Library Career Research Articles

Not Your Typical Dragon by D. Bar-el

Bar-el, Dan. Not Your Typical Dragon. Illus. Tim Bowers. New York: Viking-Penguin Young Readers Group, 2013. Without didacticism, this picture book explores the plight of those who are not “typical;” along the way, it highlights the value of peacemaking. Crispin Blaze, the child of a long, proud line of dragons who breathe fire, breathes everything but. Band-Aids, bubbles and teddy bears are amongst his pacifying emissions. Finding acceptance in a world of knights and dragons becomes his challenge.Not intended as “beginning-to-read” material, the text is still admirably written for oral presentation by either a proficient reader or a storyteller. Phrasing and structure promote the build up of suspense. Sentences are generally short and crisp, allowing, as appropriate, for the dramatic pause. The vocabulary is well chosen, varied, and unpretentious. The storyline should prove both amusing and satisfying to kindergarten and primary school children.Tim Bower’s illustrations add to the humour of the tale. They are large and clearly delineated—a good accompaniment to the text when seen at normal reading distance. Bower’s colour palette, however, is sometimes delicate. Viewed from the distance at which a story hour audience might see them, some images seem to meld. Others are perfectly fine for group viewing: good choices would be Crispin’s exhalations of both birthday streamers and teddy bears.All in all, this book provokes spontaneous laughter and subtle reflection. Parents, teachers and librarians will find many occasions on which to present it.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Leslie AitkenLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Why Don't Library Science Students Want to Become Managers?

Column Editor's NoteThis JLA column will consider issues of education and training for management positions in libraries and other information organizations from the perspectives of both the provider and the recipient. The column will appear in odd-numbered issues of the journal and focus on management education/training at various stages of the individual's career including the effectiveness of these efforts, their content, and the specific challenges of teaching and learning within the field of librarianship. The column will address both theoretical and practical concerns. Prospective authors are invited to submit articles for this column to the editor at aa3805@wayne.edu.Very few students who have taken Wayne State University's required management course from me have any interest in library careers in management. Some are even more firm in their decision after taking the course though most graduates will have management responsibilities in their first library position and some will manage a small library. I polled current students and recent graduates about this reluctance. The sixteen responses considered the following possible causes: personality traits, a preference for traditional library activities, a dislike of managerial responsibilities, prior management experience, and salary. Additional, more systematic research is needed to test this hypothesis.

A Human Resources Dilemma? Emergent Themes in the Experiences of Part-Time Librarians

ABSTRACTAlthough many newly-graduated librarians are applying for and accepting part-time library employment after graduation, little research has been done into what working part-time means for these early career librarians. This article, based on a survey of recent LIS graduates who have worked part-time, provides a snapshot of part-time library employment and the advantages and disadvantages it affords to new librarians. This information is particularly relevant in light of the difficult job market for entry-level librarians. All of the surveyed librarians have worked in at least one part-time professional or paraprofessional position in a library after receiving their degree. Many of these respondents describe holding multiple part-time positions and receiving low salaries and few, if any, employment benefits. The themes documented in the open-ended short answers of these part-time librarians will help to guide further research into the professional and personal impact of part-time employment.

Does Gender Matter? University Library Access and Career Preparedness

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine how the gender of distance learning students related to variables such as the perception of the availability of library resources, technology available at home and work, technology provided by a university for distance learning, and career preparedness. A total of 166 master’s students in the last semester of their degree program submitted answers to a self-administered online survey designed to collect information about their degree program experiences. The results of the study indicated that female students felt more prepared by their degree programs when they felt library resources were accessible. Females were also more likely to feel library materials were available if they believed the university’s distance learning technology was reliable and that web-based technology provided by the university was adequate. Both genders were more likely to feel they had access to library resources when they felt they had adequate information technology at home or work. Based on these results, it is recommended that faculty collaborate with librarians to market library services so that students are aware of the resources that are available to them. Moreover, implementing strategies such as differentiated learning and optional gender-based library training sessions that utilize learning styles preferred by each gender may be beneficial for students.

