This insightful book reviews the current research on literacy programming, examines the latest standards for strengthening reading skills, and provides educators, families, and caregivers methods for building successful reading habits in and out of the classroom. Research indicates that children need more than classroom instruction to become proficient readers. Unfortunately, few parents realize how simple, everyday practices can build a lifelong love of reading. Educators, diligent with employing mandatory literacy standards, may overlook families and support systems as tools for improving student performance. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the various methods of reading instruction, analyzing the pedagogy behind Sustained Silent Reading (SSR), the importance of reading aloud to children, and the necessity of working the home-school connection. For the Love of Reading: Guide to K-8 Reading Promotions provides strategies and tips for setting up successful reading environments for children, including having a well-stocked library collection; engaging students through book clubs, reading lists, and prepared book talks; and involving student and adult volunteers. The author asserts that the entire school community-teachers, librarians, parents, caregivers, and administrators-must work together to promote literacy. Includes a step-by-step implementation and explanation of each reading program Features forms, book talks, recommended book lists, photographs, and valuable websites Provides literacy workshop agendas for parents and caregivers Offers methods for soliciting and working with literacy volunteers Each reading program is described in detail to facilitate replication at public schools, public libraries, and home-schools An extensive list of vendors, professional development materials, and websites offer additional teaching support Prepared book talks, reading lists, and templates for programs provide the basis for immediate implementation Reading programs proven successful in inner city, rural, and suburban elementary and middle schools as well as public libraries are included

This handbook provides librarians and technology specialists with the tools to understand the issues and challenges related to their counterparts' jobs, and find ways to work together for the betterment of all concerned. School Librarians and the Technology Department: A Practical Guide to Successful Collaboration was inspired by the authors' collective realization that far too often librarians and technology specialists fail to collaborate successfully, and sometimes even find their groups at odds with one another. This book is the antidote: it is a powerful call to establish and improve relationships between the two for the benefit of the students as well as the librarians and technology specialists themselves. The book begins by providing background information about the history of librarianship and the use of computer technology in schools. The authors trace the origins of the positions related to educational technology, such as "technology specialist," "teacher," and "director." The following chapters describe and address specific concerns of both librarians and technology specialists. Most importantly, this collaborative work offers practical suggestions for cooperation between these two groups of educators as they work together to offer the best possible materials and instructions to students. School Librarians and the Technology Department concludes by hypothesizing what the future holds in the realms of librarianship and technology in this rapidly changing information age. Provides readers with a solid understanding of what school librarians do and what technology specialists do Clarifies the unique challenges, ethical concerns, and goals of both librarians and technology specialists Presents ways for both librarians and technology specialists to increase harmony and productivity as they work in concert to serve students Examines specific ways to work for the best interest of all patrons-both students and their teachers

This book will help public library administrators, managers, and board members to better plan, strategize, and understand their communities, enabling public libraries to become dynamic, proactive institutions. Research-Based Planning for Public Libraries: Increasing Relevance in the Digital Age takes readers through a logical and effective process for developing a plan and implementing it within the various functions of the library. Grounded in research and best practices, the book offers practical, easy-to-implement advice and direction for today's public library administrators, managers, and board members. Covering everything from goal-setting, policy-making, and budgeting, to collections, promotions, and access and evaluation, the book details how to better provide and promote access, convey its value to customers, and make the library a more integral part of the community. The author inspires library staff and administrators to reinvent themselves to meet-and overcome-the current challenges they face. The information is specifically tailored towards public librarians, particularly those in management or administration, as well as to LIS faculty and students of public librarianship and library management. Presents a game plan to help public libraries become dynamic, pro-active institutions through well-researched and optimized planning and strategizing Offers practical, easy-to-implement advice Provides information grounded in current research

Working with at-risk teens is a rewarding and often challenging endeavour. You know there's a need for library services that specifically reach this under served population, but you don't have the background information, administrative support, or the right resources at your disposal to get the job done. Based on best practices, practical suggestions and personal experiences from many leaders in the field today, Library Services for At-Risk-Teens: Bridging the Gap connects you with accessible and affordable programming ideas and ready-to-use templates, techniques, and tools to help you better serve this population, including teens who are homeless, incarcerated, or in foster care. You'll also learn how to gain support from library administration and community leaders as well as build meaningful relationships with the facilities designed to care for these disconnected youth.

