E-book vendors continue to experiment: adjustments to business models, consolidation of content, and mergers with competitors mean constant change. What’s good for innovation can equal confusion when it comes to choosing an e-book platform for your library. Making a sound purchasing decision requires research and close consideration of trade-offs, and Roncevic’s new issue of Library Technology Reports will get you started. Based on surveys of e-book vendors with an established presence in academic, public, and/or K–12 library markets, this report includes Background and business model descriptions for 51 leading e-book vendors Four tables comparing content, technical specifications, functionality, and business models An at-a-glance overview of platforms, including vendor website URLs Bulleted checklists of factors to consider, and questions to ask vendors An examination of the blurring channels of publisher, aggregator, and distributor platforms, with advice to help you avoid content overlap

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.

Learn the concept of passive programming and get started easily with plans for implementing a wide array of intergenerational programs in libraries with this professional primer. Libraries are an integral part of the community, a fact that can often be overlooked in today's world of home-based online research. Passive programs encourage patrons to linger-either in the library or on the library's website-and promote a connection to the library's collections, its services, and the community. Librarian's Guide to Passive Programming: Easy and Affordable Activities for All Ages presents plans for 32 passive programs designed to capture the attention of library patrons. Each chapter-which contains programs grouped thematically-details the steps necessary to reproduce the programs, and includes supporting handouts, activities, and photographs. This helpful guide also examines what passive programming is, why passive programming is relevant, and offers strategies across all aspects of its implementation-from developing program ideas to evaluating program success. Step-by-step instructions for more than 30 individual programs Lists of supplies and resources needed for program implementation Alternative approaches for how to adapt the program for in-house or online use Strategies for developing, marketing, and evaluating passive programs

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.

Providing descriptive annotations of the best children's picture books published in the last decade, this comprehensive overview is perfect for librarians, teachers, parents, daycare providers, and anyone who works with young children. It is both an excellent tool for collection development and an abundant resource for planning storytimes and other children's programming. With selections based on proven appeal and quality, Northrup's survey features An introductory essay on the nature of the picture book, and an explanation of the evaluation criteria Bibliographic information on each picture book, including author, illustrator, publisher, date, and age recommendation A thorough index for quick reference and an appendix of additional suggested resources Packed with ardent and insightful recommendations, this book makes it a snap to select and use just the right picture books.

With more than 500 original descriptive annotations in over 70 thematic lists, this unique compilation makes it easy for adult readers and librarians to discover graphic novel reads that satisfy their interests and reading tastes. Graphic novels are not the junk food of the literature world. Indeed, this inventive, high-quality storytelling medium comprises satisfying adult literature that can contain and express as much intellect, moral conflict, depth, and complexity as other artistic formats, embracing all genres, fiction and non-fiction alike. Read On...Graphic Novels: Reading Lists for Every Taste fulfills the promise of its title, providing more than 500 original annotations organized within 70 thematic lists. The broad selection of titles is further categorized by key appeal elements, including story, character, setting, language, and mood, providing unique access points that allow discovery of interests to transcend subject headings in catalogs. The selection encompasses all genres, ranging from literary fiction to mystery to science fiction, and from superhero stories to family sagas to coming-of-age tales. Nonfiction titles-memoirs, travelogues, history, and text books-are also well represented, as are international graphic novels, including the extremely popular manga category (Japanese graphic novels).

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.

Some students are more "challenging" than most. This book helps school librarians prevent, deal with, and overcome discipline problems they may face when communicating with K-12 students. Positive Classroom Management Skills for School Librarians is a rich, highly needed collection of strategies and methods for building and maintaining a positive learning environment in the library classroom. Appropriate for both pre-service and practicing school librarians at all grade levels, this book provides suggested techniques and examples of best practices for managing students in a school library. This invaluable information has been obtained from observations of school librarians and from discussions with pre-service students, and based upon coauthor Kay Bishop's 20 years of experience as a school librarian in various library settings. Specific topics covered include establishing positive relationships between students and school librarians; characteristics of students in different grade levels; techniques that librarians can use for effectively managing students in the school library; ways to relate with diverse students, including students with special needs; managing students as they utilize technology in library settings; and designing a school library environment to avoid potential discipline problems. Index provides easy access to information about specific topics and groups of students

