Ever watched the teens and tweens in your library sneak in an online game in the middle of their research or study session? Have students come into the media center to log-in and check on their Neopets? Have concerned parents approached you to find out more about video game ratings? Even if your library hasn't formally begun collecting, circulating, or programming with video games, you are no doubt aware of their popularity and proliferation. Now, ""Game On!"" has all of the answers and approaches you need to make effective, successful choices about video gaming in your library. Topics included are: video game basics - history, formats, and genres; benefits (developmental assets/technological skill/educational value) and controversies (ratings/graphics/content); selection, collection, and circulation of titles; equipment and vendors; programming ideas; policy and management; storage, display, and marketing; and more. Gallaway includes a core collection of games and systems that will appeal to users of all ages. Forms, bibliographies, and a gamer's glossary will get you gaming like a pro in no time.

This study is based on research on secondary textbook and school library provision in Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Togo, as well as existing recent country reports on textbook provision and an extensive desk research. Considerable variation exist in Sub-Saharan African textbook requirements needed to meet secondary curriculum specifications just as significant differences exist between and within countries in regard to the average price of recommended textbooks. Some countries have no approved textbooks list. This study aims to discuss the textbook situation in Sub-Saharan Africa with a special focus on secondary textbook availability, cost and financing, distribution and publishing, as well as, the status of school libraries. Its objective is to analyze the issues in secondary textbook and school library provision and to provide some options and strategies for improvement. This study was prepared as part of the Secondary Education and Training in Africa (SEIA) initiative which aims to assist countries to develop sustainable strategies for expansion and qualify improvements in secondary education and training.

Whether teaching research skills to college freshman, Internet skills to seniors, or staff development sessions to employees, librarians are repeatedly called on to deliver instruction in their library settings. Many librarians have never learned the basics of instructional design, much less how to effectively deliver information in a short time span, and they typically only have a short period of time - ""one shot"" - to deliver information. Now librarian and instructional design expert Jerilyn Veldof demystifies the process for her library colleagues. From needs assessment through design and implementation to final evaluations, this practical guide takes librarians step by step through the workshop process. Using these proven instructional design principles, librarians can: assess learners and what they need; train multiple library instructors to maintain; consistency in teaching and outcomes; replicate content for regularly scheduled workshops; develop a standard of presentation (including handouts) to maximize learning; and, evaluate results to ensure learners are getting what they need. These principles of instructional design are for every librarian who delivers instruction in any form. Use the step-by-step checklist and ADDIE principles (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) to have a powerful impact on your audiences. With a focus on practical applications, Veldof shows instruction librarians how to make every minute count.

The first edition of this breakthrough book was a huge success, so FOLUSA (Friends of Libraries USA) has collected 101+ more terrific ideas and best practices to help you and your team connect with your community. Following an introduction which sets the stage for effective library/community partnerships, you'll discover ideas for innovative programs, successful fund raising, strategic advocacy, powerful public relations, memorable membership campaigns and more. As in the first book, each idea is presented with practical instructions, graphics, and implementation tools so you can adapt these programs successfully and creatively to match your library's specific needs and opportunities.

Find your bearings in this rapidly evolving hybrid reference environment through proven strategies, advice, exercises and research from three experts in the field. The revised second edition of this practical how-to for all types of librarians will teach you to understand the needs of public, academic and special library users across any virtual setting - email, text messaging, social networking websites - as well as in traditional and face-to-face models of communication. Based on the latest research in communication theory, the book includes new exercises and examples to help you practice effective reference transactions and avoid common pitfalls. Guidance for helping users with special language-related needs (such as speech and hearing disabilities and English Language Learners) and social difficulties is also included, as are updated chapters on readers' advisory interviewing and policy and training procedures. An extensively revised chapter on virtual reference features new sections on live chat and instant messaging services, as well as a discussion of Web 2.0 initiatives and updated information on e-mail reference. Pooling their wealth of experience, the authors share real-life interview examples alongside constructive critiques and practical suggestions to improve interviewing methods. "Booklist"'s praise of the previous edition holds true with this new edition: 'The work is laudable for its practicality, clarity, cogency, and supportive data...In short, an essential read for all current and future reference librarians'.