An MLIS can provide the skill set needed to get a library job, but building a library career means knowing how to maximise your potential every step of the way. Benefiting those fresh out of library school as well as experienced professionals, career librarians from every corner of the profession offer a personal, down-to-earth view of ""what it's really like out there."" Filled with valuable insights into how to better launch and manage a library career, this book addresses important topics like How to work and adapt at a new organisation What management expects and how to view everyday activities from that point of view How to make suggestions for change Advice on navigating the cyclical nature of a librarian's work year The rewards and challenges of professional organisations Why a library degree is valuable outside a traditional library setting Those new to the field will find the contributors' seasoned advice both inspiring and practical, while veterans of the profession will find guidance on retuning their careers in librarianship's changing environment.

Learning which takes place "after hours," in a club setting, is often an undersupported component of children's education. After-school clubs built around books encourage independent, recreational reading, which in turn has a positive impact on the rest of a child's day. In this book, Shaia offers a year's worth of ready-to-implement program ideas for librarians and educators .Her month-by-month calendar of themed clubs is conveniently divided by grade level (K-2, grades 3-4, grades 5-6) to allow club leaders and organizers to closely align activities and book selections to the ages of the club's participants. This handy book Offers programming on such themes as science, math, animals, mysteries, art, fairy tales, and more, all of which can be adapted for either a half-hour or forty-five-minute time slot Details age-specific bibliographies and suggestions for read-alouds, music, and craft or game activities, with different ideas for each week in a month Presents information on publicizing the activity, community outreach, display ideas, set-up, supplies, management, and evaluation With its inviting approach to book-based programming, Shaia's start-to-finish guide helps promote reading as a fun, engaging activity for kids.

In the ongoing evolution of the academic library, embedded librarianship has become an important topic of debate across levels and departments. This book delves into the concept, examining everything from theory to best practices. Is the embedded librarian an equal partner in the course, or is the librarian perceived as a "value-added" extra? What is the place of technology in this effort? Is there a line librarians should not cross? Taking into account both theory and practice to discuss multiple facets of the subject, Embedded Librarianship: What Every Academic Librarian Should Know thoroughly examines these questions and more from the perspectives of experienced embedded librarian contributors who have worked in higher education settings. The chapters illuminate the benefits and challenges of embedding, explain the planning required to set up an embedded course, identify the different forms of embedding, and consider information literacy instruction in various contexts. Readers who will benefit from this work include not only academic librarians but any professor who wants their students to be able to do better research in their fields. Includes a foreword by Steven J. Bell, president of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), addressing blended librarianship within the context of embedding the library into the curriculum or the librarian into the course Provides a detailed introduction to the embedded librarian concept and information to help a novice undertake the role of the embedded librarian Explores the opportunities and reasons for embedding, the demand for it, the challenges involved, and the potential benefits Presents several feasible models of embedding for the academic library setting

In times of recession, the library is more critical than ever for those who want to start a business and need to do research, and academic and public libraries are at the heart of a growing need to research business questions. An "accidental business reference librarian by trade," Ross explains how to provide quality reference help on issues from marketing to finance--for business people, students, and even business faculty. Honing in on fundamentals, this practical guide - Explains how to conduct the reference interview, with tips for helping clients help themselves - Identifies important business resources, both free and fee-based - Offers chapters devoted to industry and market information; small-business needs; international business research; investing and the stock market; and marketing and demographics A detailed bibliography functions as both a standing reference for desk use as well as a collection development aid for building a core business collection. Including numerous illustrative case studies, Making Sense of Business Reference takes the guesswork out of doing business research.

In an information environment where the only constant is change, many wonder where libraries are headed. This edited collection brings together library leaders with some of the brightest new minds in the profession to envision the future of libraries. Drawing from their personal experiences, they bring their barrier-breaking perspectives to the task of reinventing the library in all its forms. From redesigning library services for the evolving needs of users, to functioning as a meaningful space in a digital age, implementing new infrastructure, and imagining the international future of school libraries, the contributors ask and answer questions such as: How do lessons from the past point the way forward? What should libraries look like in the future? Which safeguards will protect intellectual freedom, such as equitable access to information and anti-censorship policies, now and in years to come? How can we overcome obstacles such as feasibility, costs, and competing interests to realise the library of the future? This thought-provoking collection will challenge librarians at every kind of institution to start planning today for the library of tomorrow.

