Am. Library Association

A box full of tales; easy ways to share library resources through story boxes.

Macmillan, a librarian, storyteller, and American Sign Language interpreter, describes how to use story boxes to create children's programs at a library. She explains what a storytime resource box is made of and gives 50 examples that can be used with toddlers, preschoolers, and families. She outlines how staff members can put boxes together based on a theme, use books, flannelboards, music, crafts, puppets, fingerplays, and other props, and rotate them within the library system to be adapted by different librarians. Each example lists books, props, and other resources to go along with its theme. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The library security and safety guide to prevention, planning, and response.

Library security consultant Kahn discusses security risk management for libraries and other cultural institutions. She addresses building security in chapters that discuss surveying exteriors and grounds, interior public areas, and staff-only areas. She then turns to security for collections and equipment, paying individual attention to security for general collections; special collections and archives; art, objects, and exhibits; local and remote storage facilities; and computer equipment, electronic data, and websites. She also addresses property and casualty insurance in this section. Finally, she includes chapters on patron and staff safety and on the security and safety departments. Appendixes provide checklists, sample forms, and information on resource organizations. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Managing electronic government information in libraries; issues and practices.

Morrison (Indiana University library) provides a guide from the ALA's Government Documents Round Table with the resources librarians can use to connect patrons to information via government sites and documents. Divided into two sections, the first discusses historical contexts and contemporary issues of electronic government collections, while the second gives practical guidance for implementing and improving services. The book specifically provides descriptions and examples for cataloguing government documents, suggests outreach methods for sharing resources internally and externally, and recommends practical tips for keeping up with electronic government information. Although intended for libraries of all types, this title would be particularly useful for reference, map, digital, and technical services librarians. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The Newbery and Caldecott awards; a guide to the medal and honor books, 2008 ed.

Bound to be a sure-fire attraction for children and their families, the books listed here include titles dating as far back as 1922 for those receiving the Newberry Award and to 1938 for those receiving the Caldecott Awards. Entries, which include the "honors" winners as well as those receiving the medal, include title, author and publisher and a precise summary of content and themes. Articles explain the authorization process and terms and the art (and science) behind the picture book. The collection closes with lists of media used in Caldecott picture books and a brief but concise glossary. This is invaluable to teachers and librarians for quick reference, collection work, curriculum develop and readers' advisories, but parents and others concerned with what children read should also find the listings very helpful. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The quality library; a guide to staff-driven improvement, better efficiency, and happier customers.

This guide to a quality library offer advices and methodology to pinpoint trouble areas and improve systems and processes, including giving administrators an understanding of their supplies and customers, empowering front-line staff to make improvements and better decisions, and boosting employee and team morale. The title offers practical advice and examples to show how process improvement works, and includes multiple figures, appendices, worksheets, and a glossary. Tools are also included for staff to measure the performance of new processes, allowing the library a means of quantifying their effects. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Reference sources for small and medium-sized libraries, 7th ed.

The seventh edition of this resource for librarians has been expanded to included updated information on resources such as the Internet, CD-ROMs, electronic databases and Web 2.0. Editor O'Gorman (U. of Dayton) is an experienced reference coordinator, and contributions are neatly and instinctively arranged by topic, recommended selections and annotated sources. Librarians and administrators will be pleased to know that this book has been commissioned by the American Library Association, and is geared toward making smaller research institutions more competitive in the Computer Age. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Research-based readers' advisory.

Intended for librarians, library staff doing readers' advisory, and LIS students, this book explores research on readers' advisory services both from the perspective of a review of new research and the librarian's view, which involves practical issues. Comprehensive and broad-ranging chapter topics include an introductory section on the state of readers' advisory services followed by thematic chapters looking at adult readers, nonfiction readers and nonfiction advisory, audiovisual advisory, children and young adult readers and readers' advisory, book groups, romance and genre readers, the readers' advisory interview, tools for advisors, cataloguing and classification, and collection development and management. Each chapter is divided into two sections: first, the review which explores the research in an area of readers' advisory services, and second, a librarian's view, written by a practicing librarian and readers' advisor, discussing the practical aspects of the topic. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)