OpenCon2014 in Washington DC, November 2014. Early Career Researchers and Open Access Advocacy

Purpose – This paper aims to give an overview of OpenCon 2014, organized by the Right to Research Coalition, SPARC (The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) and an organizing committee of students and early career researchers from around the world that took place between the 14th and 17th of November 2014 in Washington DC. Design/methodology/approach – A narrative approach was used to describe events. Findings – OpenCon 2014 is an exciting new conference that targets early career librarians and researchers who are involved with and/or interested in aspects of the open-access movement. It is attempting to galvanize the upcoming generation of scholars to demand more of traditional publishing models by bringing together a selective group that spans diverse interests and experience levels. Originality/value – This report outlines the author's takeaways and opinions concerning the events of the conference, as well as identifies some of the themes and issues that were relevant to librarians in research institutions.

A History of New Jersey Libraries, 1997–2012

Note: The reviewer began his storied professional library career more than thirty-five years ago at a New Jersey library, the Atlantic City Free Public Library, and wrote a master's thesis on the history of the Margate Public Library in Margate, New Jersey.

From Lands of the Night by T. Mollel

Mollel, Tololwa. From Lands of the Night. Illus. Darrell McCalla. Markham, Ontario: Red Deer Press, 2014. Print.In this work, a well-known author and storyteller, Tololwa Mollel, has drawn upon the folk customs of East Africa to illustrate how one family deals with critical illness. The tale is set in contemporary times and is told through the eyes of a child. Briefly, a feverish baby seems beyond the help of standard medical practice and, thus, his parents turn to a traditional healer for help. Under the healer’s guidance, they invite friends, neighbours and relatives to a “joyful celebration.” The healer summons guests from lands of the night: ancestors, angels, and even Mola, who is God. There follows a night of feasting, singing and dancing. Darrell McCalla’s watercolors brilliantly convey the otherworldliness of the occasion. The baby revives.Mollel’s text is well written for reading aloud or telling: in fact, anyone who has ever heard him perform will sense his voice engaging the listener throughout the story.In an author’s note, Mollel tells us of his intention to marry the traditional with the contemporary in writing of his native Tanzania. In doing so, he bridges the distance between the real and the imaginary world very subtly. No rabbit hole, no magic wardrobe, no melting railway station wall signals that we have entered a place where faith and magic are freely at work. It is left to the reader to suspend disbelief – or not -- respecting the baby’s recovery.Who then, will suspend disbelief? Young children who move effortlessly between the worlds of reality and magic will clearly accept and welcome the arrival of helpers from lands of the night. Many adults will be skeptical about the efficacy of the “joyful celebration;” nonetheless, they will be fascinated with the tradition that Mollel has here revealed.But the book may be troubling to some. We cannot ignore the current climate in which it has been published. In recent months, news of the incremental spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa has dominated the news. The World Health Organization declared this epidemic to be the most serious global health concern of our times. Those countries outside of Africa to which the virus has been carried entered “red alert” mode, and certain segments of their populations panicked. In the context of these realities, librarians might want to be prepared for the patron who storms in waving the book and demanding, “Why are you advocating miracle cures as a way of dealing with plague?” There are plenty of good responses: have them at the ready.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Leslie AitkenLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Every Day is Malala Day by R.A. McCarney & Plan International Canada

McCarney, Rosemary A. and Plan International Canada. Every Day is Malala Day. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2014. Print.In 2013, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize: in 2014 she became the youngest person ever to win one. This book is a simple and eloquent tribute to her achievement. Malala’s name and story have much contemporary resonance. The Taliban’s attempted assassination of her in October of 2012 was instantly conveyed around the globe by the international media. This Pakistani school girl, who was outspoken on the issue of female education, had been shot while riding innocently home on a school bus. Flown to England, she was hospitalized, underwent surgery, fought for life and survived. With recovery came renewed defiance of her would be assassins. Malala continued to speak out in her cause — most notably at the United Nations Youth Assembly on July 12, 2013 where she riveted the attention not only of the 1000 delegates present, but also of the entire listening world. The Secretary General of the United Nations proclaimed that day to be “Malala Day.”The premise of McCarney’s book is that every day is “Malala Day” for some little girl, somewhere. Plan International has contributed sensitive photographs from around the world attesting to McCarney’s theme: Malala’s courage and determination are a beacon of hope, a source of inspiration.This book details a piece of history not to be forgotten. Buy it. Buy it for your libraries and classrooms. Buy it for the children you love — and their children. Buy it for that bright and future day when all children, regardless of gender, have the opportunity to be educated, and a complacent world asks, “Was it not always thus?”Reviewer: Leslie AitkenHighly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