Social media allows you to scale up a core librarian practice connecting your community to information and learning-- across geographic boundaries, 24/7. Addressing curation as the term is used colloquially, this issue of Library Technology Reports draws from 17 in-depth interviews to show how libraries are using social media to collect, organize, share, and interpret in short, how to tell a digital story to a specific audience. Additionally the authors use data, collected through an online survey that encompassed all library types, to offer a snapshot of this important collecting-connecting-curating-contributing practice. Also included is an annotated directory covering 66 tools for social media curation, organized by category with links to the websites.

Reinventing the Library for Online Education Frederick Stielow Item Number: 978-0-8389-1208-9 Publisher: ALA Editions Price: $75.00 Email Friend Order Options: Qty: Add To Cart Add To Wish List 256 pages 6" x 9" Softcover ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-1208-9 Year Published: 2013 AP Categories: A, B, I, J, Z This title will be available Fall 2013. You may place an order and the item will be shipped when it becomes available. Have changes such as cloud computing, search engines, the Semantic Web, and mobile applications rendered such long-standing academic library services and functions as special collections, interlibrary loans, physical processing, and even library buildings unnecessary? Can the academic library effectively reconceive itself as a virtual institution? Stielow, who led the library program of the online university American Public University System, argues most emphatically that it can. His comprehensive look at web-based academic libraries synthesizes the changes wrought by the Web revolution into a visionary new model, grounded in history as well as personal experience. He demonstrates how existing functions like cataloging, circulation, collection development, reference, and serials management can be transformed by entrepreneurship, human face/electronic communicator relations, web apps, and other innovations. Online education can ensure that libraries remain strong information and knowledge hubs, and his timely book Shows how the origins and history of the academic library have laid the foundation for our current period of flux Identifies practices rooted in print-based storage to consider for elimination, and legacy services ready to be adapted to virtual operations Discusses tools and concepts libraries will embrace in a networked world, including new opportunities for library relevance in bookstore/textbook operations, compliance, library/archival/museum functions, e-publishing, and tutorial services Offers a thorough examination of the virtual library infrastructure crucial for an online learning program, with a special look at the particular needs and responsibilities of online librarians Looks at the evolving relationship between higher education and copyright, and posits how educational technology will bring further changes

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.

A collection of versatile best practices for promoting literacy development by utilizing local community connections in school and public libraries. Modern libraries are recreating themselves as idea centers for today's Internet-savvy, digitally driven clientele. This book provides a fresh approach to learning as well as guidelines for creating dynamic and relevant library programs for children, teens, and families. Organized thematically, each chapter includes relevant topical research and three to eight community-focused approaches. Programs range from small, single-library initiatives in rural communities to multi-site, cross-border initiatives. This essential reference includes collaborative and locally inspired programs, many of which can be scaled to the budget of any library, school, or community organization. Offers strategies for specific populations, including inter-generational, preteens, and teens Features programs that match early literacy research and the Every Child Ready to Read model Includes programs for small, medium, and large libraries; schools; community centers; social service agencies; and literacy-focused organizations

Gaming offers a great way to reach teens. This book gives library staff the tools to deliver game programming that goes beyond the basic video and board game format. Games aren't just for fun; they can also play a critical role in learning. Libraries have an opportunity to integrate a variety of games into the services and collections they provide to the community. This book shows library staff how to do exactly that through a diverse variety of popular games, some that have been around for many years and others that are new. The authors present a comprehensive overview of the topic, supplying good practice examples from successful libraries, providing necessary details on format and implementation within a library program for teens, and covering different game formats ranging from live action role-playing (LARP) and Dungeons & Dragons to Minecraft and traditional board games. Whether you're adding games and gaming to your collection and services for the first time, or looking for ways to expand your existing gaming program, this book offers solid guidance. Covers a wide range of popular games, including live action role-playing (LARP), table-top games, PC games, and big games Supplies ideas for implementing novel summer reading programs through games Includes lists of games that are specifically applicable and other tools, such as game websites, resources for further reading, videos to watch, and specialist game communities that can provide help

