Guide helps librarians build top-notch nonfiction collections for new readers

New York, NY (October 10, 2008)—How do librarians best serve adults who struggle with English, whether they are recent immigrants, poor readers, adults with learning disabilities, or students of English as a second language? Easy Information Sources for ESL, Adult Learners & Other New Readers, to be published by Neal-Schuman on November 17, 2008, annotates over 250 wonderful nonfiction books originally written for children that won’t embarrass or insult adults.

Author Rosemarie Riechel recognizes the broad range of challenges that affect struggling readers and targets the book accordingly. “The most informative resources in the world are useless to an adult who cannot handle the reading level of the book,” says Riechel. “The nonfiction children’s collection offers an abundance of resources written at varying reading levels and covering a vast array of topics and subjects areas.”

Divided into two clear, organized sections, Easy Information Sources for ESL, Adult Learners & Other New Readers helps public and reference librarians, teachers, and others who work with adults who don’t speak or read English well identify top-quality children’s nonfiction books that cover a wide range of topics. In addition, the book offers special tips for reference librarians, who are often the link between customers and the information they’re seeking, including effective verbal and nonverbal behaviors, avoiding technical terms, and asking the right follow-up questions.

The book’s first section provides specific sources for finding information on children’s nonfiction books (journals and newspapers, public libraries, online booksellers, children’s book publishers, industry and author websites and blogs), the right criteria to employ when selecting from recommended books, and the elements required to successfully connect adults with the appropriate children’s non-fiction titles. Riechel also includes real-life examples to illustrate best practices for training staff and housing and promoting a nonfiction children’s collection.

The second section of the book includes a comprehensive, annotated bibliography that will be indispensible to any librarian or professional looking to build his/her collection. The list includes over 250 recommended titles spanning 15 topics such as architecture, the arts, computers, history and geography, medicine and health, pets, and sports.

Easy Information Sources for ESL, Adult Learners & Other New Readers is a unique and increasingly vital resource that will teach libraries how to best serve ESL and literacy students and other patrons who struggle to speak or read in English.

Easy Information Sources for ESL, Adult Learners & New Readers
ISBN: 978-1-55570-650-0 .
2008. 6 x 9. 427pp. $65.00.

About the Author
Dr. Rosemarie Riechel is a member of the American Library Association, The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Long Island Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators. She has a Master of Library Science, an Advanced Certificate Degree, and a Doctor of Library Science from Columbia University. As head of the Information, Public Catalog and Telephone Reference Division of the Queens Borough Public Library in New York for a number of years, Dr. Riechel was responsible for policies, procedures, and staff training for online systems and services.

She is the author of a number of books on library science, and has also published articles on public library reference service and online searching in periodicals and proceedings.

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 and/or Cover Art
Contact Sarah Eisenberg
sarah.eisenberg@neal-schuman.com
100 William Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10038
212-925-8650
www.neal-schuman.com