A Day at School / Une Journée à L’école by S. Cordier & C. Lacroix

Cordier, Séverine and Cynthia Lacroix. A Day at School / Une Journée à L’école. Trans. Sarah Quinn. Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2013. Print. The format co-creators Cordier and Lacroix use in Picture My Day, Picture My World, and A Day at the Farm succeeds very nicely in this picture book as well. Their success has much to do with both their sensitivity to the target audience (pre-school to grade one), and their anticipation of the book’s use. They provide abundant illustration, keeping the text very brief. Short sentences or mere labeling hint at, but do not force, the storyline. The latter is created, in large part, by the reader.This book would work very well in a one-on-one situation: one adult, one child. The adult might prompt,“Where do you think they went on their holidays? What are they buying for school? How are they getting ready for their day? I wonder where Mummy and the baby are going? Let’s see where Daddy and the children are going.” and so forth.Inspired by an array of color filled drawings, even a non-reading child could flesh out the story, making it the same every time—for comfort’s sake—or different every time—for variety’s sake. The key factor is the child’s involvement.The vocabulary used in the text is well within the range of the intended audience. Most five-year-olds would begin to memorize the text after a few readings; most grade ones would actually recognize and read the words by the end of their first year at school. In sum, A Day at School is an invitation to imagine, to create, to read and to learn.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Leslie AitkenLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Adventures with Barefoot Critters by T. White

White, Teagan. Adventures with Barefoot Critters. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2014. Print.This ABC book has an insouciant air; it completely avoids the “A is for Apple” format. Generally, alphabet books highlight the capitalized (and, sometimes, lower case) forms of each alphabet letter, illustrating their sounds with familiar nouns. Not so, White’s picture book.White fastens on any part of speech she pleases to illustrate the sounds of the letters. Sometimes she creates considerable “phonic resonance:” C In February we catch colds and can’t go out to play. Sometimes, not so much: U We make cozy campfires and eat under the stars.The words italicized in this review are not italicized in the original text; they are printed in a deeper tone of ink than the rest of the sentence. The technique is not wholly successful. In lamplight, for example, the degree of contrast is much diminished, particularly where the printer has used sepia toned or purple inks. (Colour-blind children might have great difficulty in seeing any contrast whatsoever.)Set against these difficulties are White’s enchanting illustrations. Her “critters” represent various eras and classes of fauna. Furry mammals, birds, and at least one heart stealing triceratops caper through the seasons. They are seen not only catching colds in February, but also planting in April, picnicking in July, raking leaves in September and flooding rinks in December. Through the medium of watercolour, White creates images that are delicate and detailed, inviting the preschool child to linger and to imagine. All in all, this is a beautiful and calming bedtime story — best read in good light.Reviewer: Leslie AitkenRecommended: 3 out of 4 starsLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Paying it forward

Purpose – The purpose of this column is to address the role of a mentor in a library career. Design/methodology/approach – Opinion piece. Practical implications – Having a mentor serves to unleash employees potential. Social implications – The positive role of a having a mentor and serving as a mentor. Originality/value – Original opinion piece.

Reviews

Reviews

The Life of Patriarch Ignatius by Nicetas David (review)