Here is a practical handbook for school librarians who seek to create an active, energetic, and imaginative school environment with literacy as its focus. Creating a Culture of Literacy: Programming Ideas for Elementary School Librarians is an essential guide for elementary school librarians. Based on the author's 20 years of experience in school library programming, the book includes dozens of examples of literacy-based activities and programs that can serve as means to challenge, encourage, and validate young readers. At the same time, it suggests practical ways to create a culture of literacy by involving students and their families with a variety of reading-related activities. Developing literate students in a culture of literacy must involve all the members of the school community—students, teachers, administrators, staff, and families. The school library can lead the way with strong and imaginative programming. The wide range of ideas this book offers for creating a culture of literacy in every school will appeal to both the novice and the experienced school librarian. Grades K-6

With the new fifth edition of his ""Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations"", William Sannwald guides librarians and other members of a building design team through the stages of the design process. Planning construction of a new library facility or renovation of an existing one can be a daunting task. With the new fifth edition of his ""Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations"", veteran library administrator and construction consultant William Sannwald guides librarians and other members of a building design team through the stages of the design process. Updated materials include: a new chapter on sustainable design, including issues of site selection, air quality, and energy and water efficiency; new sections on wireless networking, information commons and media production and presentation labs; updated treatment of special collections and materials handling systems; and, a new section on disaster planning.It also contains DA Accessibility Guidelines section reorganized to match structure of the federal statute. Because construction projects are complex and sometimes unwieldy, Sannwald's checklist format provides a clear, concise way of itemizing the issues, helping your construction project run as smoothly as possible!

In his hugely successful ""Connecting Boys with Books"" (2003), Sullivan delved into the problem that reading skills of pre-adolescent boys lag behind those of girls in the same age group. In this companion book, Sullivan digs even deeper, melding his own experiences as an activist with perspectives gleaned from other industry experts to help you: learn about the books that boys love to read; uncover the signs that point to the reading gap; find creative new programming ideas to match boys' interests; and, establish a strategic blueprint for boys and reading. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Sullivan shows how to reinvigorate the sense of excitement that boys felt when they first heard a picture book being read aloud.

This revised edition provides a way of understanding the vast universe of genre fiction in an easy-to-use format. Expert readers' advisor Joyce Saricks offers groundbreaking reconsideration of the connections among genres, providing: key authors and themes within 15 genres; an explanation as to how the different genres overlap; and, the elements of fiction most likely to entice readers. Provocative and spirited, ""The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, 2nd Edition"" offers hands-on strategies for librarians who want to become experts at figuring out what their readers are seeking and how to match books with those interests.

We've all heard the questions...asked with urgency and genuine need. 'Does the flu vaccine cause the flu?' 'How do I find a LASIK surgeon?' 'Will Echinacea treat my daughter's cold?' This new consumer-focused handy reference volume will give your staff a reliable, authoritative resource to suggest when patrons come to you with health questions. Each entry provides a clear, easy-to-understand explanation of medical conditions and treatment, and provides critical call-out facts to support better understanding. In addition, your patrons can use the handy '? Ask the Experts' information to find additional, authoritative information and answers to their specific questions. They'll also discover tips, checklists for questions to ask healthcare professionals, charts and other easy-access information to address their specific concerns and provide important background information as they determine the next appropriate steps for their care.When it comes to consumer-friendly, reliable health information and answers, this new reference work is...that's right...just what the doctor and the librarian ordered!

