News

ALA Pushing Gaming at Annual Conference
To launch a new “full-scale initiative to promote gaming in libraries,” the American Library Association’s summer Annual in Anaheim will host a new Gaming Pavilion, featuring “electronic game publishers and platform companies, publishers of board games and card games, gaming table and furniture suppliers, and others.” » » »

ProQuest Debuts Safari Select
ProQuest has debuted Safari Select, an exclusive online collection of more than 400 technical ebooks from top publishers including For Dummies, David Pogue’s Missing Manuals, Visual QuickStart Guides, and more. » » »

Guillermo del Toro Directing The Hobbit
New Line Cinema has finalized an agreement with Guillermo del Toro to direct the big screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit along with a sequel. The deal ends an ongoing drama from a law suit between New Line and Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, who will executive produce the films. » » »

Editorial: Censorship Alert at Johns Hopkins
Fast-reacting librarians succeeded in reversing an act of narrow-minded self-censorship by administrators of the POPLINE reproductive health database. » » »

Blogs

Wyatt's World

Women’s Fiction—Five Sure Bets

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch (Little, Brown)
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin's)
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (but read Good in Bed first) (Atria)
Mermaids in the Basement by Michael Lee West (HarperCollins)
The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer (Riverhead)

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Review

Pelzer, Dave. Moving Forward: Taking the Lead in Your Life.

Center Street. Jun. 2008. c.192p. ISBN 978-1-59995-065-5. $22.99. PSYCH

While many self-help gurus claim to have influenced millions of people’s lives, Pelzer actually has. A Child Called “It,” his best-selling memoir about surviving a horrifically abusive upbringing, has practically become a textbook in high schools across the country. Here, he also strives to help readers become successful against the odds, touting a commonsense yet compelling message: believe in yourself, let go of the past, take responsibility, and have faith. The mostly three-part chapters elaborate on his philosophy, share anecdotes from his life, and feature a list of questions for readers to ask themselves about the chapter’s teachings. Pelzer’s writing style is a long way from elegant. Conjuring the military man he was, it is straightforward and commanding and reflects the years Pelzer has spent analyzing his past to put it in order. The strength of this book is his ability to overcome and imbue others with hope. Recommended for all public libraries, especially where Pelzer’s previous books were popular.—Mary E. Jones, Los Angeles P.L.

Xpress Reviews

Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books
Jeffrey Lewis's Adam the King (a starred review!), Susan Powter's The Politics of Stupid: The Cure for Obesity, and from Tokypop, Sho Murase (text& illus.) & Matt Anderson's (text) Me2, plus other reviews just in! » » »

Highlights

The Parallel Information Universe
Mike Eisenberg, University of Washington dean emeritus and professor, analyzes virtual worlds like Second Life, social networking on MySpace and Facebook, and personal digital devices, determining their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to libraries. » » »

L.A. Confidential: LJ’s BEA Breakdown of Programs and Events
Attending BookExpo America? Use our snappy preview to help plan your schedule. And you’re all invited to drop by LJ’s huge, new Librarians Lounge to rest your aching feet, get some refreshments, and enjoy special activities like cocktail receptions and author signings—plus enter for a chance to win a Kindle. You’ll find us in the Concourse Foyer between the South and West Halls. LJ’s Librarians Lounge, the original and best—accept no substitutes! » » »