling Handmade Tales book, author and storyteller Dianne de Las Casas provides 25 more clever handmade tales appropriate for pre-kindergarten to third grade. By following her clear instructions on incorporating inexpensive props comprised of everyday items into these fun make-and-take stories, educators and librarians can exponentially expand the appeal of their storytime efforts. Including different types of make-and-take stories like string stories, draw and tell, paper tales, and stories that use other simple props, the handmade tales in this book are ideal for preschool and elementary school teachers and librarians of all experience levels. Storytellers, scout leaders, camp counselors, and others who work with groups of young children will also find these make-and-take stories and instructions invaluable.

How can libraries and librarians across the educational continuum work together to support student transitions from high school to college, utilizing free or low-cost resources? This book supplies the answers. Informed Transitions: Libraries Supporting the High School to College Transition identifies the ways in which libraries and librarians can work together and create valuable resources that help students transition successfully to college-despite the challenges of increasing demand and diminishing resources. The book is organized into three sections: background, expectations, and skills; conversations and collaborations; and programs and resources. Section 1 establishes a foundational understanding of the libraries' role in supporting college transitions. Section 2 shares model conversations that move this work forward, stressing its collaborative nature. The third section highlights some well-established programs and resources that effectively support high school to college transitions. Practical information is provided throughout, pinpointing what high school students need to know to smoothly transition to college, spotlighting the expectations of college professors, and discussing audience-specific methods of working with students at the high school and college levels.

Something sinister is afoot out there-and this newly updated readers' advisory has all the clues to help librarians solve the mystery of which titles readers should check out next. Equally useful for novice librarians and seasoned gumshoes, this handbook: Summarises the history of mystery fiction, highlighting key figures in its development Covers the latest and most popular classic titles in the genre, as well select suspense and thriller fiction with crossover appeal Offers examples of how library staff can help readers move back and forth from fiction to nonfiction Suggests ways to conduct an effective reference interview With several well-chosen booklists, practical programming ideas, and a brand new compendium of print and web-based resources, your only crime would be not adding this guide to your collection!

This book helps educators foster academic success and college readiness: it demonstrates how to instruct high school students to find, process, and think about new information, and then synthesize that knowledge. When students are able to manage topics of high interest by choosing their own subject matter, they learn how to effectively perform pre-collegiate research through a process that they find fun and rewarding. Ideal for high school-level teachers and school librarians, this book provides a unique, holistic approach to guided inquiry that guides students step-by-step through the cognitive, affective, and social processes involved, building critical study skills, time management strategies, collaboration techniques, and communication and presentation skills. A Guided Inquiry Approach to High School Research is derived from a formal research protocol and provides proven techniques and supporting materials that facilitate the process for permitting students to choose their own topic, easily grasping how to search for information, and successfully completing a seemingly daunting research assignment-a process that makes understandings deep and integrative. The included detailed project lessons, student handouts, and rubrics and assessment tools are the result of many years of classroom testing and refinement. Introduces the Information Search Process to students Supplies step-by-step lesson plans that educators can utilize to guide students with their chosen inquiry Examines the task of the teaching team in guiding students in their inquiry and to provide them with the skills to find, process, and synthesize new information on their own

For the more than 26 million Americans diagnosed with or affected by diabetes, having accurate information on the disease is crucial. But the sheer volume of information available can be daunting for patients and caregivers alike. This comprehensive guide provides librarians and library users with background on key diabetes concepts, encompassing reliable print and electronic resources, including hard-to-find periodicals and audiovisual sources. Each chapter in this guide presents an overview and description as well as an annotated list of multi-format resources on topics including: Types 1 and 2 and gestational diabetes Diet, clinical trials, and support sources Legal and insurance issues With this guide, librarians can deepen their understanding and collections, and thus improve service to the growing number of patrons affected by, at-risk for, or curious about this pervasive disease.

This book advocates for a stronger role for young-adult literature in ELA classrooms, compellingly documenting how this body of work meets both the needs of adolescent students and the demands of the common core for complex texts and tasks. Integrating Young Adult Literature through the Common Core Standards provides a compelling template for teachers that uses young adult literature and inquiry learning to meet students' needs and the demands of the common core standards. The first part of the book addresses the widely adopted common core state standards by examining closely the standards' model of text complexity and demonstrating how young adult literature can fill the requirements of this model. The second part provides theoretical discussions and analysis of the standards as well as concrete applications of young adult literature within the classroom in order to give school professionals a comprehensive understanding of how young adult literature and the standards can work together. The book empowers schools and teachers to make intelligent, informed decisions about texts and instructional practices that benefit their students. Finally, the authors explore a powerful teaching approach that integrates current understandings about learning, young adult literature, and the common core standards in a way that will facilitate greater learning and understanding in English classrooms.

This report presents 7 journalistic-style profile interviews with the directors of rare book collections at the Boston Public Library, Emory University, Washington University in St. Louis, the Ohio State University, Abe Books, University of Cincinnati, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.The directors of these collections discuss digitization, personnel, fundraising, exhibits, acquisitions, endowments, special events, security, university relations, and other issues of interest to rare book and document and special collection management in museums, libraries and colleges worldwide. The study includes a postscript on trends in collection security.

