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November 18, 2008

News

Indiana Librarians Resist Governor’s Proposed Consolidation
Indiana governor Mitch Daniels’s proposed reorganization of library systems by county is raising the hackles of librarians reluctant to surrender local control for what they feel is “one size fits all strategy.” » » »

MaintainIT Releases Third Tech “Cookbook”
MaintainIT has released The Joy of Computing—Planning for Success, the third installment in a series of technology “cookbooks” written by librarians from around the country, featuring current ideas and best practices. » » »


Distance Ed Webcast Draws Librarians
The November 12 webcast, Conveniently Located Everywhere, drew librarians of all types who heard teachers and students discuss the pros and cons of distance ed for advanced library degrees. » » »

Editorial: From Street Lit to Literacy
While it’s always gratifying when a media giant like the NY Times plugs a perceived new library service, that venerable publication is several years too late to the street lit party. Street lit, gaming, and other edutainment, however, needn’t preclude literacy and reading programs. » » »

News of the Week
NY State proposes 20% library funding cuts, LC merging acquisitions and cataloging, Worcester, MA, colleges may aid libraries, and other top stories from the web, book news, and features. » » »

Blogs


E-Views by Cheryl LaGuardia
E-Reference Ratings
If you haven’t yet taken a look at LJ’s new E-Reference Ratings, I urge... Read On »


In the Bookroom by Mirela Roncevic
Introducing E-Reference Ratings
Remember when Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah’s couch and proclaimed he... Read On »


LJ Insider by Norman Oder
Will Journalists Do the Work of Librarians?
Journalists could play a role that librarians long have (or should have) played,... Read On »


Annoyed Librarian by Annoyed Librarian
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love OCLC
To use a prison metaphor, it's clear that librarians dropped the soap decades ago. ... Read On »

Wyatt's World

Alphabet Books for Grown-Ups

  • ABC3D by Marion Bataille (Roaring Brook)
  • Saving the Alphabet by Alan Bigelow
  • Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn (Anchor)
  • The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z! by Steve Martin and Roz Chast (Flying Dolphin)
  • Creatures: An Alphabet for Adults & Worldly Children by Frank Newfield (Groundwood Books)

    For more on Collection Development, click here

    Review

    Koontz, Dean.Shadowfires.

    15 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 17 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4233-5130-6. $122.25; retail ed. ISBN 978-1-4233-5129-0. $46.95; 2 MP3-CDs. library ed. ISBN 978-1-4233-5132-0. $44.25; retail ed. ISBN 978-1-4233-5131-3. $29.95; digital download. ISBN 978-1-4233-5134-4. $44.25. F

    Stalking his future-ex-wife, Eric returns from the dead as a cross between the pre-death Eric and a very large, frightening reptile. This professionally produced Kafkaesque title—typical Koontz—features music opening and closing each disc, ensuring story continuity through the repetition of the final statement of one disc and the beginning of the next. With her clear diction and well-paced and accent-free reading, Sandra Burr (America's Queen) provides especially strong female and “beast” voices; she strains, however, on a couple of the male voices. While not exactly an easy-listening title, this will hold listeners’ attention and works well as an audiobook. » » »

    —Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX

    Highlights

    A Primer in Risk
    Open source is all the rage, but digital services software engineer Jonathan Rochkind says that it’s “new terrain” for many—and may not be for all—and provides a detailed assessment of common open source support scenarios. » » »

    LJ Teaching Award 2008: Rick J. Block
    Columbia University’s Rick J. Block, an adjunct at both the Pratt Institute and Palmer School of Library and Information Science, is the 2008 winner of the ProQuest-sponsored LJ Teaching Award. Come meet him. » » »

    NextGen: Embracing My Authority
    Academic librarian Rebecca Metzger finds that power doesn’t come from an imposing desk in an office but from those you help and the respect and even affection they give in return. » » »

    Reference 2009: E-Reference Ratings
    This year’s annual Reference supplement introduces a new resource that is every reference librarian’s dream: E-Reference Ratings, a master list of nearly 180 subscription-based electronic resources in 14 categories evaluated by scope, writing, design, bells & whistles, ease of use, and linking. To be updated quarterly; you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. » » »

    Behind the Mike: Simon Vance
    You wanted more media coverage, and we listened. Debuting in the November 15 issue, LJ's new Media section covers audio, video, music, and gaming (with blogs online) plus related news, interviews, and more. First up, go “Behind the Mike” with Audie-award winning narrator Simon Vance, interviewed by librarian Ophelia Lo. » » »

  • LJ Alerts

    Paraprofessionals: It's Your Time To Shine
    LJ seeks nominations for its annual Paraprofessional of the Year Award. Sponsored by Brodart Library Supplies & Furnishings, the $1500 award recognizes the essential role of paraprofessionals in providing excellent library service. It places special emphasis on the efforts of the winner to further the role of paraprofessionals in the library profession. The winner also is profiled in LJ's March 1 issue and celebrated at ALA Annual. Deadline is January 19, don't miss it!

    Best Sellers

    Fiction
    4. Tribute Nora Roberts.
    5. Sundays at Tiffany's James Patterson &Gabrielle Charbonnet
    6. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle David Wroblewski
    View All

    Nonfiction
    4. The Last Lecture Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
    5. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia Elizabeth Gilbert
    6. sTORI Telling Tori Spelling
    View All

    Job of the Week

    Library Director
    The Director is the chief executive officer for both the Rochester Public Library (RPL) and the Monroe County Library System (MCLS). The Director oversees a central library, 10 city branches, and services provided to independent public libraries located within Monroe County. The Rochester Public Library has more than 300 employees (full and part time) and an annual budget of $14 million. The Monroe County Library System has a separate annual budget totaling $5 million. View More
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