NEW BOOK PROVIDES SUPER-SEARCH STRATEGIES FOR THE LATEST GENERATION OF WEB TOOLS Thursday, Jan 15 2009 

Expert author teaches information professionals to make the most of Web 2.0

New York, NY (January 20, 2009)— From search engines to social networks, the emergence of Web 2.0 has introduced a host of new tools and technologies that are essential to every library’s reference desk. In Searching 2.0., to be published by Neal-Schuman on March 27, 2009, master trainer Michael P. Sauers offers a comprehensive guide that teaches librarians the most effective strategies for integrating each one of these important online resources into their daily duties.

This landmark guide is divided into eleven chapters, beginning with an in-depth look at Web 2.0’s core structure as it impacts searchability, and the ways in which it has changed over the past several years. Sauers then covers crucial best practices and tools, like bookmarking, tagging, and Delicious, followed by a detailed description of the major features and functions of popular search engines like Google, Microsoft’s Life Search, and Yahoo! Search. Sauers continues with an overview of the editable-by-anyone encyclopedia Wikipedia, and examines whether it is reliable enough to be used at the reference desk. The next chapters cover online multimedia content like Youtube, Flickr and Podscope, as well as local search tools like Google maps, satellite images and live search maps. An introduction to Google’s Book Search and Amazon.com’s Search Inside accompanies a discussion of the pros and cons of blending online and print searching strategies, and additional chapters focus on resources for finding historical information and the best uses for OpenSearch plugins and desktop search tools. The book concludes with a preview of “the future of search”, including new search engines and cutting edge technology.

Each chapter includes practice exercises and a variety of colorful, easy-to-interpret screen shots. The companion Web site, (http://delicious.com/travelinlibrarian/searching2.0), lists links to all of the resources referenced in the book.

Searching 2.0 is a comprehensive, enthusiastically written guide that will help librarians make the most of new online tools and technologies available to them at the reference desk.

Searching 2.0
Plus companion website
ISBN: 978-1-55570-607-4.
2009. 8.5 x 11. 200pp. $65.00.

About the Author
Michael Sauers, M.L.S. is the Technology Innovation Librarian for the Nebraska Library Commission in Lincoln, Nebraska and has been training librarians in technology for over 13 years. Sauers has published nine books, including XHTML and CSS Essentials for Library Web Design (Neal-Schuman, 2005) and Using the Internet as a Reference Tool (Neal-Schuman, 2001). He is vice-chair of the Nebraksa Library Association’s Information Technology and Access Round Table.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers
Neal-Schuman Publishers is a leading publisher of professional books for librarians, archivists and knowledge managers. Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City, with offices in London, UK.

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

NEW GUIDE OFFERS HIP, EFFECTIVE, READY-TO-GO TEEN PROGRAMMING Wednesday, Jan 7 2009 

25 complete programs save librarians time and bring teens into the library doors

New York, NY (January 6, 2009)— In Start-to-Finish YA Programs, to be published by Neal-Schuman on February 25, 2009, award-winning librarian and educator Ella W. Jones parlays her 25 years of experience of programming for teens into a comprehensive, ready-to-go resource for other librarians. The book includes 25 complete programs that have been proven successful in real library settings, as well as the marketing materials needed to publicize the programs.

Jones reminds readers that, “Teens are the next generation of library users, and we will lose them if we don’t make them feel that they are a part of our community”. Divided into three well-organized sections, Start-to-Finish YA Programs responds to the major obstacles librarians face when developing teen programs: How to attract teens to the library, what to do with them once they’ve arrived, and how to teach them to appropriately use the resources.

The book begins with a foreword from renowned youth services expert Patrick Jones. Part 1, titled Let’s Get Started, explains the significant and positive impact that successful teen programs have on their audience, and includes the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets for Teens, the authoritative criteria on which the book’s programs are based. Jones also guides readers through planning, brainstorming, and evaluating programs, including advice for attracting teen audiences to attend. Part 2, called Twenty Five Creative and Innovative Teen Programs, consists of five chapters that cover 25 diverse, fully-developed and teen-tested programs. The innovative concepts are both appealing and practical for teen audiences, including DJ workshops, fashion shows, poetry slams, fitness programs, term paper clinics, oral history projects, homework help clubs and more. Each program idea is paired with step-by-step instructions, beginning with initial publicity planning and continuing through to post-program evaluation. The companion CD-ROM contains all of the sample flyers, registration forms, sign-up sheets, permission slips and Power Point presentations found in the book. Part 3, titled The Finish Line, concludes with suggestions, tips and resources for grant-writing, as well as a list of helpful references and related resources.

