August 15, 2010 (New York, NY) — Literacy in the 21^st century is worlds away from past processes of defining and interpreting information. The new age of digital technology is redefining the ways we find, evaluate and process concepts. Information literacy—how we identify, locate, and evaluate information—is a crucial skill in all disciplines and levels of education. Information Literacy in the Digital Age: An Evidence-Based Approach, to be released in North America by Neal-Schuman Publishers on September 30, 2010, will help readers understand and navigate the various information literacies that promote skill development in all learners.

Information science experts Teresa S. Welsh and Melissa S. Wright use evidence to explain the principles behind seven specific literacies in this detailed examination of information literacy in the current age of technology. The book opens with an overview of information literacy, noting its importance and relevance in the modern world. The following eleven chapters delve into relevant literacies, including cultural, library, ethical, network (database, the Internet, and the World Wide Web, media and visual, government, and financial. The authors also include a chapter with advice on writing a research paper, and conclude with tips for evaluating information. Each chapter defines and overviews the concept, describes its evolution, and offers exercises, additional information, and notes. Figures and tables and sprinkled liberally throughout the book for added reinforcement.

Information Literacy in the Digital Age: An Evidence-Based Approach will provide librarians and information professionals with a thorough background and understanding of crucial information literacy concepts they need to teach all learners.

Information Literacy in the Digital Age: An Evidence-Based Approach

Chandos

ISBN 978-1-84334-515-2.
2010. 6 x 9. 218 pp.  $95.00

About the Authors

Teresa S. Welsh is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Library and Information Science.

Melissa S. Wright is an instructional services librarian at Rowland Medical Library at the University of Mississippi and doctoral candidate in adult education at the University of Southern Mississippi.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers and Chandos Publishing

Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK. Neal-Schuman is a leading publisher of professional and academic titles in all areas of library and information studies. Since June 2009, Neal-Schuman has also been the exclusive North American distributor for titles from the United Kingdom’s Chandos Publishing, a division of Woodhead Publishing Limited.  Chandos books are a leading, highly practical source of authoritative information for professionals and researchers worldwide.

For More Information and/or Cover Art

Contact Laura Berlinsky-Schine

laura.berlinsky-schine@neal-schuman.com

100 William Street, Suite 2004

New York, NY 10038

212-925-8650

www.neal-schuman.com

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August 20, 2010 (New York, NY) —Wikis, blogs, social bookmarking, social networking services, and virtual worlds have opened up infinite worlds for teaching. Online Learning and Assessment in Higher Education: A Planning Guide, to be released in North America by Neal-Schuman Publishers on October 5, 2010, will provide educators with the understanding they need to approach and implement online learning opportunities for their students.

Robyn Benson and Charlotte Brack have used their extensive knowledge of educational design and e-learning to create a practical guide to help readers construct their own online teaching curricula. Chapter 1 addresses how students learn and what constitutes good teaching, enabling readers to use this research in setting their teaching objectives. Chapter 2 introduces the technology options that are available to educators and how they will help readers implement online learning development. In chapter 3, the authors discuss how to achieve teaching objectives, through activities, resources, support, and feedback. This chapter also addresses issues that may emerge in online teaching. Chapter 4 covers the opportunities and challenges in assessment. Chapter 5 explores the concepts behind evaluation and how to integrate it into a teaching design. The authors offer tips on implementing evaluation in the online environment, a review of the various methods involved, and recommendations on determining the best evaluation for a particular teaching design. Chapter 6 summarizes the lessons and advises readers on how to accommodate new technologies into a thriving academic atmosphere. The book includes numerous examples, figures, and tables, as well as a planning guide.

Online Learning and Assessment in Higher Education: A Planning Guide is an essential book for educators, technology professionals, and anyone interested in successful approaches to online learning.

Online Learning and Assessment in Higher Education: A Planning Guide

Chandos Publishing

ISBN 978-1-84334-577-0.
2010. 6 x 9. 204 pp.  $99.95

About the Authors

Robyn Benson is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Design and e-Learning at Monash University, Australia. She has worked in educational design, development, and research for more than twenty years.

Charlotte Brack is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Design and e-Learning at Monash University. She has worked on innovations in learning and teaching across many disciplines at Monash.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers and Chandos Publishing

Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK. Neal-Schuman is a leading publisher of professional and academic titles in all areas of library and information studies. Since June 2009, Neal-Schuman has also been the exclusive North American distributor for titles from the United Kingdom’s Chandos Publishing, a division of Woodhead Publishing Limited.  Chandos books are a leading, highly practical source of authoritative information for professionals and researchers worldwide.

For More Information and/or Cover Art

Contact Laura Berlinsky-Schine

laura.berlinsky-schine@neal-schuman.com

100 William Street, Suite 2004

New York, NY 10038

212-925-8650

www.neal-schuman.com

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Do e-journals foster or inhibit scholarship?

