Libraries and Society
Libraries and Society

Author: Wendy Evans

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2011-04-30

Total Pages: 473

ISBN-13: 1780632630

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This book reviews both the historical and future roles that public, private, academic and special libraries have in supporting and shaping society at local, regional, national and international levels. Globalisation, economic turmoil, political and ethnic tensions, rapid technology development, global warming and other key environmental factors are all combining in myriad and complex ways to affect everyone, both individually and collectively. Fundamental questions are being asked about the future of society and the bedrock organisations that underpin it. Libraries and Society considers the key aspects of library provision and the major challenges that libraries – however defined, managed, developed and provided – now face, and will continue to face in the future. It also focuses on the emerging chapter in cultural, economic and social history and the library's role in serving diverse communities within this new era. - Looks at all types of library in a period of major and discontinuous change, tackling the fundamental questions of the future of libraries in the context of major societal, political and environmental issues - Poses important questions for the profession and policy development - Fills a major gap in literature (recent discourse and debate on the future of democracy, for example, the library is rarely included)

The Role of Digital Libraries in a Time of Global Change
The Role of Digital Libraries in a Time of Global Change

Author: Gobinda Chowdhury

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2010-06-18

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 3642136540

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The year 2010 was a landmark in the history of digital libraries because for the first time this year the ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL) and the annual International Conference on Asia-Pacific Digital Libraries (ICADL) were held together at the Gold Coast in Australia. The combined conferences provided an - portunity for digital library researchers, academics and professionals from across the globe to meet in a single forum to disseminate, discuss, and share their valuable - search. For the past 12 years ICADL has remained a major forum for digital library - searchers and professionals from around the world in general, and for the Asia-Pacific region in particular. Research and development activities in digital libraries that began almost two decades ago have gone through some distinct phases: digital libraries have evolved from mere networked collections of digital objects to robust information services designed for both specific applications as well as global audiences. Con- quently, researchers have focused on various challenges ranging from technical issues such as networked infrastructure and the creation and management of complex digital objects to user-centric issues such as usability, impact and evaluation. Simulta- ously, digital preservation has emerged and remained as a major area of influence for digital library research. Research in digital libraries has also been influenced by s- eral socio-economic and legal issues such as the digital divide, intellectual property, sustainability and business models, and so on. More recently, Web 2.

Climate Change and the Role of Education
Climate Change and the Role of Education

Author: Walter Leal Filho

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2019-11-28

Total Pages: 565

ISBN-13: 3030328988

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This book offers insights into the educational dimensions of climate change and promotes measures to improve education in this context. It is widely believed that education can play a key role in finding global solutions to many problems related to climate change. Indeed, education as a process not only helps young people to better understand and address the impact of global warming, but also fosters better attitudes and behaviours to aid efforts towards mitigating climate change and adapting to a changing environment. But despite the central importance of education in relation to climate change, there is a paucity of publications on this theme. Against this background, the book focuses on the educational aspects of climate change and showcases examples of research, projects and other initiatives aimed at educating various audiences. It also provides a platform for reflections on the role education can play in fostering awareness on a changing climate. Presenting a wide range of valuable lessons learned, which can be adapted and replicated elsewhere, the book appeals to educators and practitioners alike.

Global Warming in Local Discourses
Global Warming in Local Discourses

Author: Michael Brüggemann

Publisher:

Published: 2020

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 9781783749393

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Global news on anthropogenic climate change is shaped by international politics, scientific reports and voices from transnational protest movements. This timely volume asks how local communities engage with these transnational discourses.The chapters in this volume present a range of compelling case studies drawn from a broad cross-section of local communities around the world, reflecting diverse cultural and geographical contexts. From Greenland to northern Tanzania, it illuminates how different understandings evolve in diverse cultural and geographical contexts while also revealing some community.

Education and Climate Change
Education and Climate Change

Author: Fernando M. Reimers

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-12-03

Total Pages: 213

ISBN-13: 3030579271

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This open access volume draws on a multidimensional model of educational change, the book reviews the field of climate change education and identifies some of the areas in which past efforts have fallen short in supporting effective pedagogical change at scale. It then formulates an approach to engage university students and faculty in partnering with schools and adult education institutions and directly contribute innovative curricula on climate change. The approach is illustrated with several case studies which present curricula developed to support school-based innovation in the Middle East and in Guatemala, and adult education in Haiti and Pakistan, and educators preparation at the university level. The approach followed to develop innovative curriculum follows five steps: 1) What are the specific impacts of climate change in this jurisdiction? How do they impact various human populations? 2) What knowledge, dispositions and behaviors could mitigate the impact of climate change and are there ways in which changes in the behaviors of populations in this jurisdiction could slow down climate change? 3) What are the means of delivery to reach each of the specific populations in this jurisdiction who needs to be educated on climate change? 4) What curriculum can help educate each population? 5) What role can the institution we are collaborating with play in advancing climate change education in that jurisdiction? The various chapters of the book present the conceptual foundation of these programs and illustrate how these programs respond to specific characteristics of local contexts. These programs focus in schools, non-formal settings and educator preparation institutions. The chapters offer examples of general value beyond the specific contexts for which they were designed, as they illustrate how in order to be optimally useful climate change education needs to be firmly grounded in the specifics of a context and responsive to that context.