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

A comprehensive guide to creating dynamic, successful, and innovative library programs that cater to the specialized needs of older adults-an important and growing user group. Crash Course in Library Services for Seniors provides a refreshingly positive approach to working with older adults-one that focuses on the positive effects of aging on patrons, and the many opportunities that libraries can create for themselves by offering top-notch services delivered with a concierge mindset. The book offers page after page of great programming ideas specifically for reaching out to Baby Boomers and older customers-a population that is predicted to double over the next 20 years. Organized in only six chapters, this easy-to-read book provides practical suggestions for making any library a welcoming place for older adults, covering topics such as assessment, planning, programming, services, marketing, and evaluation. This title will be invaluable to public librarians interested in expanding and improving their current programming for older adults within their community, and for those looking to create entirely new programming for seniors.

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.

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.

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.

The all-in-one "Reference reference" you've been waiting for, this invaluable book offers a concise introduction to reference sources and services for a variety of readers, from library staff members who are asked to work in the reference department to managers and others who wish to familiarize themselves with this important area of librarianship. Written in an accessible style and designed for everyday use, it presents an overview of the basic tools and techniques of reference work, including - "Reference Services," a section addressing such important topics as telephone reference, the reference interview, and electronic reference - "Reference Sources," chapters which focus on types of reference tools, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, handbooks, and almanacs - Appendixes with key documents prepared by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) and an annotated bibliography An excellent training tool for both new and experienced staff, Fundamentals of Reference will quickly become your fundamental reference!

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 full-color book provides a practical approach to incorporating graphic inquiry across the curriculum for school library media specialists, technology coordinators, and classroom teachers. It's new. It's graphic. And it is the first of its kind. Designed to bridge theory and actual practice, Graphic Inquiry contains applications for new and practicing educators and librarians that can truly bring classroom learning into the 21st century. This visually rich book provides numerous, standards-based inquiry activities and projects that incorporate traditional materials as well as emerging social and collaborative technologies. This full-color book provides real-world strategies for integrating graphic inquiry across the curriculum and is specifically designed to help today's educators identify tools and techniques for using graphic inquiry with their students. Although research is cited and references are provided, lengthy text passages are avoided in favor of practical, visual examples rooted in best practice and presented in graphic format. Readers will view this book as a quick reference to timely, realistic activities and approaches as compared to a traditional textbook. Dozens of references and virtual links to associated resources

Richard J. Cox's fifteenth book on archival studies related topics, this collection of essays responds to anxieties affecting the archival profession as societal changes highlight the importance of archives and records-keeping and begin to push archival work in new directions. The initial part of the book consists of three essays exploring the notion of archival calling, including a lesson about a lost opportunity for advocating the critical importance of the archival mission and a very personal reflection on the author's own calling into the archival field. The second part of the book concerns one of the pre-eminent challenges of our time, government secrecy, and how, if left unchallenged, it can undermine the societal role of the archival profession. The third part of the book considers one of the most important issues facing archivists, indeed, all information professionals, the possession of a practical ethical perspective. The fourth and final part of the book concerns the matter of teaching the next generation of archivists in the midst of all the change, debates, and controversies about archives and archivists. In a brief concluding reflection, the author offers some final advice to the archival community in charting its future.

