Whither the Postmodern Library?
Whither the Postmodern Library?

Author: William H. Wisner

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2000-05-15

Total Pages: 138

ISBN-13: 9780786407958

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Once upon a time, looking for a book in the library involved an ancient mechanism called the card catalog. Now, most card catalogs are gone forever and patrons gaze at computer screens. As electronic technology becomes more pervasive, or invasive, librarians and library users continue to be embroiled in the controversy over the function of a library and its staff. As "knowledge" loses ground to "information" and techware pre-empts book budgets, library collections are "purged" and reference librarians find their role diminished--except to put more paper in the printer (to serve the voracious wood-pulp appetite of the new paperless society). The essays in this book analyze the complex issues surrounding the postmodern library and its increasingly impersonal nature, as the librarian at its center is more and more frequently marginalized. The insights and observations, both practical and thoughtful are those of a practicing librarian. An annotated bibliography guides the reader to additional important articles and books that explore the future of the library and the role of technology.

Musings, Meanderings, and Monsters, Too
Musings, Meanderings, and Monsters, Too

Author: Martin Raish

Publisher: Scarecrow Press

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13: 9780810847675

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What does the future hold for academic libraries and librarians? These nineteen essays offer some interesting observations and opinions about the problems and issues that are changing academic librarianship as we know it.

The Library
The Library

Author: Arthur der Weduwen

Publisher: Profile Books

Published: 2021-10-14

Total Pages: 425

ISBN-13: 1788163443

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LONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWN A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A sweeping, absorbing history, deeply researched, of that extraordinary and enduring phenomenon: the library' Richard Ovenden, author of Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge under Attack Famed across the known world, jealously guarded by private collectors, built up over centuries, destroyed in a single day, ornamented with gold leaf and frescoes or filled with bean bags and children's drawings - the history of the library is rich, varied and stuffed full of incident. In this, the first major history of its kind, Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen explore the contested and dramatic history of the library, from the famous collections of the ancient world to the embattled public resources we cherish today. Along the way, they introduce us to the antiquarians and philanthropists who shaped the world's great collections, trace the rise and fall of fashions and tastes, and reveal the high crimes and misdemeanours committed in pursuit of rare and valuable manuscripts.

Critical Theory for Library and Information Science
Critical Theory for Library and Information Science

Author: Gloria J. Leckie

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2010-07-26

Total Pages: 349

ISBN-13: 1591589401

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This text provides an overview of major critical theorists from across disciplines—including the humanities, social sciences, and education—that discusses the importance of these critical perspectives for the advancement of LIS research and scholarship. The practical application of library and information science is based upon 75 years of critical theory and thought. Therefore, it is essential for students and faculty in LIS to be familiar with the work of a wide range of critical theorists. The aim of Critical Theory for Library and Information Science: Exploring the Social from Across the Disciplines is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the critical theorists important to the LIS audience, and to give insights into how such theory can be incorporated into actual LIS research and practice. This book consists of chapters on individual critical theorists ranging from Aglietta to Habermas to Spivak, written by an international group of library and information science scholars. Each chapter provides an overview of the theoretical stance and contributions of the theorist, as well as relevant critical commentary. This book will be particularly valuable as a reference text of core readings for those pursuing doctoral or masters level degrees in LIS.

Reading and the Reference Librarian
Reading and the Reference Librarian

Author: Juris Dilevko

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2014-10-16

Total Pages: 271

ISBN-13: 0786480459

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Reference librarians are no longer expected to know much about the information they find; they are merely expected to find it. Technological competency rather than knowledge has become the order of the day. In many respects, reference service has become a matter of typing search terms into a library's online catalog or a web search engine and providing the patron with the results of the search. Calling for a re-intellectualization of reference librarianship, this book suggests another approach to providing quality reference service--reading. The authors surveyed both academic reference librarians and public library reference personnel in the United States and Canada about their reading habits. From the 950 responses, the authors present findings about the extent to which librarians read newspapers, periodicals, fiction and nonfiction, and recount and analyze stories about how reading has made them better librarians. The authors also report that North American professors in the humanities and social sciences believe that the best reference librarians are those who have wide-ranging, subject-based knowledge as opposed to the type of process-based, functional knowledge that is increasingly dominating the curricula of many Library and Information Science programs.