Learn how to integrate pop culture and technology into school library programs and classrooms, and make today's digital content, mobile devices, and students' changing interests work to the educator's advantage. Today's school libraries need to evolve and meet the needs of 21st-century students-the instruction, programming, and library services must be relevant to today's learners. Additionally, the interactions between educators and the students are what make the critical difference in the students' learning, and turn the library and classroom into places where they will find, assimilate, experience, and understand information. This book provides practical strategies for using pop culture and technology trends to connect with easily distracted middle and high school students and hold their attention. Author Linda D. Behen addresses why school libraries are in transition and why there is a need for dramatic change. She discusses the evolution of all libraries in response to digital content; ubiquitous mobile devices such as smart phones, iPads, and other tablet computers; patrons' changing interests; and the ways in which schools and school libraries have found to effectively adapt to technology changes and student needs. This book is essential for middle and high school librarians and educators, library school students and instructors, and young adult public librarians. Provides annotated lists of recommended apps and effective media tools Examines what new methods and tools work best to engage the attention of this generation of students Explains how to teach students already comfortable with the Internet how to find, evaluate, understand, and assimilate information for both academic and personal purposes Demonstrates how to keep up and constantly change a library program to maintain its appeal

A library's infrastructure of programs and personnel is its most valuable asset, providing the foundation for everything it does and aspires to do, which is why assessment is so vitally important. In this collection of case studies, Murphy and her team of contributors describe how quality assessment programs have been implemented and how they are used to continuously improve service at a complete cross-section of institutions. This volume: Looks at how a program was established within a library organisation, the individual roles for staff participating in the program, and singles out which activities and projects were most successful Describes programs such as the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, Lean Six Sigma, and ISO 9001:2000 Examines contexts ranging from a liberal-arts college library to key federal government libraries, to libraries that serve major research universities in the United States and Canada Summarising specific tools for measuring service quality alongside tips for using these tools most effectively, this book helps libraries of all kinds take a programmatic approach to measuring, analysing, and improving library services.

Library Technology Reports v.49 no.7. Innovation is a broad concept, frequently mentioned in circles at all levels-libraries, higher education, the corporate environment, and society in general. So frequently is the word used, and in so many contexts, that it can become confusing to clearly frame what the word means at present. Clarity is important, as it can help provide focus, direction, and strategy for organizations often under the shadow of limited resources. More bluntly, innovation is often synonymous with change, progress, and addressing user needs in new ways-critical concepts in today's volatile higher education environment. This issue of Library Technology Reports seeks to open or continue the discussion of what's meant by innovation, focusing specifically on innovation with a strong technological underpinning. A brief review of the literature-scholarly and mainstream-is accompanied by some more indirect methods to try to better grasp what librarians and the profession refer to when they use the word innovation. Later, results from a survey open to Association of Research Library members offer additional insights into what directors of large research libraries think about when considering the concept of technological innovation.

"Audiobooks are now a staple in most public and school libraries, and with good reason, since they have a clear role in the education of today's "born digital" generation. Burkey, who has been following their rise in popularity for years, combines a fascinating history of the medium and practical tips for using them in a readable guide applicable to school and public librarians as well as classroom teachers. Enriched with reflections and comments from authors, audiobook narrators, producers, reviewers, and librarians, this book Shows how audiobooks not only benefit struggling readers and bring families together but also fit neatly within newly accepted standards for early literacy education Demonstrates how to use audiobooks as classroom and library tools for learning Identifies how to locate "must-have" audiobooks and offers advice for maintaining a collection Including an overview of the major audiobook awards and lists of additional resources, Burkey's guide will help librarians and educators unlock the educational potential of audiobooks for youth. "

In this provocative call to action that encourages LIS students, researchers, and practitioners to question some of the underlying assumptions of their discipline, Bernier initiates an open discussion about how YA professionals perceive young adults. Exploring the question of what an LIS-specific vision of young adults should be, this book offers a wide array of provocative positions with implications for libraries in literacy initiatives, YA space, intergenerational interactions, and civic life. Research-based articles and essays from leading scholars and practitioners examine young adults in historical and conceptual contexts, such as the ways in which social theory is rapidly changing the essence of YA librarianship. The variety of perspectives and analyses offered will launch a vigorous new debate on how libraries and those in the field think of and serve young adults.

