Expand your teen collection beyond traditional print books into exciting alternatives that will get teens into your library and keep them coming back. Top teen librarians share their inspiration and expertise on how to defy limits, and create the kind of collection that appeals to the diverse range of today's teens. You'll find valuable guidelines and tips on how to broaden and enliven your collection with graphic novels, magazines (and zines), audiobooks, video, music, interactive software and games, and more. You'll also discover how to harness the power of the Internet and establish a virtual collection. There is even a chapter presenting options for shelving and display of these alternative media. If you're ready to bring your teen collection into the 21st century, now's the time to act--and this is a great place to start. Grades 6-12.

In this lively and practical guide, notable teen experts and practitioners explain why service to teens in this age range is so important, and how you can enhance your collection and services to accommodate and win over this important group. Topics range from understanding older teen needs and creating a vital teen space to building and promoting a winning collection. Brimming with valuable insights, fresh ideas, as well as nuts and bolts directions, this is a must-read for all librarians who work with older teens. While libraries have traditionally offered diverse materials, services, and programs for children and even young teens based on their developmental needs, older teens (aged 16-19) are too often left out, with the excuse that older teens aren't interested. On the threshold of adulthood, these young people have immense informational needs that libraries are in a wonderful position to supply: information about colleges, about work, about relationships, and leisure activities. In this lively and practical guide, notable teen experts and stellar practitioners Sheila Anderson, Amy Alessio, Patrick Jones, Robin Lupa, and Kristine Mahood explain why service to teens in this age range is so important, and how you can enhance your collection and services to accommodate and win over this important group. Topics range from understanding older teen needs and creating a vital teen space to building and promoting a winning collection. Brimming with valuable insights, fresh ideas, as well as nuts-and-bolts directions, this is a must-read for all librarians who work with older teens.

The authors guide both librarians and administrators to make promises for the future and present a strategy for keeping those promises so that young adult audiences can become active library and community participants. From building partnerships to implementing successful programs to incorporating technology that helps teens assume leadership and responsibility, this is an inspiring yet practical take on what it means to "get it right" for teens in the library.

Librarians have historically relied on the perceived "value or goodness" of the public library as a means to garner financial support. Yet it is now becoming apparent that public libraries must demonstrate, using an acceptable methodology, the economic value of the library and its services. A compendium of valuable information about the research and literature surrounding this issue of demonstration, this book reviews the various approaches that have been used in assessing the public library's value. Matthews suggests methods for a library to develop better means of communicating with their funding decision-makers and other stakeholders. By analyzing input, process, and output measures, and combining these with measures of the economic and social benefits produced by the library, he offers a portfolio of approaches that enable today's librarian to both measure effectiveness and to communicate its value to its stakeholders--the communities it serves.

The public library as a "community facility dedicated to...service to everyone" is finding it impossible to meet the increasing demands made by a varied and shifting clientele--students require more space, more copies of books, more specialized services; educators wish to exploit the public library as a means of improving the educational and cultural opportunities of low-income groups; sophisticated industrial complexes demand high-level reference services and research resources; general readers want to retain the traditional image of the public library as a "refuge for the bookworm and the browser." Each of the distinguished contributors to this volume has dealt with an issue directly related to his or her own field of specilization, providing insights into the educational, cultural, demographic, political, and financial aspects of the urban public library.This book serves as an important beginning point in a necessary re-examination of the role of the public library in a changing urban scene and should prove to be basic reading for the librarian, the library administrator, and the sociologist. The book will also be of value to social and political scientists, city planners, and economists who are concerned with the character of cities and the future of libraries whose milieu is the city.

Student success comprises a complex system of expectations and measurements. Designed for school library media specialists, this book focuses on library media programs and examines the factors that influence student achievement. Through a presentation of research trends and actual practice, award-winning author Lesley Farmer demonstrates how media specialists can encourage student achievement by creating an environment conducive to learning. Farmer takes a systems approach, illuminating how each stakeholder in a student's education contributes to and impacts student achievement. Chapters include: What Defines Student Achievement? Research in the School Library World Internal Factors: The School Library Media Program School Factors Towards Student Achievement Student Factors Towards Student Achievement Societal Factors Towards Student Achievement Focus on Reading: Who's a Good Reader? Next Steps In addition to research findings about library programming, Farmer examines collection resources, facilities, staffing, curricula, instruction, reading issues, services, products, and administration. Key research studies are cited throughout the work to optimize referral to relevant information. This is an invaluable guide for school library media specialists, as well as for faculty and students in LIS and education programs.