Working with and devising quality educational resources for 'Generation M' - today's group of teens and young adults born in the early 1980s through the mid 1990s - can be a challenge for librarians and instructors who may not relate well to their multitasking, technophile students. Here, editors Cvetkovic (named of one of the '2005 Library Movers and Shakers' by ""Library Journal"") and Lackie (the 2006 recipient of the ALA Kenneth Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship) answer the core questions you'll need to facilitate new and powerful learning opportunities for your Gen M audience, including: Who are the members of Gen M? What is their shared cultural experience and how does it influence learning? And how can librarians and educators best meet this cohort's educational requirements? Cvetkovic, Lackie and their contributors debunk common myths and misconceptions about this unique generation to provide a realistic understanding of their instructional needs and learning styles. You'll a comprehensive introduction and overview of Gen M, including key term definitions, background information, and a clear idea of the scope of issues facing educators charged with teaching and working with this age group. A section on the emergent digital community inherent to Gen M examines the personal, sociological, and educational implications and impact on future pedagogy. The authors cover popular online tools like Facebook, Wikipedia, YouTube, Google, many of which play a large role in Gen M information retrieval, and also address key educational theories and provide instruction for creating lessons and learning objects that can be used in both traditional and online educational environments. Examples of current best practices are provided along with corresponding instruction for designing and implementing them in your library or classroom.

This book helps you start the story of literacy by welcoming families into your library. ""Family Literacy Storytimes"" gives you the insight and inspiration to plan literacy-rich, memorable storytimes that have the power to bring the whole family together. In a fun-filled environment, families new to the English language can begin family literacy before the child enters school. In ""Family Literacy Storytimes"" you will have all the tools you need to foster oral fluency in English while providing exposure to excellent children's literature. Each of the 25 themed storytime plans includes an outline for a 30 minute program designed to help parents and children learn together. Each theme includes an annotated list of recently published picture books selected to help you teach the American Library Association (ALA) six pre-literacy skills. Using the many extended learning activities, games, original songs, parent handouts, craft patterns and storytelling aids, you can give parents the tools they need to be their child's best teacher. Families experiencing success together in your library - what could be better than that?

For over 10 years YALSA has produced two annual lists, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults and Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, consisting of recommended reading targeted at young adults who are not avid readers. Quick and Popular Reads for Teens compiles bibliographic information about the books honored by these two selected lists.

Bricks, mortar, memories, and magic! Create children's and YA spaces that work and welcome youth into the world of knowledge. Get the "inside story" on creating those special spaces in your library that promote and encourage children's and young adult's curiosity, learning, and reading - and support their lifelong love of books and information.Nolan Lushington - expert library design consultant - covers the complete planning process from concept to "grand opening." He takes you from the technical aspects of design and construction, to the finer points of lighting, acoustics, furnishings, equipment, and multimedia areas, storywells, YA spaces, and more. Whether you're a children's or YA librarian, library director, school facilities planner or architect, you'll discover valuable, practical tips and insights to help you create that inviting environment called the library.

In this timesaving resource, Reid makes reading aloud to children and teens easy by selecting titles in high-interest topics and providing context to spotlight great passages. Make reading fun and exciting with: passages from 400 titles encompassing fiction and nonfiction; advice on how to prepare for a read-aloud; a subject index to make program planning easier; and, bibliographic information on all titles. You will find plenty to engage your audiences and reinvigorate programs!

Enriching and supplementing storytelling programs with fingerplays, flannelboards, and other props will be a cinch, thanks to this generous sampling of art and craft ideas, songs, and action rhymes. This time-saving resource includes: thematic organization to make program planning easy; recommended books for each theme; easy-to-follow craft and flannelboard patterns; and quick tips boxes that enhance the early literacy component.A unique addition to the programming shelf, this treasure trove of storytime tools is designed to help veteran librarians refresh and enliven ongoing programs, while providing novice storytime planners what they need to get started!

