Professional Reading Reviews
Volume 30, Number 4, April 2003
With Ken Haycock
Reviews:
Managing
and analyzing your collection: A practical guide for
small libraries and school media centers. /
Carol Doll and Pamela Petrick Barron
Active
learning in the digital age classroom. / Anne
Heide and Dale Henderson
Information
literacy toolkit: Grades Kindergarten-6; Information
literacy toolkit: Grades 7 and up. / Jenny
Ryan and Steph Capra
Plus: New titles
worth a look
Managing
and analyzing your collection: A practical guide for small
libraries and school media centers.
Carol Doll and Pamela Petrick Barron
Reviewed by June Kahler Berry
In this 2002 publication, Doll and Barron have updated and
enlarged their earlier work, Collection analysis for the
school library media center: A practical approach (ALA, 1991,
o.p.). The 1991 volume was written in the time when fewer
school libraries enjoyed automated systems and this title
ably reflects the changes that have occurred over a relative
short span of years. The 2002 title includes much of the
text from the 1991 edition but the inclusion of technological
advances is very evident.
The first chapter provides a brief overview of collection
development but the reader will find no depth of description.
In fact, in the ensuing chapters the only two areas of collection
development that are fully discussed are collection analysis
and weeding. Chapter two details collection analysis in libraries
using automated systems, web site evaluation, and using collection
analysis data to inform administrators and the learning community
of the results. Sampling techniques are explained along with
useful graphs and sample forms. New in this title is a section
on using circulation records in analysis and a fine section
on comparison of information in various formats. The chapter
on weeding includes much of the information from the older
title but does add a new and useful section listing web sites
that the reader may visit for additional information on the
topic. Appendix A describes techniques for collection analysis
in the library that is not automated and Appendix B is a
brief overview of the research in the area.
This title is worthwhile to the librarian who is awed by
the prospect of collection analysis and daunted by the weeding
process. Details are clearly described and the authors are
emphatic about the value of collection analysis to the improvement
of the library program in a small institution. (American
Library Association, 2002. 100pp. $26. 0-8389-0821-7.)
Bottom line: Worthwhile for newcomers to collection analysis
and weeding.
 Buy
online at Amazon.com
Active
learning in the digital age classroom.
Anne Heide and Dale Henderson
Reviewed by Doug Johnson
Aimed directly at the K-12 classroom teacher, the authors
present a comprehensive, readable and broad-scoped overview
of technology use in the classroom. Covering topics ranging
from building-wide planning to computer cleaning, Heide and
Henderson present practical and well-researched ideas, tools
and examples of how classroom teachers can obtain and use
a variety of ICT tools with students. Advocating that content
learning objects take precedence over technology goals with
a focus on problem-solving units, the authors use a variety
of lesson plans, forms and software titles to show how technology
can support objectives in a variety of subject areas. A companion
web site on the publisher’s server supplies the reader
with useful, relevant links to the ideas in the chapters,
although many of the resources are links to commercial sites.
Technology’s use in developing information literacy
skills and the role of the teacher-librarian are given short
shrift in this book. And if readers are looking for new perspectives
on ICT use in schools, they will be disappointed. This is
a fine primer on current, practical applications of technology
in schools – but not more. (Trifolium, 2001. 272 pp.
$25.95. 1-55244-008-7.)
Bottom line: Useful, basic information compiled from
respected sources for the classroom teacher.
Buy
online at Amazon.com
Information
literacy toolkit: Grades Kindergarten-6; Information literacy
toolkit: Grades 7 and up.
Jenny Ryan and Steph Capra
Reviewed by Carolyn Giambra
The three tools in each of these two toolkits are: a grade
level scope and sequence geared to a six-step information
literacy skills process; planning organizers for instruction
at each grade level; and black-line masters of worksheets
to use with students as you teach the various stages of the
process. The same materials are contained on a companion
CD-ROM using both Mac and Windows formats, so the materials
may be customized as well as reproduced.
Experienced teacher-librarians will already have much of
this material mastered and aligned with local or state curriculum
guides. Novice practitioners might rely on this cookbook
approach, but the documents are overwhelming as presented.
The black-line masters are well designed, but the other two
thirds of the tools are so dense with text and lacking in
visual appeal that they are hard to use at all. (ALA, 2001.
186 pp. $40.50. 0-8389-3507-9; ALA, 2001. 186 pp. $40.50.
0-8389-3508-7.)
Bottom line: Consider these as supplementary purchases,
but not materials that will breathe life into a program.
Worth
a Look
Catalog it! A guide to cataloging school library materials
Allison Kaplan and Ann Riedling
Intended as a post-secondary textbook, this manual serves
as an excellent tool for library staff, providing clear guidance
to concepts of intellectual access, classification, cataloging
rules, MARC records, copy cataloging and processing. Each
chapter ends with exercises. Includes a discussion of automated
cataloging and the future of cataloging. Indexed, with separate
index to examples in the text.
