New York, NY (September 17, 2008)- Librarians often find themselves filling a unique role: that of health information intermediary for the general public. People often visit or call a library soon after they see their doctor – whether it be for a lay translation of the physician’s diagnosis, a description of a medical test, or for answers to any post-appointment questions. Answers to the Health Questions People Ask in Libraries, to be published by Neal-Schuman Publishers in October 2008, is an easy-to-follow Medical Library Association Guide that will equip librarians with the necessary information to answer health-related questions with confidence.

Answers to the Health Questions People Ask in Libraries provides a clear, easy-to-understand explanation to some of today’s most frequently asked about medical conditions, including tips, charts, recommended treatment options, and other necessary information to address an array of specific concerns. Each section includes important background information that assists readers in determining the proper steps to take regarding health care inquiries. Readers can also use the handy “ask the experts” information section to find additional, authoritative information and answers to specific questions they may have.

Chapters cover a range of major health concerns like high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Other chapters answer commonly asked questions about family health, nutrition and fitness, and traditional and alternative medicines. The breadth of information presented in this book and the fact that the coverage was shaped by input from librarians in diverse settings makes it appealing to many audiences, including librarians, health agencies, and the general public.

Two additional features designed for daily use are a “Glossary of Experts” and an annotated section called “Resources: Where to Go When You Want to Know About Health Care.” The “Glossary of Experts” provides definitions of the various types of health care providers mentioned in the book, as well as Web addresses for online directories to help readers locate doctors or other health care providers in their areas. The Resources section is a valuable guide in itself, because it points readers in the right direction when seeking answers to health related questions not found in the text.

When it comes to consumer-friendly, reliable health information and answers, this new reference work is…that’s right…just what the doctor and the librarian ordered.

Answers to the Health Questions People Ask in Libraries
978-1-55570-642-5. 2008.
6 x 9. 247 pp. $65.00

About the Authors
Laura Townsend Kane, M.L.I.S., is the Assistant Director for Information Services at the School of Medicine Library, University of South Carolina. She is the author of “Access Versus Ownership” in the Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science (Dekker, 2003). She is a distinguished member of the Medical Library Association’s Academy of Health Information Professionals.

Rozalynd P. McConnaughy, M.L.I.S, is the Assistant Director for Education and Outreach at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library. She has published a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals and appears regularly on the local radio show, “Health, Wealth, and Happiness.”

Steven Patrick Wilson, M.L.I.S., M.A. in English Literature, is a medical librarian at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library, and Coordinator of the Center for Disability Resources Library collection, which is one of the largest developmental disability collections in the Southeast.

David L. Townsend, MD, is an Internal Medicine physician practicingin North Carolina. He graduated summa cum laude with a double-major in biology and psychology from the University of Georgia, and then attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, wherehe graduated with top honors. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina and was selected to serve as Assistant Chief of Medicine at that institution. He currently resides in Winston-Salem, North Carolina,with his wife and two children.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers and the Medical Library Association
Neal-Schuman Publishers is the leading provider of library management, Internet, and information technology resources, and is the Medical Library Association’s co-publisher. Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK. The Medical Library Association, founded in 1898, is an educational organization of more than 1,100 institutions and 3,600 individual members in the health sciences information field committed to educating health information professionals, supporting health information research, promoting access to the world’s health sciences information, and working to ensure that the best health information is available to all.

For More Information
Contact Sarah Eisenberg
sarah.eisenberg@neal-schuman.com

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New York, NY (September 9, 2008)—As anyone who works with students quickly learns, being Web-savvy does not always equate with being information literate. More Hands-On Information Literacy Activities – the fresh new book that Neal-Schuman will publish on October 14th – empowers librarians with tested strategies and proven techniques to teach students how to be discriminating searchers and consumers of information.

Authors Fiona Hunt and Jane Birks offer a timely collection of activities to support and inspire the information literacy skills of secondary and undergraduate students. Their purpose is to “tackle the daunting yet critical task of teaching students to first question and then evaluate the academic appropriateness, reliability, and credibility of information sources”. Hunt and Birks explain, “The amount of information that the latest technologies make available at the touch of a button from almost any location continues to increase exponentially. Although we hear that our students are more ‘tech savvy’ and that educational systems worldwide are responding to the need for students to be more ‘critical’ information consumers, the evidence we see in our high schools and universities is contradictory.”