Library Journal and other review journals raved about the first edition of this now-standard guide. This new edition has been completely updated and expanded to include crucial new information on digital records, encoded archival description (EAD), copyright issues, post-9/11 security concerns, and international perspectives on these issues - content that makes this manual essential for archivists of all backgrounds. Setting up archives, appraisal and accessioning, acquisition strategies and policies, arrangement description, reference and access, preservation, and electronic records are just some of the topics covered in both theory and practice in this clear, comprehensive, and practical guide. 'Hunter has provided the profession with a text that is best suited for beginning archivists and graduate students in archival studies or library science programs...I recommend the text to academic librarians who are responsible for developing an archives for their institution, yet are not acquainted with the field of archives and manuscripts' - "Journal of Academic Librarianship".

Facing budget and personnel cuts, special librarians increasingly need to justify the cost of library operations--often even the library's existence. Expert Joseph Matthews illustrates how to evaluate library services and successfully communicate the library's value to upper management.

Describing how value is added and how it can best be measured, Matthews explains different types of evaluations (models, implications, and methods) and a variety of measures (input, process, and output). He shows how a cost-benefit analysis and a library balanced scorecard, along with effective communication, can position the library as a value center rather than a cost center. A glossary, list of recommended reading, and an appendix (including a library benefits survey and a table of measures with respective definitions) make this the ultimate means of establishing the value of your library--an essential guide no special librarian should be without

Learn how to promote your library and become an influential player in your school and district. As the school librarian, you play a critical role in impacting student achievement. Learn how to develop your influence and make an even bigger difference both inside and outside the library media center.

The dissemination of information is conceivable only through a network of a stable public library system which in turn acts as the tributary of knowledge. This book discusses all the important aspects of a public library system including the historical factors responsible for the growth of libraries and also the specific problems related to the systematic working of libraries.

The first of its kind, this readable, hands-on book will help you to see your library and the staff that runs it in a new, more strategic way. Experienced librarian and coach Ruth Metz outlines a focused and results-oriented game plan for achieving performance excellence from all staff members, from top to bottom, through a coaching style of management. By viewing the people you work with as a team, you can transform the work environment and, ultimately, the services you are providing your customers. Through real world examples, coaching scenarios, and ""pathways to excellence"" that are specific to library work, you will learn how to: Be both a coach and a player - the terminology and techniques; Recognize and utilize the abilities and talents of staff at all levels; Guide individuals toward a unified goal; Encourage innovation, flexibility, and problem-solving; Spotlight the big-win opportunities; Complete with reader-friendly tables and annotated references, Coaching in the Library is for any library that wants to put the potential of all staff on the playing field in order to achieve peak performance.

Whodunit? Taking the ""mystery"" out of serving mystery fans in the library, authors and avid mystery fans John Charles, Joanna Morrison, and Candace Clark uncover the evidence in this comprehensive and fun readers' advisory. Covering the popular mystery genre from collection development to programming and marketing tips, this is the one-stop source for librarians and mystery readers alike. In this handy reference, you'll find an introduction to the world of mystery, a step-by-step guide on how to interview readers in order to match their tastes with stories (""Do you like noir or cozy?""), programming ideas, marketing strategies, and collection development tips on the sticky issues of weeding, paperbacks, and obtaining out-of-print titles. The second half of the book presents two winning booklists organized by themes (e.g., Classic, Ecclesiastical, Cozy) and subgenres (e.g., Private Investigator, Legal Thrillers, True Crime). And a where-to-go guide for more specifics includes reference information, review literature, specialty publishers, and Websites. Packed with information, this user-friendly book will help you to: Develop your understanding of the mystery world - its awards (Edgar and Dagger), popular publications (The Drood Review and Mystery Review), hot authors, and more; Build an enticing mystery collection; Make insightful mystery recommendations to curious readers; Organize discussion groups and author programs; Market the library and its mystery center; This latest installment in the popular ALA Readers' Advisory series offers a crash course in the world of mystery. If you'd like to create a dynamic mystery center in your library but don't know where to start, solve the puzzle using the clues in The Mystery Readers' Advisory.

Being funny can be intimidating, but with tricks of the trade on how to warm up an audience, choose age-appropriate material, use facial and vocal expressions to lure them in, and select props, you're on your way to the comedy club. Young children won't be able to hold in their giggles after such programs as "The World's Worst Ice Cream Store, " and intermediate-age school kids will love to take part in book-theme parties in honor of Captain Underpants or such special celebrations as "Boo Ha Ha." Even those middle and high school students, once convinced to participate in "Comedy Club" (a program that combines reading and "stand-up") or "Spoonerisms" (a wordplay game), will be rolling in the aisles. An annotated bibliography lists more than 300 of the funniest books available, sorted by category and age, including picture books, fractured fairy tales, folklore, and the funniest children's authors and illustrators. A complete resource for getting children and young adults snickering and having fun in the stacks with innovative programming that uses humor, Something Funny helps you to connect with children and young adults and, along the way, make the library the hippest place in town!

