Newsletter 2671 Issue 2671201041314167

News

Fort Worth Master Plan Calls for Cuts in Order To Grow
The Fort Worth Library's, TX, "20/20 Vision" master plan takes into consideration "today's economic realities" and calls for closing two branches in order to propagate long-term growth, including six new buildings. » » »

Cincinnati Library Staff Decertifies Union After Four Years
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County staffers voted 66-50 to decertify its union after only four years. The library had opposed unionization in part because of its reliance on seniority as a basis for promotion and retention—a challenge for an institution facing change and cutbacks. » » »

Webcast: The Summon Service in Academic Libraries
Academics say that Serial Solutions' Summon service is proving itself an asset, with user searching veering away from Google and back toward full-text databases in the library. A single search box and marketing efforts also have proven allure. Look for more insights in this webcast (or sign up to listen). » » »

Poets House Institute Boosts Poetry's PL Profile
Journalist Marcella Veneziale goes inside the New York-based Poets House to follow its annual National Institute for public librarians, a two-day workshop geared toward increasing poetry's presence in libraries and their collections. The Poets House model guides librarians in collection development, creating book displays, and leading programs such as slams and writing workshops. » » »

Eight Novels Shortlisted for IMPAC Prize
Eight novels, including a first novel that was an LJ Best Book of 2008 (can we pick 'em or what!), have made the final list for the 2010 IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. The finalists were among an initial crop of 156 novels nominated by an international cadre of 163 public library systems. » » »

Blogs

Wyatt's World

Wyatt’s World: Jackie Robinson Reading

• Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season by Jonathan Eig (S&S)
• The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn (Harper Perennial)
• Jackie Robinson: A Biography by Arnold Rampersand (Ballantine)
• I Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson by Jackie Robinson (Harper Perennial)
• Baseball's Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson and His Legacy by Jules Tygiel (Oxford)
• Extra Innings Bonus: Double Play by Robert B. Parker (Berkley)

Review

Furst, Alan. Spies of the Balkans.

Random. Jun. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-4000-6603-2. $26. F

In his intense yet subtle way, Furst (The Spies of Warsaw) takes the reader to the Greek city of Salonika in October 1940, just weeks before the Nazis hoist their occupying flag on the Acropolis the following April. Senior police official Costa Zannis, calm yet passionate in his lusty body and loyal soul, has insinuating ways that lead him to deep and sensitive knowledge that others covet. Just as fascist Italy starts its attack on Greece, Zannis begins working with confederates in other Balkan cities to shepherd escaping German Jews to safety in Turkey until time runs out for them all. VERDICT With ten novels already behind him, Furst has perfected a historical espionage genre that illuminates an ordinary man whom fate has picked for quiet heroism. Furst fans will argue about their favorite books, but the Balkan twists and turns in this masterly triumph of plotting, history, and character development will be a hit this summer. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/10.]

—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA 

Magazine Highlights

Liberation Bibliography
In this manifesto, academic librarian, author, and LJ Peer To Peer Review columnist Barbara Fister makes an impassioned plea to other academics to throw off the shackles of limited information ownership by replacing it with open access. » » »

Collection Development: Quick Fixes
The weak economy has created a boon in do-it-yourself home repairs. Aimed at the amateur homeowner rather than pro contractors, these 28 print and online resources cover basic plumbing, wiring, remodeling, tiling, furniture repair, carpentry, and just about every other facet of fixing up the old homestead. » » »

Behind the Mike: Recorded Books—Standing the Test of Time
Audio books continue to prove popular and easily made the jump from cassette to CD and downloadable. Recorded Books launched in 1979, and despite restructuring, the company continues to thrive. Media Editor Raya Kuzyk chats with RB president Scott Williams. » » »

eReviews: Early European Books: Printed Sources to 1700, Collection 1
For academics, LaGuardia says that ProQuest's latest is a solid ten. "When completed," she says, "EEB is going to fulfill the dreams of scholars around the world." » » »

The Reader's Shelf: Fiction's Fools—Wise and Witty Reads
For April's celebration of fools, Neil Hollands looks for these fellows in historical and fantasy titles, ranging from the secret guild of superspy fools populating Alan Gordon's series to the retelling of King Lear with that fool center court. » » »

LJ Alerts

Cookbook Best Sellers

Job of the Week