This five-part book contains 20 ready-to-teach “active learning” lessons, developed from a teaching librarian’s perspective and suited for both mainstream and ESL environments.

The authors begin by offering search strategy activities that focus on vocabulary development for more effective searches, search strings practice, and review activities, as well as various orientation activities that introduce the physical environment of the library and the services and information sources available to students. Further exercises are included to help students evaluate the growing number of information sources, emphasize the importance of proper citations, and learn to properly paraphrase information and avoid plagiarism. The last section concludes with a variety of “General Activities” that reinforce principal information literacy concepts and evaluates the pros and cons of online learning.

All of the book’s activities can be used alone or in conjunction with others, and most take less than one hour to complete. A free companion CD-ROM provides librarians and other educators with a complete hassle-free toolkit of supporting handouts, worksheets and answer keys.

Clearly, there is an ongoing demand for continuing instruction in all aspects of information use – from access to ethics – and More Hands-On Information Literacy Activities perfectly and practically fulfills that need.

More Hands-On Information Literacy Activities
ISBN 978-1-55570-648-7.
2008. 6 x 9. 150 pp. $75.00.

About the Authors
Fiona Hunt is currently employed at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where she has been instrumental in the development of the information literacy program and was a co-developer of the award winning online information literacy tutorial, Infoasis. Fiona has an MLIS from the University of British Columbia and TEFL certification from International House in England.

Jane Birks has 30 years’ experience in education in Australia and the UAE. She is currently employed at Zayed University where she specializes in information literacy program development and delivery. Jane has a Master of Education from University of Southern Queensland in Australia, in which she specialized in online learning, and a Graduate Degree in Librarianship from Queensland University of Technology.

The authors published their first book, Hands-On Information Literacy Activities (Neal-Schuman), in 2003.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers
Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK. Neal-Schuman is a leading publisher of textbooks in all areas of library and information studies, from library science to archival and records management, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

For More Information
Contact Sarah Eisenberg
sarah.eisenberg@neal-schuman.com

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11 experts explain how to successfully manage the digital transition

New York, NY (September 8, 2008)—The transition to digital formats has affected libraries and information professionals – librarians, archivists, and records managers – perhaps more than any profession. Often, libraries and information centers are no longer the first or preferred destination for information acquisition. What skills do librarians and other information managers need not only to survive this transition, but to flourish as information consumption patterns continue to evolve?

Digital Consumers: Reshaping the Information Profession, to be released in the U.S. and Canada by Neal-Schuman Publishers on October 6, 2008, presents hard evidence from an international group of expert contributors that builds a thought-provoking vision of the new belief system that will help information professionals survive and engage in an ubiquitous information environment. (Visit www.neal-schuman.com/dc to view biographies of each contributor and the complete table of contents).

Digital Consumers helps librarians and archivists to recognize and succeed in their changing roles as a result of the redefinition of the information domain, and teaches them to adapt to the growing number of information producers in the market. The book identifies and explains the emerging new roles that libraries and archives will play in the digital age, as well as the psychology behind the modern-day information consumer and an enlightening case study detailing the behaviors of a virtual scholar. An examination of “The Google Generation” and the myths attached to young people’s digital information behavior will help readers focus on the future of information and libraries, as will a chapter dedicated to prospective digital trends and the future of information consumption. Nicholas and Rowlands conclude with an effective and useful list of the six most crucial ways to remain successful in the digital age.

Digital Consumers draws from the vast range of its interdisciplinary contributors’ expertise to give readers comprehensive, clear explanations of the growing challenges faced by all information professionals, as well as strategic and practical solutions to overcoming them successfully. Based on sound research and conclusive evidence, Digital Consumers teaches the context and understanding necessary for information professionals to succeed in a changing information environment.

Digital Consumers: Reshaping the Information Profession
ISBN 978-1-85604-651-0 .
2008. 6 x 9. 256 pp. $115.00.