Whether it's solving the morning crossword puzzle, working out whodunit in a best-selling thriller, or participating in the library's mystery book club, everyone loves a mystery! In ""Hosting a Library Mystery"", Elizabeth Karle capitalizes on our delight of the genre through this unique, interactive programming guide. Karle's innovative and interactive ideas will coax children on a quest to learn about pirates, college students to uncover the research tools needed for class, or new patrons to discover the riches of the library's collection. ""Hosting a Library Mystery"" contains five complete mystery scripts, each targeted to a different audience, but all original, expertly created, and thoroughly researched. These scripts serve as an excellent means to acquaint users with a wide variety of library services as well as library personnel, special collections, and research skills. In addition, this book provides: complete instructions for program planning ranging from how to write clues to organizing the investigation; hints for adapting scripts to fit particular situation; and, examples and extras to construct an entertaining event in which all kinds of patrons can engage in active learning. With a one-of-a-kind book filled with creative ways to bring the community into the library and give them an incentive to stay, the only mystery will be why ""Hosting a Library Mystery"" wasn't in your collection sooner!

The Internet is not a one-way street in terms of library service as it challenges any traditional notion of its use for collecting or managing information. The information is constantly changing. It is not a static and reliable source like a book, nor is the content necessarily correct all of the time. In this resource, authors Charles McClure and Paul T. Jaeger speak to the ways in which the Internet has had more impact on public libraries than any other technology since the creation of the book. The issues presented are vital to library service, planning, evaluation, research and education - and most significantly how effectively libraries service the general public.This title helps you: learn the importance of measuring and maximizing library service through internet services; analyze new and unique Internet-enabled service roles of public libraries - expanding on the Web 2.0 environment; and, gain insight in selecting and creating Internet-enabled service roles. ""Public Libraries and Internet Service Roles"" will help ensure that public libraries remain a vibrant marketplace of ideas freely accessible to all members of the library community.

Do they ""get it""? Are students mastering information literacy? ACRL's standards for information literacy provide a solid foundation to help faculty and librarians establish the context for learning. Neely, a top information literacy expert, frames these ACRL standards as benchmarks and provides a toolbox of assessment strategies to demonstrate students' learning. Sharing best practices and actual sample assessments, these proven materials and programs: represent best practices from 27 institutions (US, Canadian, Australian); exemplify the best library-related assignments to strengthen information literacy skills; offer proven tips for incorporating the five ACRL standards into instruction; go beyond the classroom, with insights on partnering with teachers and administrators; and, explain the basics of automating assessments.

Children's music has been strangely silent in library storytimes - until now. Rob Reid, renowned children's programming expert, offers a companion to accompany ""Children's Jukebox, Second Edition"". Here's a comprehensive guide to make music an integral and engaging part of children's story hour!Drawing on thousands of hours of listening and programming, Reid selects the best of the best into eight ready-to-use comprehensive lesson plans. Use this abundant mix of picture books paired with kid-tested musical recordings to: get up to speed fast to make music an everyday part of your programs; build your own storytimes with innovative and fun pairings of books and recordings; enliven any storytime by incorporating simple song types - from call and response to ever-popular rounds; and identify children's picture books and stories rich with musical themes.Annotated bibliography and resource lists make a wide range of materials accessible, including picture books featuring music, song lyrics, musicians, dance and dancers, along with directions to access to the recordings.Children's librarians, school library media specialists, early childhood educators, head start programs, preschool and elementary teachers - whether they're musically challenged or musically gifted - can grab ""Something Musical"" today, and incorporate music into their children's programs tomorrow!