Guide to Security Considerations and Practices for Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collection Libraries
Guide to Security Considerations and Practices for Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collection Libraries

Author: Everett C. Wilkie

Publisher: Assoc of Cllge & Rsrch Libr

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 381

ISBN-13: 0838985920

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The Guide to Security Considerations and Practices for Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collection Libraries is the first such book intended specifically to address security in special collection libraries. Containing nineteen chapters, the book covers such topics as background checks, reading room and general building design, technical processing, characteristics and methods of thieves, materials recovery after a theft, and security systems. While other topics are touched upon, the key focus of this volume is on the prevention of theft of rare materials. The work is supplemented by several appendices, one of which gives brief biographies of recent thieves and another of which publishes Allen s important Blumberg Survey, which she undertook after that thief s conviction. The text is supported by illustrations, a detailed index, and an extensive bibliography. The work, compiled and edited by Everett C. Wilkie, Jr., contains contributions from Anne Marie Lane, Jeffrey Marshall, Alvan Bregman, Margaret Tenney, Elaine Shiner, Richard W. Oram, Ann Hartley, Susan M. Allen, and Daniel J. Slive, all members of the ACRL Rare Books & Manuscripts Section (RBMS) and experts in rare materials and the security of these materials within special collections. This work is essential reading for all those concerned with special collection security, from general library administrators to rare book librarians. -- ‡c From Amazon.com.

Digital Consumers
Digital Consumers

Author: David Nicholas

Publisher: Facet Publishing

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 1856046516

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The information professions - librarianship, archives, publishing and, to some extent, journalism - have been rocked by the digital transition that has led to disintermediation, easy access and massive information choice. Professional skills are increasingly being performed without the necessary context, rationale and understanding. Information now forms a consumer commodity with many diverse information producers engaged in the market. It is generally the lack of recognition of this fact amongst the information professions that explains the difficulties they find themselves in. There is a need for a new belief system that will help information professionals survive and engage in a ubiquitous information environment, where they are no longer the dominant players, nor, indeed, the suppliers of first choice. The purpose of this thought-provoking book is to provide that overarching vision, built on hard evidence rather than PowerPoint 'puff'. The authors of the acclaimed CIBER Google Generation study, and an international, cross-sectoral team of contributors has assembled together for this purpose. Key strategic areas covered include: the digital consumer: an introduction and philosophy the digital information marketplace and its economics: the end of exclusivity the e-shopper: the growth of the informed purchaser the library in the digital age the psychology of the digital information consumer the information-seeking behaviour of the digital consumer: case study - the virtual scholar the Google generation: myths and realities about young people's digital information behaviour trends in digital information consumption and the future where do we go from here? Readership: No information professional or student can afford not to read this far-reaching and important book.

Leadership Issues in the Information Literate School Community
Leadership Issues in the Information Literate School Community

Author: James Henri

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2005-04-30

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 0897899431

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Editors James Henri and Marlene Asselin view the Information Literate School Community (ILSC) as being international. This edited volume of essays from teacher librarians and library educators around the world addresses the issues teacher librarians must face to become leaders in the new worldwide emerging vision of schools. To establish a framework for views expressed by the authors, the editors have identified four major developments that are shaping current thinking and practices of teaching and learning: New learners, New and multiliteracies, New and multiple identities and communities, and Teaching as a political activity. Issues facing teacher librarians as potential school leaders are embedded in these contexts within the essays. The book features chapters written by well-known authors in the field such as Ken Haycock, Leslie Farmer, Ann Clyde, Diane Oberg, James Henri, Marlene Asselin, and others. Chapter topics include discussions of reading and the ILSC, knowledge building and the ILSC, policies in the ILSC, the leadership role of the principal in the ILSC, preparing pre-service teachers for the ILSC, and so on.

The Information Literate School Community 2
The Information Literate School Community 2

Author: James Henri

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2005-06-01

Total Pages: 253

ISBN-13: 178063417X

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This book is both an update and an extension of The Information Literate School Community: Best practice which has been used as a student textbook and practitioners guide in a number of countries. In this new book, the editors have sought to bring together an eclectic but focused group of researchers and practitioners to explore the key aspects of leadership in the information literate school community. The book provides both students and practitioners (principals, teachers, teacher librarians and researchers) with a critical analysis and evaluation of topics such as the concept of an information literate school community; the development of new literacies; research on information literacy; the implementation of an information literacy programme; the importance of reading development; leadership in information literate schools; policy formulation; knowledge management; ICT and student learning; the role of the teacher librarian; and professional development. There is an even balance of research and practice in the book that will appeal to a wide audience because of its currency and topicality.