Reviewed by: The Life of Patriarch Ignatius by Nicetas David Andrew Louth The Life of Patriarch Ignatius. By Nicetas David. Text and translation by Andrew Smithies, with notes by John M. Duffy. [Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzanti-nae, Vol. LI.] (Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. Distrib. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. 2013. Pp. xxxviii, 194. $30.00. ISBN 978-0-88402-381-4.) About twenty-five years ago, Andrew Smithies submitted as a doctoral dissertation a critical text and translation of the Life of Ignatius, ascribed to Nicetas David the Paphlagonian. Since then he has pursued a career in librarianship, and his thesis has been consulted frequently, but with inevitable difficulty. This text and translation has now been published, with notes added by John M. Duffy. The Vita Ignatii is a (very partisan) account of Ignatius, who was the son of Michael II Rangabe, was originally named Nicetas, and was briefly emperor in the confused years between the death of Emperor Nicephorus (whose skull ended up, inlaid with silver, as a drinking bowl for the Bulgarian Khan Krum) and the accession of Emperor Leo V, who reintroduced iconoclasm. Later in the ninth century, Nicetas (now Ignatius, and emasculated and tonsured by Leo) succeeded Methodius, the patriarch who had overseen the end of iconoclasm. It was most likely a political appointment, and as the political climate changed, Ignatius was deposed as patriarch and replaced by Photius who, with another shift in the political landscape, found himself deposed and Ignatius reinstated. From the point of view of the supporters of Ignatius, [End Page 809] Photius was a figure of hate, and this Vita expresses their point of view eloquently. Nicetas David, the biographer, acknowledges Photius’s vast intellectual culture and wealth, with which “every book found its way into his possession” (Vita 21, p. 35); he acknowledges, too, that, once a churchman by per saltum ordination, he devoted himself to ecclesiastical learning. Nevertheless, he is presented as a man of overbearing pride, whose learning and culture became the basis for corruption and compromise with the secular authorities. The Vita Ignatii is one of the main sources for the vilification of Photius. The supporters of Ignatius called on Pope Nicholas to investigate Photius’s accession to the patriarchal throne: a strategic opportunity to exercise papal claims within the Byzantine Empire. This set in motion a sequence of events, which included Khan Boris’s attempts to play Rome off against Constantinople as he came to embrace Christianity, that led to the Photian schism in the 860s. Duffy’s clear and concise notes to the translation set the evidence provided by the Vita in the context of the other accounts we have of these events and scholarly discussion of them. The ninth century was an important and complex century for Byzantium, as the empire emerged from the troubled years of iconoclasm into a world in which the rift between East and West had become more firmly established, and both papacy and patriarchate found themselves able to develop a more defined identity. History-writing in the ninth century in Byzantium is, more than ever, an attempt to tell a story from the perspectives of various groups claiming to define the world in which they were living. Within Byzantium, these encompassed the newly confident patriarchal court and various monastic groups, most obviously the Studites. The papal court, too, was busily gathering material to support a papal view of the history of the Empire, notably in the material translated by Anastasius the Librarian. The Vita Ignatii is an important element in this bid to interpret the past with a view to the future. It is very good to have it available in an excellent critical edition and accurate translation, supported by invaluable notes. Andrew Louth University of Durham, UK Copyright © 2014 The Catholic University of America Press

Emotional intelligence in a stupid world

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to review the five emotional intelligence (EI) competencies as originally outlined by Daniel Goleman but within the context of academic libraries. EI skills can be more important to have than intellectual ability in creating effective organizations. Academic librarians, particularly those in leadership positions, need to be mindful of EI competencies to avoid miscommunication when working with colleagues. Used skillfully, EI has the ability to build more cohesive and stronger collaborations inside and outside the library. EI is just as important for early career librarians as it is for those in senior management positions. Design/methodology/approach – This article reviews the five EI competencies as originally outlined by Daniel Goleman but within the context of academic libraries. It focuses on empathy to demonstrate how its application in libraries can facilitate teamwork, engender better cooperation and strengthen an organization’s culture. Findings – Most library literature focuses on EI skills as related to senior-level positions. There is a need for researchers to explore the understanding of EI skills throughout the entire library structure, including how to screen for EI during the hiring process and develop EI skills among existing staff. Practical implications – Librarians will learn how hiring for EI competencies at all levels will benefit the work environment within academic libraries, as well as how to develop and improve their own EI skills using complementary techniques. Originality/value – Readers will increase their awareness of how EI can benefit them and their colleagues regardless of whether they have structural (formal) or informal leadership roles in academic libraries, as well as how it leads to professional and personal growth.