This book assists the busy professional with ready-to-use materials to present entertaining, educational, and age-appropriate programs that introduce young learners to countries and cultures around the world. The result of a collaboration of children's librarians and educators with over 70 years' combined experience, Travel the Globe: Story Times, Activities, and Crafts for Children, Second Edition offers the busy librarian, teacher, or media specialist with ready-to-use resources that introduce children to countries and cultures around the world. It provides recommended books, stories, action rhymes, fingerplays, games, and activities that can be used to plan a series of programs or a single activity that are both entertaining and educational. The book is organized alphabetically by country, with simple, low-cost craft ideas included in each chapter. All crafts use low-cost supplies and are simple to prepare and execute. At least two craft projects are included in each chapter: one for preschoolers, with suggestions for additional simplification; and another designed for children in kindergarten through third grade. The wide variety of resources within makes this book a valuable investment, as it will be useful year after year with new presentations and activities.

The vast array of social media options present a challenge to today's busy librarians: it's tough to keep current, let alone formulate a plan for using these tools effectively. Solomon, a librarian with extensive experience in web development, design, and technology, cuts to the chase with this invaluable guide to using social media in any kind of library. With a straightforward and pragmatic approach, she enlarges her best-selling ALA Editions Special Report on the topic and Presents an overview of the social media world, providing context for services like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and analyses how adults' and teens' use of social media impacts the library Offers advice on easy ways to use these tools on a daily basis, with planning strategies for posting and scheduling Addresses the fine points of Facebook, comparing the various types of profiles and accounts Guides readers in the basics of crafting eye-catching status updates, and other social media best practices Shows how to manage and monitor accounts, including pointers on dealing with negative feedback Including a bibliography of additional resources, Solomon's guide will empower libraries to use social media as a powerful tool for marketing, outreach, and advocacy.

How do libraries deal with angry comments on their websites, blogs, or social networks? Does having a security staff actually help defuse angry users? How can library staff members best respond to frustrated users who get angry in a chat reference setting? Here, renowned library consultant Rhea Rubin deals with these questions and more in Defusing the Angry Patron: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians, Second Edition. New technologies for service delivery have ushered in new venues for frustration. To help librarians know how to react in the face of patron anger, Rubin adds five new coping strategies to the 20 basic ones she introduced in the first edition. All of them have been updated them in light of key changes, including virtual reference service and the Web 2.0 phenomenon. A whole new chapter addresses anger in the digital landscape. This very practical how-to shows how effective staff training and intentional behaviors can positively affect patron behavior, minimize altercations, and ease the stress of public services staff. Library staff members looking for effective ways to prevent and handle anger-driven confrontations with their patrons will find Rubin's revised text an exceptionally useful, applicable, and enlightening guide.

This guide offers exciting new reading paths for students who enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal themes. With over 350 titles organized into their primary appeal characteristics and scores of thematic lists, librarians and educators will benefit from lists of contemporary selections specifically written for teens. Interest in teen fiction has grown in popularity in the last decade, especially within the fantasy and paranormal genres. This timely guide is one of the few books on the subject that lists titles that are written specifically for teens. Read On...Speculative Fiction for Teens features popular, contemporary themes ranging from vampire love and ghost stories to epic fantasy and out-of-this-world science fiction. Each of the five chapters caters to a specific area of interest-story, character, setting, mood, and language-and within the chapter, numerous lists of novels are organized by topic, with the best titles highlighted. Each of the more than 350 listed titles includes bibliographic information and a brief, punchy description. A plethora of reading lists organized by theme, topic, and popularity Bibliographic information and concise descriptions for each title

This book provides an introduction and helpful guide to online education for librarians and educators in the K-12, public, and academic library settings. Today's librarians must be comfortable working in online learning environments, teaching information literacy courses, and supporting online students across curricula. With the rapid proliferation of the Internet and online technologies in the last decade, however, it is not uncommon for some library professionals to feel left behind. Designing Online Learning: A Primer for Librarians provides best practices for librarians who are unfamiliar with online education and need guidance in either developing an online course or providing support to faculty and students in online courses. This book offers practical guidance for librarians and educators serving a variety of users, including students and teachers in the K-12, public, and academic library communities. The authors provide a valuable introduction to online teaching and learning that details elementary technologies and technical standards, utilizes case studies that showcase successful programs, and identifies best practices for design, instructor development, and student assessment.

Explore exciting programs and initiatives that can both engage undergraduate students with academic libraries and assist academic librarians in creating a vibrant library atmosphere. In spite of the doom and gloom predicted in the press for the future of libraries, these institutions aren't at the top of the endangered species list just yet. Librarians who are focusing significant attention and staffing resources on undergraduates-and are thinking creatively about what engages this specific group of students-are forging the future for academic libraries. Student Engagement and the Academic Library explores how initiatives that involve high impact educational practices and other creative programs can effectively engage undergraduate students with academic libraries. The methodologies described in this work serve to draw students in and make their learning meaningful, both through curricular initiatives as well as through co-curricular and self-initiated activities, disciplinary initiatives, and partnerships across the university. This book will benefit any librarian seeking to further engage their college-age student populations, and will be especially helpful to libraries that are struggling to establish their programs and initiatives with today's students.

Successfully managing rare book collections requires very specific knowledge and skills. This handbook provides that essential information in a single volume. Rare Book Librarianship for the 21st Century is the first new rare books handbook of practice in 25 years. Authored by two special collections experts with extensive field experience, this book is also the first to discuss the role of digital technologies in managing a rare book collection. After a fascinating discussion of the history and current state of rare book libraries, this handbook provides a comprehensive account of the core skills and knowledge needed to be a successful rare book librarian. Topics include best practices for handling, housing, and conserving rare materials; collection development techniques; and user education and outreach. This book will serve as a handbook for practitioners in academic settings, large public libraries, and special libraries, and as a textbook for students in MLIS courses on rare book librarianship and curatorship. Provides a bibliography of reference resources for rare book librarians Includes sidebars with examples drawn from real-life experience