Picking up where the best-selling Bare Bones Young Adult Services left off, this exciting new book has an ambitious intent - to help libraries, with their communities, develop their teens into healthy, competent, and caring adults. Applying the tools in New Planning for Results to the goals outlined in Information Power, YALSA has teamed up with writer Patrick Jones to provide direction on how to deliver YA service that is proactive and holistic. Approaching the service mission holistically means linking the developmental needs and assets of these young adults with the overarching goals of the library. With passionate, authority, this book presents a checklist for strengthening community-wide bonds to young adults through policies, collections, programs, services, technology, facilities, hours, and, most importantly, human resources. This book changes the context for thinking about services to young adults in school and public libraries from a reactive series of programs aimed at increasing use of the library, to a well-planned initiative that focuses on outcomes. Laying down twelve goals and ten core values of YA service, New Directions inspires you to renew your commitment and: - Start from scratch or revitalize your existing program - Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate top-flight services to young adults - Create a partnership with the young adult population in your neighborhood - Boost the achievement and esteem of these young students - Allocate and cultivate resources to meet real needs Eighteen real-life success stories show programs from around the country that have engaged their kids - in drama groups, in homework programs, in college planning programs - all with tangible outcomes. Packed with useful resources, the appendix includes YALSA's key action areas and guidelines, adolescent developmental assets from the Search Institute, and standards for information literacy. All of these resources come together to help you foster a thriving young adult constituency and a new direction for your services.

As prices of traditional library materials increase, and space to house them shrinks, savvy school library media specialists are creating cyber libraries, or school libraries on the Internet. These libraries offer students and their parents 24-hour access and are invaluable for providing up-to-date information in a way traditional materials cannot. This guide outlines the steps library media specialists can take to create a cyber library, provide content and policies for use, and maintain it for maximum efficiency. Craver justifies the need for cyber libraries in the 21st century, and how they can help librarians to meet the standards in Information Power (1998). She explains the different types of cyber libraries available, along with their advantages and disadvantages. She discusses how to construct them using portals or by acquiring fee-based cyber libraries, and what policies should be in place to protect both the school and its students. Also included are instructions for establishing remote access to subscription databases, creating cyber reading rooms, and providing instructional services to student users. Once a cyber library is created, it must be maintained and evaluated to keep it useful and current, and this book provides guidelines to do so. Finally, there is a chapter on promoting the cyber library, so the school community is aware of its features and participates in its growth process. No school library should be without this volume!

Today's researchers have access to more information than ever before. Yet the new material is both overwhelming in quantity and variable in quality. How can scholars survive these twin problems and produce groundbreaking research using the physical and electronic resources available in the modern university research library? In Digital Paper, Andrew Abbott provides some much-needed answers to that question. Abbott tells what every senior researcher knows: that the research process in such materials is not a mechanical, linear process, but a thoughtful and adventurous journey through a non-linear world. He breaks library research down into seven basic and simultaneous tasks: design, search, scanning/browsing, reading, analyzing, filing, and writing. He moves the reader through the phases of research, from confusion to organization, from vague idea to polished result. He teaches how to evaluate data and prior research; how to follow a trail to elusive treasures; how to organize a project; when to start over; when to ask for help. He shows how an understanding of scholarly values, a commitment to hard work, and the flexibility to change direction combine to enable the researcher to turn a daunting mass of found material into an effective paper or thesis. More than a mere how-to manual, Abbott's guidebook helps teach good habits for acquiring knowledge, the foundation of knowledge worth knowing. Those looking for ten easy steps to a perfect paper may want to look elsewhere. But serious scholars, who want their work to stand the test of time, will appreciate Abbott's unique, forthright approach and relish every page of Digital Paper.

Napster, CONFU, and the DMCA . . . No, these are not foreign languages but cases, guidelines, and laws that as an information specialist you need to know about. The lessons learned from the Napster case, for example, can help you to put the fine print on intellectual property law into context. This book by intellectual property expert Timothy Wherry is an authoritative, quick reference for the thorny issues of copyright, trademarks, and patents. With detailed explanations of the various types of intellectual property, how they differ, what they cover, and how the protections affect library work and services to customers, this is a book you will turn to every day for answers. Packed with useful resources, including lists of patent and trademark depositories, useful Websites, and an entire chapter in Q & A form, The Librarian's Guide to Intellectual Property in the Digital Age protects you from overstepping the bounds of legal use in a fast-changing, digital environment.