August 15, 2010 (New York, NY) — From Gutenberg’s invention of movable type, to Charles Babbage’s conceptualization of the computer, on now to the modern age of Google, scholarly communication has gone through numerous incarnations throughout history. One fact remains clear: knowledge must be shared. The rising cost of journals can limit their availability and motivate librarians and information professionals to turn to Open Access journals. Of course, there are downsides to e-sharing, including the chaos that comes with allowing anyone to publish information. Scholarly Communication in Library and Information Services: The Impacts of Open Access Journals and E-Journals on a Changing Scenario, to be released in North America by Neal-Schuman Publishers on September 30, 2010, examines the effects of these formats on scholarly communication in the digital age.

Bhaskar Mukherjee, an LIS expert, analyzes Open Access journals using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. In chapter 1, he introduces the concept of scholarly communication, and describes the issues associated with e-journals and Open Access journals. Chapter 2 provides information about specific Open Access Journals in LIS, paying particular attention to selected journals. Chapter 3 outlines the qualitative and quantitative techniques used to measure the impacts of these journals. In chapter 4, Mukherjee uses a newly developed set of qualitative criteria to measure Open Access journals against other journals, and in chapter 5 he presents a quantitative analysis. Chapter 6 studies web citations and impact factors. In chapter 7, the author discusses creating hyperlinks and their relevance to his study. Mukherjee concludes his book with a summary and conclusion of his findings and recommendations for further research. The book includes a bibliography and appendices, with numerous figures and tables throughout.

Scholarly Communication in Library and Information Services: The Impacts of Open Access Journals and E-Journals on a Changing Scenario presents a detailed analysis of the current landscape of scholarly communication and is an essential tool for any LIS professional looking to access these resources or advise patrons on finding the best sources of information.

Scholarly Communication in Library and Information Services: The Impacts of Open Access Journals and E-Journals on Changing Scenario

Chandos Publishing

ISBN 978-1-84334-626-5.
2010. 6 x 9. 297 pp.  $110.00

About the Author

Bhaskar Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science at Banaras Hindu University in India.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers and Chandos Publishing

Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK. Neal-Schuman is a leading publisher of professional and academic titles in all areas of library and information studies. Since June 2009, Neal-Schuman has also been the exclusive North American distributor for titles from the United Kingdom’s Chandos Publishing, a division of Woodhead Publishing Limited.  Chandos books are a leading, highly practical source of authoritative information for professionals and researchers worldwide.

For More Information and/or Cover Art

Contact Laura Berlinsky-Schine

laura.berlinsky-schine@neal-schuman.com

100 William Street, Suite 2004

New York, NY 10038

212-925-8650

www.neal-schuman.com

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Over 80 color photographs help librarians envision and recreate the programs.

August 1, 2010 (New York, NY) — Children have a job that we can all envy: playing. Preschoolers get to imagine themselves in any situation or profession. From a jungle safari to an outer space adventure, children’s imaginations can take them anywhere and everywhere. Let’s Pretend: 50 Start-to-Finish Preschool Programs for the Busy Librarian That Foster Imagination, to be published by Neal-Schuman Publishers on September 15, 2010, will help adults cultivate curiosity, creativity, and literacy development in young children through a variety of make-believe scenarios.

Rebecca C. Bane, creator of the Let’s Pretend program, includes 50 dramatic play programs—creative storytimes that allow children to interact and use their imaginations—in this innovative guide. Each program consists of an introduction that provides context and setting, a list of materials needed, including props and instructions for making them, books, and music, a step-by-step program example to walk readers through the project, and additional activities and props. A “final- thoughts” section in every chapter describes the skills and concepts children will learn through each dramatic play program. Programs cover such themes “Winter Wonderland,” “Pirates,” “At the Animal Hospital,” “In the Mountains,” “A Mystery,” and many more. Over 80 color photographs help readers envision and recreate the programs. Bane also offers advice on using these templates to create other programs and engage in open-ended play.

Let’s Pretend: 50 Start-to-Finish Preschool Programs for the Busy Librarian That Foster Imagination is the perfect guide for any librarian looking to offer creative, budget-friendly programs for young children. It will also appeal to teachers, caregivers, and daycare personnel.

Let’s Pretend: 50 Start-to-Finish Preschool Programs for the Busy Librarian That Foster Imagination

ISBN 978-1-55570-728-6.
2010. 6 x 9. 168 pp. $55.00

About the Author

Rebecca C. Bane is a former staff member of the Youth Services Department at the Greenville County Library System in Greenville, SC, where she started the dramatic play literacy program, “Let’s Pretend.”

