News

Memphis Mayor Scheming To Shutter Five “Neglected” PL Branches
In a belt-tightening move, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton is maneuvering to close five Memphis PL branches he claims are “neglected.” The local press, however, asserts they are neighborhood anchors. » » »

Ex Libris Adds Google Book Search Tools
Google’s tools have entered the ILS field: Ex Libris has incorporated Google Book Search’s “About this Book” info into its products. » » »

NYPL Short Lists Finalists for Young Literary Lions Award
The New York Public Library has revealed the names of the five contenders for its Young Lions Fiction Award. “The Young Lions Fiction Award was conceived to highlight the diverse talent of young writers working in our city and our country today,” said NYPL president Paul LeClerc. » » »

Blogs

RA Crossroads No. 3

Time Travel and Ronald Mallett
Ronald Mallett's NPR appearance leads me down a winding path. I'm a sucker for a good time-travel story, even if the logic of the Terminator movies confuses me. So when I heard Ronald Mallett, a professor of physics at the University of Connecticut, interviewed on This American Life, I was both fascinated and charmed. » » »

Wyatt's World

Reading To Remember—Arthur C. Clarke

2001: A Space Odyssey (Roc: Penguin)

Childhood's End (Del Rey)

The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke (Orb Books )

Greetings, Carbon-Based Bipeds!: Collected Essays, 1934-1998 (St. Martin's: Griffin)

Rendezvous with Rama (Spectra)

Click for more lists

Review

Friedman, Matthew J., M.D. & Laurie B. Slone. Da Capo Lifelong. May 2008. c.300p. index. ISBN 978-1-60094-054-5. pap. $14.95. PSYCH

This reviewer first became acutely aware of both the devastating effects of the conflicts in the Middle East and the shortcomings of our government in addressing the needs of our surviving service members through Penny Coleman’s Flashback: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide, and the Lessons of Vietnam. Here, Friedman, M.D., and Slone (VA National Ctr. for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs) further help readers understand and support our service members. They begin with a chapter titled “Understanding the Emotional Cycle of Deployment,” progress through “Common Reactions to the Trauma of War,” and conclude with chapters on community support and support for “those facing unique challenges.” The reader is able to share a journey with three service members and their respective families as they encounter new situations, struggles, and opportunities. Far more than a practical guide, this is an informative, insightful, and riveting text that should be required reading for everyone because no one is left untouched by war. Essential for all libraries.—Melody Ballard, Pima Cty. P.L., Tucson

Xpress Reviews

Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
Shirley Abbott's The Future of Love, Jack Kornfield's The Wise Heart, and Jaed Coffin's A Chant To Soothe Wild Elephants, plus other reviews just in!
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Highlights

A Mixed Ballot Bag: Library Referenda 2007
Library referenda appearing on ballots are down, but 2007 nonetheless proved a banner year, with operating and building money approved at a high rate. » » »

Debuts Unlimited: First Novels
Is the next literary god or bestseller machine lurking among these 159 first novels? Plus, LJ takes a look at last season’s top debuts » » »

Blatant Berry: Correct the Din of the Spin
With insults and accusations clouding the real issues, Berry contends that librarians have the perfect opportunity to present the facts before the upcoming election. » » »

NextGet: What’s Your Role?
Reference librarian Cari Dubiel contends that rather than trying to compete with the Borders and Blockbusters of the world, “why not focus on better marketing the services we offer that are unique and different?” » » »

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