About the Editors
Professor David Nicholas is Director of the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies, University College London, where he is also a director of its Center for International Business Education and Research.
Dr. Ian Rowlands is Reader in Publishing at the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies, University College London. He is an active member of the UCL Centre for Publishing and of the Center for International Business Education and Research, where he recently led the acclaimed Google Generation study.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers and Facet Publishing
Facet Publishing titles are exclusively available in the United States through Neal-Schuman Publishers, a leading provider of library management, Internet, and information technology resources. Facet is the imprint of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (formerly the British Library Association). Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK.

For More Information
Contact Sarah Eisenberg
sarah.eisenberg@neal-schuman.com

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15 experts offer insight into reader development and practical guidance for librarians

New York, NY (August 26, 2008)—Readers have a profound influence on libraries, but do librarians understand what readers want, or how to reach them effectively? Reader Development in Practice: Bringing Literature to Readers explores the link between author and reader, the extent to which readers influence what librarians choose to buy and how the relationship has changed since the birth of reader development.

Divided into five sections and thirteen chapters, Reader Development in Practice is a user-friendly guide to an important topic. Bringing together the work of a range of expert practitioners and academics, the collection effectively links together a diverse and extensive range of knowledge, using specific introductions to each section and contextual prefaces for each chapter as organizational guides. “We see the book … as a mosaic,” say editors Susan Hornby and Bob Glass. “Each of the sections can stand alone but read together they form a complete picture.”

(Visit www.neal-schuman.com to view biographies of each contributor, as well as the editors’ introduction and a complete table of contents).

Reader Development in Practice takes both a theoretical and practical approach to presenting key topics, beginning with promotions, partnerships and the central role that reader development activities have come to play inside the library. The discussion covers imaginative literature for adults and children, the reorganization of information through hypertext, the development of futuristic fiction as a new genre in children’s literature and a reflective guide to making poetry accessible and enjoyable. Reader Development in Practice concludes with chapters on electronic publishing and the increasingly crucial relationship between reading and information technology, including essays on the future of traditional book communities and survival strategies for independent booksellers. The afterword – from a devoted bookworm offers a helpful guide to successfully selecting the right book group.

A comprehensive look at all aspects of literature in relation to readership, Reader Development in Practice is essential reading that offers professionals, researchers and students fresh ideas, practical guidance and a fundamental knowledge base upon which to build.

Reader Development in Practice:Bringing Literature to Readers
ISBN 978-1-85604-624-4.
2008. 6 x 9. 224 pp. $125.00.

About the Editors
Susan Hornby is Senior Lecturer and Program Leader for the MA Library Information Management and MSc Information Management courses at the Department of Information and Communications, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Bob Glass is Undergraduate Program Leader at the Department of Information and Communications, Learning Area Coordinator (Information Literacy) for the LearnHigher Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers and Facet Publishing
Facet Publishing titles are exclusively available in the United States through Neal-Schuman Publishers, a leading provider of library management, Internet, and information technology resources. Facet is the imprint of the prestigious Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (formerly the British Library Association). Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK.

For More Information
Contact Sarah Eisenberg
sarah.eisenberg@neal-schuman.com

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Strengthen Library and Community Partnerships and Raise Funds for Your Library

New York, NY (August 28, 2008)-The most effective libraries in the world are libraries that reach out and connect with their communities. Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends is the much anticipated sequel to FOLUSA’s breakthrough first edition, 101+ Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends, and will be released on October 14, 2008 by Neal-Schuman Publishers. This new title contains even more terrific ideas and best practices designed to help librarians and library staff build long lasting relationships with the surrounding community.

Following an introduction, which sets the stage for effective library/community partnership, Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends provides valuable ideas for innovative programs, successful fundraising, strategic advocacy, powerful public relations, memorable membership campaigns and more. Concepts are presented with practical instructions, graphics and implementation tools, all of which are easily adaptable to best fit the specific needs and opportunities of each library.

Libraries have successfully used their creativity to raise funds by publishing patron-inspired cookbooks, hosting antique sales and organizing book drives. Authors Sally Gardner Reed and Beth Nawalinski offer helpful guidance on how to successfully implement these tried and true methods and plan innovative events.