This practical guidebook seeks to bridge the gap between librarians and homeschoolers in these two ways: who are homeschoolers and how can I help them practically?In the past decade, the rise of homeschooling has had a tremendous impact on public libraries. Research from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) reveals that of the 1.1 million children being homeschooled in the United States, 78 per cent of homeschooling parents use the public library as their primary resource of learning materials. Yet, most librarians are unequipped and unprepared to reach this specific group of patrons.Part 1 addresses the history and background of homeschooling as well as the needs and viewpoints of various homeschooling groups. Part 2 deals specifically with building programs and services for the homeschooling population.Addressing all age groups, from how to serve elementary school children and teens, to even the homeschooling parent, homeschooling expert Furness offers: in-depth chapters dedicated to different types of homeschooling and unschooling movements; comprehensive discussion of resources to serve the diverse homeschooling population; ideas on programs and social outlets the library can provide; annotated lists of further readings at the end of each chapter, plus website resources and electronic discussion lists; and, 17 real - life stories of librarians interacting with homeschoolers. By moving past stereotypes and understanding what resources are available, librarians can be important allies to this diverse group of patrons. Children's and YA librarians, library directors, support staff working with youth in public libraries and educators will find the information and tools they need to develop policies, programs, and services to support homeschoolers in their communities.

Story boxes offer a simple method for capturing ideas, talent, creativity, and resources available in your library.Children's programming made easy. Really easy. What librarian doesn't dream of offering more and better children's programs with less effort? After all, these are usually the most popular and sought-after programs in the library. But, they are also the most demanding: any librarian who has put in the sweat and time required to pull together a single quality program will balk at the prospect of putting together eighteen programs per week!In Maryland's Carroll County, story boxes have made this impossible dream come true for twenty years. Now MacMillan, writer, storyteller, and former children's librarian, outlines the proven story box system for sharing an array of successful programs. Including step-by-step instructions from concept through implementation and supplemented by programming tips, ""A Box Full of Tales"" answers all your questions: What is a story box? What goes into a story box? How is one put together? Who can contribute? And, how do you get buy-in from others to share this resource?In addition, find detailed plans for fifty great story boxes including suggested books, fingerplays, songs, props, crafts, and sign language. From ah-chooi to antlers, from monkey business to zoo escapes, ""A Box Full of Tales"" is an easy way to offer winning, stress-free library programs for children without the headaches and the hassles. You can make the impossible happen when you share resources with story boxes!

Incorporating outcome-based planning and evaluation is critical when developing new programs and services. In this step-by-step patron-centered guide, three experts who have conducted extensive research share their findings and proven strategies: Generate results that support funding - be it governmental or grant-based; Get buy-in and participation from young library users; Improve communications between staff and customers, and among staff; and Garner immense user benefits with minimal effort. Using this method and selecting the level of effort allow libraries to refine existing services and make program improvements incrementally, based on what their audience wants and needs.

Navigating what at she calls the ""extravagantly rich world of nonfiction,"" renowned readers' advisor (RA) Wyatt builds readers' advisory bridges from fiction to compelling and increasingly popular nonfiction to encompass the library's entire collection. She focuses on eight popular categories: history, true crime, true adventure, science, memoir, food/cooking, travel, and sports. Within each, she explains the scope, popularity, style, major authors and works, and the subject's position in readers' advisory interviews.Wyatt addresses who is reading nonfiction and why, while providing RAs with the tools and language to incorporate nonfiction into discussions that point readers to what to read next. In easy-to-follow steps, Wyatt explains the hows and whys of offering fiction and nonfiction suggestions together; illustrates ways to get up to speed fast in nonfiction; shows how to lead readers to a variety of books using her ""read-around"" and ""reading map"" strategies; and provides tools to build nonfiction subject guides for the collection.This hands-on guide includes nonfiction bibliography, key authors, benchmark books with annotations, and core collections. It is destined to become the nonfiction 'bible' for readers' advisory and collection development, helping librarians, library workers, and patrons select great reading from the entire library collection!

Inside, Outside, and Online provides practical advice and inspiration for building community with your library. Based on a scan of the community and technology environments that libraries operate within, related literature, and the practical experiences of hundreds of library staff actively building communities through their work, the book provides much-needed insights into the essential elements of community building through: identifying user needs and designing services to meet those needs; engaging communities with service selection, creation, and iteration; and, utilizing practical new technologies. Whatever your role, and whatever size or type of library, the principles outlined here can support anyone working to build a strong community of engaged, interested, and satisfied library users.