"Coming Full Circle: A Guide to Service-Learning" is a unique, stand-alone text for courses that connect service to the community to the acquisition of academic knowledge courses that ask students to venture into the outside world, and engage in the problems and projects of the communities surrounding their schools. The book begins with an explanation of service-learning, its roots, and definitions of useful terms. The three subsequent chapters discuss reflection, culture, and reciprocity, and how these apply to real-world service environments. Later chapters address the guiding issues of service-learning, including:
- Diversity
- Social Welfare
- Environment
- Education
- Social Change
- Responsive Citizenship
The book concludes with an epilogue that encourages students to reflect on what they have learned and experienced. While other texts focus on theory, "Coming Full Circle" emphasizes the how-to of the discipline, providing students with a clear roadmap for involvement in service fields. Written in a student-friendly, accessible style, the book combines academic instruction with participation through service. It encourages students to reflect on their service experiences, and to grow as responsive citizens. More than a textbook, "Coming Full Circle" is also an effective aid to self-awareness and personal development. "Coming Full Circle" can be used in sociology and education courses, as well as in classes dealing with human development. It is also an excellent supplementary text for psychology and political science courses.
Dr. Joyce Duncan is an instructor in the Department of Human Development & Learning at East Tennessee State University, where she teaches stand-alone service-learning courses. As part of her teaching, Dr. Duncan has facilitated thousands of hours of student involvement in the regional community. She is the author/editor of a variety of works, including "Ahead of Their Time: A Biographical Dictionary of Risk-Taking Women and Sport in American Culture." Dr. Duncan is the editor of "Aethlon: The Journal of Sport Literature," the managing editor of the Sport Literature Association, and on the editorial board of the "Journal of Popular Culture."
Teresa Brooks Taylor is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. She has been involved with service-learning, both directly and indirectly, for over fifteen years. Currently, she manages the campus wide Service-Learning program at East Tennessee State University, where she coordinates placements and projects, and deals directly with faculty, staff, students, and the community. Teresa supervises the local affiliate of the national program, America Reads, and is a faculty member in Human Services. She has taught in various disciplines, including Human Services, Sociology, Women s Studies, and Service-Learning. In addition to teaching, she has worked extensively in the non-profit sector.

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.

Librarians have long looked for a single, comprehensive text to provide a solid introduction to the art and craft of instruction. With this book, now they have it. Information Basics for College Students provides critical information and knowledge relevant to library instructors-both for those just starting out in the field as well as experienced and seasoned pros-all in a single volume. It approaches topics directly relevant to instruction, such as preparation, assessment, teaching techniques, and communication with academic faculty. It also provides invaluable guidance for new instructors in developing personal processes by which they can continue learning, such as strategies for evaluating new classroom technologies and recommended national organizations for library instructors. The book also details the various roles that library instructors can play in campus planning and governance-activities that can be instrumental to career growth and advancement. Information Basics for College Students is essential reading for academic library instructors as well as those who are training to provide academic library instruction. Academic faculty and teachers interested in development of research skills at the college level will also benefit from selected sections of this book.

Building on the author's work in The Big Book of Teen Reading Lists, this book provides 101 new and revised reading lists created in consultation with teachers and public librarians-an invaluable resource for any educator who plans activities for children that involve using literature. Nancy J. Keane is the author of the award-winning website Booktalks-Quick and Simple (nancykeane.com/booktalks), as well as the creator of the open collaboration wiki ATN Book Lists. With her latest book, 101 Great, Ready-to-Use Book Lists for Teens, she provides another indispensable resource for librarians and teachers. The lists in this book are the result of careful consultation with teachers and public librarians, and from discussions on professional email lists. These indispensable lists can be utilized in many ways-for example, as handouts to teachers as suggested reading, to create book displays, or as display posters in the library. This collection will facilitate the creation of valuable reading lists to support the extended reading demands of today's teens.

Categorizing hundreds of popular biographies according to their primary appeal-character, story, setting, language, and mood-and organizing them into thematic lists, this guide will help readers' advisors more effectively recommend titles. Read On...Biography: Reading Lists for Every Taste is that essential go-to readers' advisory guide, filling a gap in the growing readers' advisory literature with information about 450 biography titles, most published within the last decade, but also including some classic titles as well. The book focuses on life stories written in the third person, with subjects ranging from individuals who lived in ancient times to the present-day, hailed from myriad nations, and gained fame in diverse fields. The contents are organized in order to facilitate identification of read-alikes and easy selection of titles according to appeal features such as character, story, language, setting, and mood. Written specifically with librarians and their patrons in mind, this readers' advisory title will be invaluable in public, high school, and college libraries. A chronology of the history of the biography genre Brief reviews of over 450 high interest biographies