Start-to-Finish YA Programs combines experienced guidance with creative concepts to help librarians take the guesswork out of developing successful teen programming.

Start-to-Finish YA Programs:
Hip-Hop Symposiums, Summer Reading Programs, Virtual Tours, Poetry Slams, Teen Advisory Boards And More

ISBN: 978-1-55570-601-2 .
2009. 6 x 9. 300pp. $75.00.

About the Author
Ella Jones holds three masters degrees in Education, Counseling & Guidance, and Library Science and has spent more than twenty five years educating students. A scholarship named in her honor: the Ella W. Jones Creative Arts Award, is given to graduating high-school seniors. Jones received the Director’s Gold Star Award for extraordinary efforts in bringing groups and individuals to the Fort Worth Public Library, and was selected as a “Tall Texans” by the Texas Library Association in 2006.
She has presented programs for Texas Library Association (TLA) Annual Conference, including a new program for the TLA Conference entitled “Strengthening Communities with C.L.A.S.S: Connecting Libraries and Schools Strategically.”

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 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

INVISIBLE WEB PRODUCES VISIBLE RESEARCH IMPROVEMENTS Wednesday, Jan 7 2009 

Going Beyond Google: The Invisible Web in Learning and Teaching Unearths a Wealth of Research Resources and Opportunities

New York, NY (December 16, 2008)— Most people use only general-purpose search engines and overlook information that could be very useful to them. Going Beyond Google: The Invisible Web in Learning and Teaching, to be published by Neal-Schuman on February 20, 2009, introduces information professionals, teachers and students to the “Invisible Web”, or the wealth of valuable information that is available online but inaccessible through general-purpose search engines. This eye-opening guide to online research provides practitioners and educators with all of the crucial tools and strategies necessary to understand and access these untapped Web sources and specialized databases.

Estimated to be nearly 500 times the size of the visible Web, authors Jane Devine and Francine Egger-Sider use simple language and easy-to-follow examples to explain the importance of integrating the Invisible Web into everyday research skills. The book presents comprehensive, helpful summaries of related research and studies, expert teaching tips for both library and classroom instruction, and model activities and practice assignments.

Going Beyond Google is organized into six chapters. The first chapter begins with a thorough overview of the Invisible Web’s core characteristics, including the type of content available and how it is different from a general-purpose search engine. The next chapter assesses the ways in which the Web is most often used for research, and explains the extensive limitations found in research confined solely to the visible Web. The third chapter presents the best practices and strategies for teaching others to use the Invisible Web, including sample objectives and mini-lessons for both classrooms and libraries. Next, the authors present a comprehensive model research assignment that incorporates a variety of different search tools and tasks, followed by a chapter that offers sample, effective teaching activities for use in classrooms and libraries. The book concludes with a forward-looking analysis of the shifting boundaries between the visible and Invisible Web, and highlights some of the forthcoming trends in online research. The book also includes appendices with a literature review, and a compilation of selected tools for mining and teaching the Invisible Web.

Through compelling research, clear explanations and innovative examples, Devine and Egger-Sider offer unprecedented entry into the rapidly growing realm of information found beyond Google’s borders.

Going Beyond Google: The Invisble Web in Learning and Teaching
ISBN: 978-1-55570-633-3.
2009. 6 x 9. 200pp. $59.95.

About the Authors
Jane Devine, M.L.S. is currently the Library Chair at LaGuardia College in Queens, New York. She also spent seven years as a Principal Librarian at the New York Public Library.
Francine Egger-Sider, M.A.L.S. is currently the Coordinator of Technical Services at LaGuardia College in Queens, New York.