With this practical guide, it's easy to implement the proven fun-and learning-of a read-it-forward program in your middle school library. Teens recommend books to other teens, offering a surefire way to promote books and reading. Finding the right book for each student is almost impossible if you serve several hundred students, as most school librarians do. Read It Forward offers an innovative way around that problem: a program that lets librarians saturate the school with a title that encourages middle school students to read for pleasure. As an added bonus, Read It Forward (RIF) creates learning opportunities that can be leveraged across the curriculum. The program presented here is based on the author's experience with a community RIF project that was a collaborative effort among nine middle school librarians from schools with varying needs and socioeconomic levels. This thoroughly practical book takes librarians through the process step by step, offering specific examples of what worked and what didn't, then showing how the process can be extended to almost any book. The author also discusses other aspects of running a successful RIF program-such as getting buy-in from school administrators, the PTA, and department chairs-so that parents and teachers can collaborate in the experience. An easy-to-follow process for creating an RIF program in any middle school Testimonials from those who have initiated and run RIF projects Specific examples of what works and what doesn't Resource lists from which librarians can draw in creating their own programs Offers librarians step-by-step guidance in running a read-it-forward project in which students are encouraged to read books then pass them on to others Shows how RIF encourages interest in reading for middle school students during a period when they often stop reading for recreation Discusses how RIF can provide a focus for library programming throughout the school year, connecting it to academics Demonstrates ways to get students excited about reading by connecting it to the curriculum they are studying

Provides a solid, foundational understanding of creativity that enables readers to elicit creative performance from their students. The first book of its kind in the school library field, The Creative Imperative: School Librarians and Teachers Cultivating Curiosity Together assists educators, school librarians, school counselors, and parents in learning about creativity and inquiry as well as how to foster these desired processes in school settings and beyond. The work begins by addressing the foundational aspects of creativity, and then discusses creativity within the educational setting, exploring how educators can be more creative themselves and coax creative performance from their students. The final part of the text focuses specifically on school libraries and the role of librarians in developing environments and opportunities for inquiry that nurture creativity. Presents unique content from prominent, expert authors on the contemporary topic of fostering creativity Challenges current practices in the quest to foster creative thinking Provides access to additional resources for reader follow-up Supplies practical how-tos for practitioners

How do you get young adults excited and engaged with books? Get them onstage! Readers Theatre is a stage presentation during which participants read from scripts, acting out the book's story using voice and facial expressions. It offers educators an innovative opportunity to acquaint young people with quality literature, test their grasp of English grammar, develop their public speaking skills, and learn about teamwork in an activity that is entertaining as it is educational. Elizabeth A. Poe, creator of many Readers Theatre programs, explains how to create successful programs, offering: Ways librarians can link basic educational goals with appreciation of good literature, A bibliography of books suggested for their Readers Theatre potential, with examples of texts converted into scripts and Core programming ideas that can be adapted for use across different age levels. Poe's book helps youth services librarians get students out from behind their desks and onto the stage by writing their own scripts based on children's literature.

A significant portion of U.S. institutions charged with the preservation of our cultural heritage are small repositories and one-person shops. Rapid advances in technology, increasing regulation on institutional records, and exponential growth in the volume and variety of cultural resources being collected put added pressure on these lone arrangers to find efficient and effective ways to manage their archives. The Lone Arranger: Succeeding in a Small Repository offers guidance on how to handle common work demands while promoting archives best practice. Author and lone arranger Christina Zamon uses a deft touch to address a comprehensive range of topics, including administration and budget, fundraising and donor relations, information technology, collections management, records management, preservation, reference and outreach, facility management, disaster preparedness, and internship and volunteer programs. In addition, case studies by a dozen practitioners representing diverse backgrounds, institutional settings, and geographic locations discuss the challenges they faced when they found themselves responsible for the full spectrum of archives work with limited or no paid staff to assist. Seasoned archivists and newcomers to the profession will benefit from the practical tips, sound advice, and resources shared throughout the volume, as well as the opportunity to connect to the broader community of professional archivists. If you're a lone arranger, with this book you'll find yourself less alone

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.

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