(Linworth, 2002. 191pp. $44.95. 1-58683-014-7)
Character education: A book guide for teacher, librarians,
and parents
Sharron L. McElmeer
More than 300 titles are explored in 17 chapters, each
dealing with a different character trait, such as caring,
confidence, perseverance and teamwork. Each annotated entry
includes publication information, genre, discussion/activity
notes, related traits or curriculum themes and suggested
collaborative readings bringing the total of titles listed
to more than 450. Grades K-5. Indexed.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2002. 228 pp. $32.50. 1-56308-884-3)
Classic readers theatre for young adults
Suzanne Barchers and Jennifer Kroll
Each of 16 original scripts adapted from classics such
as Little women, Hard times and Zorro! includes a brief summary,
background information on the author/story and a list of
the characters. There are also suggestions for props and
presentation. The script lengths vary from four to 26 pages,
which brings up a minor complaint – a time estimate
would have been helpful. Grades 6-12.
(Teacher Ideas Press, 2002. 243 pp. $35.00. 1-56308881-9)
Essential resources for schools and libraries
Billed as a combined newsletter — part print and
part web-based — this journal is published five times
a year, featuring articles, research units, educational ideas
and web sites, as well as reviews of books and videos. Includes
a section of recommended free kits, brochures and videos
in each issue. Topics have Canadian focus (e.g. Canada’s
boreal forest) but easily adapted for use by others.
(Connaught Education Services. $18/yr prepaid. ISSN: 1499-190x.)
GlobaLinks: Resources for Asian studies Grades K-8
Peggy Beck
Annotated bibliography of hundreds of print, video, CD-ROM
and web site resources to help students meet national standards
for social studies, geography, language arts, information
literacy, science and technology, as well as life skills
and character education. Each resource includes a brief description,
suggestions for using in the classroom and an age level.
Includes ideas for keypal/pen pal projects, separate indexes
by author/illustrator, title and subject, and appendices
providing indexes by web site title and folktale/short story
title.
(Linworth, 2002. 242 pp. $39.95. 1-58683-009-0)
Hit list for young adults 2: Frequently challenged books
Teri Lesesne and Rosemary Chance
Twenty titles — 11 are new — are profiled in
this update to the 1989 edition published by the Young Adult
Library Services Association (YALSA). Each title is annotated
and includes examples of challenges, citations of reviews
and articles about the book or author, awards, and a list
of sources which recommend the book. Includes classics such
as The chocolate war and Catcher in the rye as well as more
recent titles which have generated controversy. Foreword
by Chris Crutcher. Includes appendices to help librarians
deal with challenges and other censorship issues.
(ALA, 2002. 63 pp. $25.00. 0-8389-0835-7)
Lesson plans for the busy librarian: A standards-based
approach for the elementary library media center
Joyce Keeling
Organized by grade level, 87 lessons integrate information
literacy skills into the curriculum. Standards, objectives,
directions and suggested collaborations are given for each
of the 20-minute lessons teaching children in Grades K-5
how to use print and electronic resources as they search
for information on topics ranging from dinosaurs to “Name
that President!” Repoducible worksheets included for
each lesson, as well as suggested resources. Indexed.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2002. 264 pp. $30.00. 1-56308-869-x)
Managing library volunteers: A practical toolkit
Preston Driggers and Eileen Dumas
Reproducible forms and examples help library managers
succeed at recruiting, training, supervising and keeping
top-notch volunteers. Packed with helpful samples, from job
descriptions for shelvers and storytellers to welcome letters,
a checklist for volunteer recognition ceremonies and sample
reports. Includes bibliography and index.
(ALA, 2002. 169 pp. $38.00 0-8389-0806-3)
Merchandising library materials to young adults
Mary Anne Nichols
Using a marketing approach, this manual discusses how
to create a collection that will interest teens, and how
to use display shelving, signage, lighting, props, bulletin
boards, readers’ advisory and customer service to increase
interest in young adult collections. Includes a chapter outlining
20 display ideas, each with an annotated list of appropriate
titles. Indexed.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2002. 187 pp. $40.00. 0-313-31382-2)
StoryCraft: 50 theme-based programs combining storytelling,
activities and crafts for children in Grades 1-3
Martha Simpson and Lynne Perrigo
In addition to stories, music and crafts, each of the
programs includes suggestions for promotion, detailed instructions,
reproducibles and a supplies list for crafts. Bibliographies
are provided for children who want to delve further into
the themes, ranging from Creepy Crawlies and Fractured Fairytales
to Math Mayhem. Appendix of helpful resources. Comprehensive
21-page index to resources, topics and authors.
(McFarland, 2001. 283 pp. $38.50. 0-7864-0891-x)
The world of work through children’s literature:
An integrated approach
Carol Butzow and John Butzow
Twenty-three titles appropriate for Grades 1-6 are organized
into three categories (local economy, work skills and work
communities). Each title is presented as a separate unit,
including brief summary, theme, activities for various grades
and reproducible activity sheets. Includes index and answer
keys.
(Teacher Ideas Press, 2002. 168 pp. $30.00. 1-56308-814-2)
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