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

NEW BOOK TEACHES INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS TO FLOURISH IN THE DIGITAL AGE Wednesday, Jan 7 2009 

International experts help libraries increase accessibility via virtual tools

(New York, NY) December 2, 2008- The digital age continues to bring tremendous change to libraries and information services. Access, Delivery, Performance: The Future of Libraries Without Walls, to be released by Neal-Schuman Publishers on January 25, 2009, is a timely, forward-looking collection that addresses the significant issues and concerns facing today’s information professionals, and offers practical strategies for succeeding in a digitally dominant era.

Written by a diverse team of recognized experts, Access, Delivery, Performance is based on almost four decades of ground-breaking research from Professor Peter Brophy, an internationally acclaimed pioneer in information studies. Brophy’s vast contributions to the field serve as the foundation for the four fundamental themes covered in the text. Each topic includes related technologies, best practices for real-life application and likely future developments.

The first section focuses on libraries and distance learning, and provides a comprehensive guide to changing content and services in the digital age as well as important background on how libraries have already been evolving to accommodate distance learning The next section covers the widening access to information, and includes a chapter that teaches public libraries to thrive and remain relevant amidst a limitation-free information age as well as section that covers the implementation and benefits of social networking technologies. The book then covers the changing directions of information delivery, including sections on digital preservation and the transformed role of controlled vocabularies. The last section focuses on performance, quality and leadership, and features chapters on developing and using web-based evaluation tools, measuring the quality of academic electronic resources, and achieving influential leadership in academic libraries.

Access, Delivery, Performance demystifies the relationship between information science and digital technology, and is a valuable tool for all academic, public and special libraries.

Access, Delivery, Performance: The Future of Libraries without Walls
ISBN 978-1-85604-647-3.
2008. 6 x 9. 238 pp. $125.00.

About the Editors
Jillian R. Griffiths BA and Jenny Craven MA are Research Associates at the Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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 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

PIONEERING NEW BOOK HIGHLIGHTS BEST PRACTICES FOR LIBRARIANS FOSTERING EARLY LITERACY Wednesday, Jan 7 2009 

User-friendly guide offers tools, tips and best practices for developing language and literacy skills

New York, NY (November 25, 2008)— Libraries play a vital role in supporting the development of essential language, communication and literacy skills in young children. Delivering the Best Start: A Guide to the Early Years, to be released by Neal-Schuman Publishers on January 15, 2009, is an accessible, easy-to-understand guide for all librarians and information professionals involved in promoting and encouraging early literacy development. Through a comprehensive blend of background, policy, current best practices and an array of sample programs and resources, the book will equip practitioners with a broad range of knowledge and tools for achieving success in all aspects of children’s library services.

Authors and respected researchers Carolynn Rankin and Avril Brock organize Delivering the Best Start: A Guide to the Early Years into six clearly structured chapters. Each chapter provides an overview of the topic, related real-life scenarios and insights, and practical ideas and resources for implementing service. The book begins with an overview of early childhood services. People and partnerships are covered next, with instruction for developing family-friendly service, becoming familiar with the community, developing effective partnerships with outside organizations, and connecting with the home learning environment. The book moves on to discuss buildings, design, space planning, book display and signage, as well as creating the right atmosphere through proper mood, stimulation and sound. The following chapter provides a comprehensive guide to resources and collection development and includes suggestions for books, toys, multimedia and computer programs for general services as well as specific groups, like bilingual children and those with special needs. The next chapter discusses introducing reading to young children and their families, and contains sample activities for storytelling, advice for reaching elusive audiences, and a guide to organizing promotions and campaigns. The last section covers organizational planning, managing budgets and finances, and developing and evaluating library sessions.

Through comprehensive subject coverage and detailed guidance, <strong>Delivering the Best Start: A Guide to the Early Years teaches youth service librarians to create enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences that will help foster vital early literacy skills.

Delivering the Best Start: A Guide to the Early Years
ISBN 978-1-85604-610-7.
2008. 6 x 9. 192 pp. $110.00.

About the Authors
Carolynn Rankin, MA is Senior Lecturer in the School of Applied Global Ethics, Leslie Silver International Faculty, Leeds Metropolitan University.
Avril Brock, PhD, is a principal Lecturer in Childhood and Early Years Education in the Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education, Leed Metropolitan University.

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 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