Escape Rooms and Other Immersive Experiences in the Library
Escape Rooms and Other Immersive Experiences in the Library

Author: Ellyssa Kroski

Publisher: American Library Association

Published: 2018-12-20

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 0838917674

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By one count, there are more than 7,200 escape room environments in 1,445 cities in 105 countries. So why not in libraries? Sharpening participants’ problem solving and collaboration skills by mashing up real-time adventure, immersive theater, gaming, and old-fashioned entertainment, they’re a natural for libraries. And, as Kroski demonstrates in this fun guide, they’re feasible for a range of audiences and library budgets. Whether you’re already an escape room aficionado who’s eager to replicate the experience at your own institution, or an intrigued novice looking for ways to enliven your programing, Kroski has got you covered. This book discusses the differences between escape rooms, which are highly structured, and immersive experiences, which are more casual;shows how these unique experiences can be used to teach information literacy skills, add unique youth programming, bring adults into the library, and instruct patrons about library resources in the form of puzzles and challenges;profiles several successful library projects, from large scale programs like New York Public Libraries’ Find the Future: The Game to smaller ones like Search for Alexander Hamilton;offers dozens of programming ideas and examples that can be tailored to fit a variety of libraries and budgets; andprovides information on game kits available for purchase, tips for partnering with local Escape Room businesses, and links to additional resources. With the assistance of Kroski’s guide, libraries everywhere can offer their own take on these exciting forms of entertainment, engagement, and education.

American Reference Books Annual
American Reference Books Annual

Author: Juneal M. Chenoweth

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2019-06-24

Total Pages: 577

ISBN-13: 1440869146

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Read professional, fair reviews by practicing academic, public, and school librarians and subject-area specialists that will enable you to make the best choices from among the latest reference resources. This newest edition of American Reference Books Annual (ARBA) provides librarians with insightful, critical reviews of print and electronic reference resources released or updated in 2017-2018, as well as some from 2019 that were received in time for review in the publication. By using this invaluable guide to consider both the positive and negative aspects of each resource, librarians can make informed decisions about which new reference resources are most appropriate for their collections and their patrons' needs. Collection development librarians who are working with limited budgets—as is the case in practically every library today—will be able to maximize the benefit from their monetary resources by selecting what they need most for their collection, while bypassing materials that bring limited value to their specific environment.

Beyond Reality
Beyond Reality

Author: Kenneth J. Varnum

Publisher: American Library Association

Published: 2019-03-04

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 0838918093

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A perfect introduction to the topic, this book will encourage libraries to look beyond their own reality and adapt the ideas inside.

Homeschooling and Libraries
Homeschooling and Libraries

Author: Vera Gubnitskaia

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2020-04-30

Total Pages: 287

ISBN-13: 1476674906

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As families are looking for better ways to educate their children, more and more of them are becoming interested and engaged in alternative ways of schooling that are different, separate, or opposite of the traditional classroom. Homeschooling has become ever more creative and varied as families create custom-tailored curricula, assignments, goals, and strategies that are best for each unique child. This presents a multitude of challenges and opportunities for information institutions, including public, academic, school, and special libraries. The need for librarians to help homeschool families become information and media literate is more important than ever. This collection of essays provides a range of approaches and strategies suggested by skilled professionals as well as veteran homeschool parents on how to best serve the diverse needs and learning experiences of homeschooled youth. It includes information on needs assessments for special needs students, gifted students, and African American students; advice on how to provide support for the families of homeschoolers; case studies; and information on new technologies that could benefit libraries and the homeschooler populations that they serve.

Great Library Events
Great Library Events

Author: Mary Grace Flaherty

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2021-04-17

Total Pages: 143

ISBN-13: 1538137062

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Libraries and library staff are constantly in the process of expanding and adapting services in order to remain responsive to their varied user communities. As part of this trend, there is an increasing emphasis on providing a wide variety of programs and events; this service expansion has been met with broad enthusiasm by library users everywhere. Great Library Events: From Planning to Promotion to Evaluation, with its holistic approach to program provision, serves as an indispensable companion for anyone responsible for event or program planning in their organization. The guide moves through a program’s lifecycle, beginning with the initial steps of defining an event’s scope, ensuring inclusivity, and constructing measurable objectives. It follows with practical considerations such as finding funding, publicizing, assessing outcomes, reporting, and using data to keep the program cycle going. To support each of these steps, and to help ensure successful initiatives, practical examples, templates, and tools are provided throughout. While this book is aimed at library managers and programming staff, it will be helpful for anyone responsible for event or program planning in their organization, whether they are new to the task or seasoned professionals.

Terrific Makerspace Projects
Terrific Makerspace Projects

Author: Juan Denzer

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2020-08-12

Total Pages: 135

ISBN-13: 1538131838

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Terrific Makerspace Projects: A Practical Guide for Librarians features fifteen customizable projects that were designed as projects created by librarians/makerspace facilitators, rather than projects in which librarians guided others (makerspace users). These projects were showcased during library events with the goal of promoting the makerspace, as well as other library services, while using them to build connections both within and external to the library. This book outlines maker projects in detail and provides plenty of photos and resources so readers can recreate, customize, and implement them. People at all skill levels in every type of makerspace will find something they can try, with projects that range from simple and low-tech to more complex and tech-heavy. Most projects are inexpensive, taking advantage of free online tools, upcycled or repurposed materials, and low cost electronics such as Arduinos. Each project can be approached as an offering for makerspace visitors or can be created by library employees themselves as tools to engage in outreach and promote the makerspace, library services, the institution, and more. Every project has been created and tested in a real library setting by the authors, who present lessons learned, possible variations, and different ideas on how to implement the projects to their fullest extent. Explore the idea of using the makerspace to highlight the value of other library services, or simply find new and fun ways to engage with your users. The book also offers suggestions on how to be a great maker, and tips on makerspace safety, finding low-cost materials, and more. Whether you’re just beginning your makerspace or looking for fresh ideas for your established space, this book has something to offer.

New Trends and Challenges in Information Science and Information Seeking Behaviour
New Trends and Challenges in Information Science and Information Seeking Behaviour

Author: Octavia-Luciana Madge

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-07-16

Total Pages: 170

ISBN-13: 3030684660

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This book presents a series of recent studies that introduce current topics and novel concepts in the field of information science. Among the chapters are discussions of the contribution of information science to society in the dual context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Agenda 2030, some negative aspects of information behaviour, including criminal activities in the dark web and the hikikomori phenomenon, the hot issues of fake news and hate speech from a library and information science perspective, gamification in libraries, and the new concepts of ‘jamography’ and ‘disnormative information’. Intended for information specialists and researchers, librarians and library and information science students, the book analyses how people use information, what their information needs are and how these needs are satisfied in today’s digital world. The book can also serve as a useful reference for the education and training of students and specialists in library and information services.

32 Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Programs for Libraries
32 Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Programs for Libraries

Author: Ellyssa Kroski

Publisher: ALA Editions

Published: 2021-06-18

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 9780838949481

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Packed with real-world ideas drawn from an assortment of different libraries, alongside best practices for hygiene, implementation, and marketing, this resource will assist libraries in offering these exciting forms of programming to their patrons.