This book will help you to not only answer this question, but also prove your findings. Walking you through the process of assessing if and how well students and library users are learning from educational resources, two expert academic library experts team up to provide An Action Plan for Outcomes Assessment in Your Library. This comprehensive plan, the first of its kind and specifically for librarians, provides data collection tools for measuring both learning and research outcomes that link outcomes to user satisfaction. After all, it is the users who will benefit from learning, and so their experiences are integral to the way libraries measure their services and performance. This practical, how-to manual, with detailed case studies from actual outcomes assessment programs, will prepare you to: Plan an outcomes assessment strategy for your library that is in line with accrediting guidelines; Execute your plan by identifying user needs, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting your findings; Measure the value of the services you are providing and identify areas for improvement; Armed with hands-on tools and real-life examples, you will be inspired to get a handle on how successful your services are in the context of what your students and users need and want. Included are policies of major accrediting bodies for higher education, guidelines developed by the Association for Research and College Libraries, and a chapter that applies academic library outcomes assessment to public libraries. Libraries can maintain accreditation and funding, assess student and user learning, and determine the library's role in graduate and faculty research as they demonstrate their effectiveness using outcomes assessment. This innovative action plan provides tools and data collection instruments that is based on the latest research and adaptable to any type of library.

This latest collaboration in the Library Programs that Inspire series explores library media center events that target the high school age audience. Detailing particular methods to inspire high school students to appreciate and use the library media center, this guide provides compelling evidence of the potential for young adult programming as an effective teaching tool. This practical guide provides everything you need to plan, execute, and evaluate events that will get the attention of even your least motivated high school students. Emphasizing the benefits of effective programs, the authors offer creative techniques to enhance the curriculum, improve school library media center use, broaden student interest, and inspire lifelong learning. Programming foundations and examples from across the nation, as well as practical advice and helpful resources, provide the necessary inspiration to help you team up with educators, parents, and student volunteers to create unique, effective, and memorable events that will motivate your teenagers to fully take advantage of all that the school library offers.

From psychological suspense and historical fiction to "gentle reads" and romance, this new guide from expert readers' advisor Joyce Saricks explores the many worlds of fiction. Covering fifteen popular genres (including often-neglected literary titles), each chapter includes a definition of the genre, its characteristics and appeal elements (such as character development, story line, and frame), and its key authors and subgenres. To help you prepare for the eternal "can you recommend a good book on..." question, there are also reader interview tips, reference sources, and guidelines on how to prepare for the questions you will undoubtedly get. Packed with specific examples, this user-friendly and readable guide will help you to: * Learn which elements of fiction actually entice readers. * Distinguish the expectations of readers of different genres. * Uncover "Sure Bets" - titles that consistently appeal to a variety of readers. * Master the ins and outs of the readers' advisory interview. Provocative and spirited, The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction offers hands-on strategies for librarians who want to become expert at figuring out what their readers are looking for and ho

A myriad of exciting opportunities for collaboration and networking await you! This guide shows you how to identify and optimize partnerships that benefit your library media center and help you build a true learning community. In addition to theoretical foundations of collaboration and learning, hands-on guidance is given for teaming up with school members, families, universities, libraries, community agencies, professional organizations, and businesses. A valuable professional reference for school librarians, administrators, teachers, and anyone seeking the skills and intellectual background to nurture a culture of lifelong learning and assume the lead in taking the library media center to the next level.

Flexible scheduling and flexible access have been around for years, but students in many school systems have yet to reap their benefits. Full of fresh perspectives, this easy-to-follow guide gives you an overview of the concepts and then takes you step-by-step through the process of implementing them in your school to create lifelong learners, readers, and library users of your students. An excellent tool for clarifying to a school community the win-win situation created by these changes.

Changes in technology, in society, and in your role as a library media specialist have spawned hundreds of new words, phrases, and acronyms. Where can you find their meanings? This dictionary was created to provide a single source of definitions for the language specifically associated with your profession. It covers all the basic terminology-words, phrases, and acronyms-you need for the daily operation of a K-12 school library media center. There are terms related to librarianship and publishing (access point, inquiry learning, incunabula, taxonomy), technology (gigabyte, microLIF), awards (Edwards, Alex, Children's Choices), organizations (Children's Book Council, LITA), celebrations (Children's Book Week), and more. Practical, thorough, and easy to use, this book is a ready-reference you'll use again and again.

Here is everything you need to plan, execute, and assess school library events. Aside from emphasizing the benefits of effective programs, the authors offer details on providing support services to enrich programming. Several examples of successful programs from across the nation provide the necessary inspiration to create your own imaginative and memorable events-events that motivate young students to fully take advantage of media center resources.