FOLUSA (Friends of the Libraries U.S.A.) is a national membership organization geared towards supporting libraries and library services through the coordination of various local and national library groups, trustees and library supporters. Friends groups continually produce new ideas and inventive strategies for connecting libraries and their communities which have been included in Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends. Large or small, libraries of all kinds – academic, public, school, or specialized – can benefit from the successes of colleagues and cohorts everywhere.

Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends
ISBN: 978-1-55570-638-8 .
2008. 8 ½ x 11. 300pp. $69.95.

About the Authors
Sally Gardner Reed is the executive director of Friends of Libraries U.S.A. and the acting director of the Association of Library Trustees and Advocates—a division of the American Library Association. She speaks nationwide and worldwide about the critical role Friends play in ensuring that libraries are fully funded in the community and on campus. She is the author of eight books, including Making the Case for Your Library (Neal-Schuman, 2002).

Beth Nawalinski is the Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator of Friends of Libraries U.S.A. Although Beth completed her undergraduate studies in nuclear engineering, she has pursued her career supporting literacy and libraries as Community Relations Coordinator with Barnes & Noble and, before coming to FOLUSA in 2002, as Public Information Specialist with the Norfolk (VA) Public Library.

Both are the authors, with Alexander Peterson, of 101+ Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends, the predecessor of Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends, also published by Neal-Schuman.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers and FOLUSA
Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) is an organization dedicated to the support and preservation of state and local libraries. Formed in 1979, FOLUSA works to create widespread awareness and appreciation of library services. Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is the leading independent, privately owned publisher of professional books for librarians, archivists and knowledge managers.

For More Information,
Contact Sarah Eisenberg
sarah.eisenberg@neal-schuman.com

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New book provides a one-stop resource for librarians seeking to foster a lifelong love of books

New York, NY (August 22, 2008)—Years ago, we thought of children’s libraries as merely scaled down adult spaces. Today, we know that library spaces specifically designed for children foster learning, encourage creativity, and promote a lifelong love of books and information. Nolan Lushington’s Libraries Designed for Kids shows how to optimize children’s and young adult areas in public libraries and school libraries by using imaginative architectural design elements to create spaces that will captivate children and young adults.

Libraries Designed for Kids, to be published by Neal-Schuman Publishers on October 10, 2008, will meet three critical needs in the profession. First, it will serve as a guide for the library design process; second, it will be a frequently consulted manual for library staff during the planning stage, and third it will be a reference book for details and specifications like shelf heights and chair widths. Through this comprehensive facilities planning guide, readers can find extraordinary examples of real libraries that have achieved amazing results by catering to children through design.

Through his long and prestigious career, Nolan Lushington has guided hundreds of libraries through the design phase. Now, in Libraries Designed for Kids, his expertise, experience, and guidance will be available to librarians throughout the world. When Neal-Schuman published his previous book, Libraries Designed for Users: A 21st Century Guide, in 2002 reviewers took note. Booklist noted that Lushington’s “experience shines through” and Public Libraries said, “If I had to choose just one resource to consult, Lushington would get my vote.”

This book covers important issues like the entrance design, book displays, graphics, lighting, YA programs and library service staff and work areas. This book also goes over the different design considerations for children, older children and young adults.

Libraries Designed for Kids
ISBN 978-1-85604-631-9.
2008. 8.5 x 11. 150 pp. $85.00.

About the Author
During the past 30 years Nolan Lushington has worked with over 190 public libraries as a library consultant. He has been chairman of the American Library Association Buildings and Equipment section and a juror on the joint ALA/American Institute of Architects Building Awards Program. Mr. Lushington was a Council on Library Resources Fellow and, with Anthony Tappe, he has taught the summer workshop in Public Library Design at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design for the past 12 years. For over two decades Mr. Lushington was the Director of the Greenwich Public Library in Connecticut, and for 11 years was an Associate Professor at the library school at Southern Connecticut State University. He is married to Librarian of the Year Louise Blalock, Chief Librarian of the Hartford Public Library in Connecticut.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers
Neal-Schuman Publishers is a leading publisher of professional books for librarians and teachers including storytime guides, information literacy titles, and the highly acclaimed teens@thelibrary series. Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City, with offices in London, UK.

For more information, contact Sarah Eisenberg at sarah-eisenberg@neal-schuman.com

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