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, Cover Art and/or Sample Photographs

Contact Laura Berlinsky-Schine

laura.berlinsky-schine@neal-schuman.com

100 William Street, Suite 2004

New York, NY 10038

212-925-8650

www.neal-schuman.com

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July 20, 2010 (New York, NY)— From sorting Lego blocks by color when we’re two to arranging files on our office computer networks, organization is a fundamental part of life and crucial to avoiding chaos. What organizational techniques – like color – are innate? Which are learned? How do we organize objects so that they make sense and are useful? What role do categories, classifications, taxonomies, and other structures play in the process of organizing? What do information professionals need to know about organizing behaviors in order to design useful structures for organizing knowledge?  Structures for Organizing Knowledge: Exploring Taxonomies, Ontologies, and Other Schema, to be published by Neal-Schuman on August 30, 2010, answers these key questions and provides both theoretical background and practical guidance on ways to arrange and classify information.

June Abbas, an expert in the field of information science and technology, has compiled her extensive research into this thorough three-part guide. Part I, Traditional Structures for Organizing Knowledge, explores structures libraries use, like MARC records, subject headings, and classification schemes, as well as less familiar structures, such as those devised from natural science. She also discusses national and international standards for organizing knowledge, and lists the best practices in a variety of disciplines. Part II, Personal Structures for Organizing Knowledge, distinguishes systems in people’s personal and professional lives. Abbas overviews systems in library and information science and explains how computers facilitate research. She describes categories, taxonomies, and other important systems that allow people to access information in their daily lives. Part III, Socially Constructed Structures for Organizing Knowledge, identifies Web 2.0 tools that facilitate the classification of knowledge, using examples like LibraryThing, Delicious, and Flickr. Abbas outlines a wealth of research and perspectives on these socially-constructed organizing tools. Finally, Abbas looks at the future of organizing systems. Every chapter includes a box of focus points and illustrations that provide a “snapshot” of the structure in the text.

Structures for Organizing Knowledge is an essential guide for understanding and arranging concepts in manageable ways. It will appeal to any LIS professional, student, or researcher who wants to design a useful structure for organizing knowledge.

Structures for Organizing Knowledge: Exploring Taxonomies, Ontologies, and Other Schemas

ISBN 978-1-55570-699-9.
2010. 6 x 9. 275 pp.   $85.00.

About the Author

June Abbas is an Associate Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) at the University of Oklahoma. Her research focuses on the intersection of users, technology, and structures for organizing knowledge.

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 Laura Berlinsky-Schine

laura.berlinsky-schine@neal-schuman.com

100 William Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10038
212-925-8650
www.neal-schuman.com

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U.S. academic library case study emphasizes caution when applying fair use principles.

July 20, 2010 (New York, NY)—Interactive whiteboards, laptops, cell phones, recording devices, and other digital tools offer educators and students new ways to access, create, and share materials. Copyright laws are an important but often neglected facet of digitized education. Copyright and E-Learning: A Guide for Practitioners, to be released in North America by Neal-Schuman Publishers on August 30, 2010, will give educators the background they need to teach confidently in a digital learning environment without breaking the law.

Learning Technology Librarian, Jane Seeker, offers expert guidance in this practical guide. In chapter 1, she provides an overview of copyright and intellectual property rights and how they function with e-learning. She also discusses the evolution of e-learning and its relationship with other types of teaching, including face-to-face and distance education. Chapter 2 addresses the use of previously published material in e-learning. A detailed case study examines the use of texts and multimedia files in a university setting, and demonstrates how educators can teach effectively with proper copyright compliance. Chapter 3 looks at the use of multimedia content in e-learning, using examples such as lecture capture and podcasts. Secker also provides lists of multimedia resources for the academic community. In chapter 4, she discusses the use of original digital resources, emphasizing digital rights management (DRM) procedures and licenses for websites. Chapter 5 examines Web 2.0 tools and copyright issues, using examples like Flickr, Facebook, and Wikipedia. In chapter 6, Secker offers a copyright training program for educators with specific support and techniques.

An essential guide for librarians, educators, learning technologists, educational product developers, instructional designers and information technologists, Copyright and E-Learning provides valuable information to the e-learning community and will serve as an indispensable resource for increasing the effective and legal use of digital resources.

Copyright and E-Learning: A Guide for Practitioners

ISBN 978-1-85604-665-7.
2010. 6 x 9. 192 pp.  $105.00.

Facet Publishing

About the Author

Jane Secker is Learning Technology Librarian at the London School of Economics and Political Science’s Centre for Learning Technology.

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 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 Laura Berlinsky-Schine

laura.berlinsky-schine@neal-schuman.com

100 William Street, Suite 2004

New York, NY 10038

212-925-8650

www.neal-schuman.com

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