Seaweeds and their Role in Globally Changing Environments
Seaweeds and their Role in Globally Changing Environments

Author: Alvaro Israel

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2010-06-18

Total Pages: 473

ISBN-13: 9048185696

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Global warming is accelerating faster than the ability for natural repair, and environmental stresses are damaging ecosystems, all affecting physical and biological systems on Earth. A new Nasa-led study shows that human activity has caused climate changes resulting in permafrost thawing, acid rain, and lower productivity in lakes as well as increased emissions of greenhouse gases, including CO2, N20, CH4, CF3, and CFC. Marine plants play a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine environments, while serving as a source of food for humankind and important chemical compounds. Microalgae and seaweed have enormous potential for reducing global warming and climate change. During photosynthesis algae grow, draw CO2 from the atmosphere, release oxygen, and produce solar biofuel. Experts in the life of marine plant ecosystems in globally changing environments contributed chapters to this book. The target readers are phycologists, ecologists, atmospheric scholars, conservationists, environmentalists, and ecologically aware laymen.

Global Change and the Earth System
Global Change and the Earth System

Author: Will Steffen

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2005-12-29

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 3540266070

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Global Change and the Earth System describes what is known about the Earth system and the impact of changes caused by humans. It considers the consequences of these changes with respect to the stability of the Earth system and the well-being of humankind; as well as exploring future paths towards Earth-system science in support of global sustainability. The results presented here are based on 10 years of research on global change by many of the world's most eminent scholars. This valuable volume achieves a new level of integration and interdisciplinarity in treating global change.

Climate and Social Stress
Climate and Social Stress

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2013-02-14

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 0309278562

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Climate change can reasonably be expected to increase the frequency and intensity of a variety of potentially disruptive environmental events-slowly at first, but then more quickly. It is prudent to expect to be surprised by the way in which these events may cascade, or have far-reaching effects. During the coming decade, certain climate-related events will produce consequences that exceed the capacity of the affected societies or global systems to manage; these may have global security implications. Although focused on events outside the United States, Climate and Social Stress: Implications for Security Analysis recommends a range of research and policy actions to create a whole-of-government approach to increasing understanding of complex and contingent connections between climate and security, and to inform choices about adapting to and reducing vulnerability to climate change.

Technology, Change and the Academic Library
Technology, Change and the Academic Library

Author: Jeremy Atkinson

Publisher: Chandos Publishing

Published: 2020-09-22

Total Pages: 235

ISBN-13: 0128232285

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Massive technological change has been impacting universities and university libraries in recent years. Such change has manifested in technological developments impacting all areas of academic library activity, including systems, services, collections, the physical library environment, marketing, and support for university teaching, learning, research, and administration. Many books and papers have examined these changes from a technical perspective. However, there is little substantive reflection on what technological change means, and how best to get out in front of it, for the academic library. Technology, Change and the Academic Library systematically reflects on technological innovation, the successes, failures and lessons learned, the nature, process and culture of change, and key aspects including impacts on library staff and users, roles and responsibilities, and skills and capabilities. The book takes an international perspective on the massive change currently affecting academic libraries. The title gives an overview and literature review, considers technological innovation and change management, future technologies and future change, and provides information on further reading. Case studies describe the rationale, aims, and objectives for particular technological innovations, and consider methods, outcomes, and recommendations for the future. Finally, the book reflects back on how technological change can best be wrought in academic libraries. - Gives library managers and librarians insight into how best to identify, plan, and implement technological innovation - Provides a wide-ranging overview, literature review, and a series of reflective case studies on technological innovation in libraries - Emphasises current trends, lessons, and critical issues for putting technological innovation into place - Offers an international perspective on technological innovation in the academic library - Uses a critical methodology to reflect on what works, what does not, and how managers can apply lessons from real cases worldwide

Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States
Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States

Author: Peter Backlund

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2009-05

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 143791098X

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This report by the Nat. Science and Tech. Council¿s U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is part of a series of 21 reports aimed at providing current assessments of climate change science to inform public debate, policy, and operational decisions. These reports are also intended to help the CCSP develop future program research priorities. The CCSP¿s guiding vision is to provide the Nation and the global community with the science-based knowledge needed to manage the risks and capture the opportunities associated with climate and related environmental changes. This report assesses the effects of climate change on U.S. land resources, water resources, agriculture, and biodiversity. It was developed with broad scientific input. Illus.