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur by L. Bailey

Bailey, Linda. If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur. Illus. Colin Jack. Toronto: Tundra Books-Random House of Canada, 2014. Print.Author, illustrator, and publisher, here, have produced a winning fiction for the child who is going through his or her “dinosaur phase.” All manner of dinosaurs – bipeds and quadrupeds, giants and midgets, winged and horned, parade through this picture book in glorious color. We are invited to consider a quite exhaustive list of uses for these creatures – should we happen to have any “lying around the living room.” A typically delightful illustration features a bright blue brontosaurus (otherwise known as an “apatosaurus”) being used to jack up the family van; it is just one of countless suggestions for dinosaur usage.Technically, the book is perfect for its intended audience. The drawings are clear, well defined and boldly colored. The font is large. The text is perfectly married to the illustrations. It is also well within the spoken vocabulary of kindergarten and primary school children. The pre-reader will probably memorize it fairly quickly. The beginning reader will see in context those words that are not part of the early reading curriculum, and, after a time or two through with adult help, should be able to read the book independently.All in all, this book is a romp. Find your inner seven-year-old, read it, and have a good giggle.Reviewer: Leslie AitkenHighly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Zebra Stripes Go Head to Toe by. S. & S. Shapiro

Shapiro, Sheryl and Simon Shapiro. Zebra Stripes Go Head to Toe. Toronto: Annick Press, 2013. Print.The truth must be stated: the cover of this title aroused false hope in one particular five-year-old. Selecting it from a proffered array of picture books, he cried, “I want a story about a zebra!” It wasn’t. Still, it was a beautifully illustrated introduction to geometric shapes and terms: squares, cubes, and (mostly parallel) lines. The Shapiros build concepts with colorful and distinct examples that are quite within the experience, real or vicarious, of children. We see building blocks, crosswalks, and, yes, the striped patterning of the zebra on the front cover. The text, a series of rhyming couplets, is both playful and informative. The font is very suitable for kindergarten or primary grades. Undoubtedly, the book can be used to develop a child’s spatial understanding and linguistic precision.What then to do about that not so small problem: the dashed hopes that arise when a book that promises to be about a zebra turns out to be a math text? Next time, this reviewer will preface its offering with a statement of fact: “This book can make arithmetic fun.”Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Leslie AitkenLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Gabby, Drama Queen by J. Grant

Grant, Joyce. Gabby, Drama Queen. Illus. Jan Dolby. Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2013. Print.This book is best described as “busy.” The plot is both imaginative and complex, busying itself with a subplot—a play within a story, and incorporating spelling and phonics as integral elements of the text. The book features appended activity pages.Briefly, the protagonists, Gabby and Roy, become actors, bringing their stage and props into existence through the magic of letters spilled from a picture book Conveniently, they create a stage, a crown, and a stream. Children will probably not notice (but reading teachers will) that the story is a good introduction to lessons on consonant blends.The illustrations are cheerful, whimsical, and, once again, busy; they should engage a child’s attention. Still, regarding the beginning reader, the book is inherently problematic. The child who is only just beginning to sound out and spell the words “crown” and “stream” will not be able to read independently such sentences as “Queen Gabriella swanned dramatically onto the stage.”If the book is to fulfill its dual purposes of instructing and entertaining the child reader, its first reading, at least, will require adult assistance. This reviewer would suggest de-emphasizing the didactic elements, and letting the playfulness of the storyline carry the day. Reviewer: Leslie AitkenRecommended: 3 stars out of 4Leslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is the former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Why Do We Fight?: Conflict, War, and Peace by N. Walker

Walker, Niki. Why Do We Fight?: Conflict, War, and Peace. Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2013. Print.In this work, Niki Walker explores the general nature of conflict. She relates basic aspects of international politics - the existence of power elites, the formation of alliances, the rise of disputes - to the politics of school life. Along the way, she defines such terms as “negotiation,” “mediation,” “arbitration” and “sanctions.” She mentions examples of 20th century warfare: the post WWII Cold War, the Suez Crisis, and outlines the history of the current crisis in Afghanistan. The role of the United Nations is discussed. Most impressive is her insertion of pertinent quotes; for example, the chapter entitled “Cooperation or Combat?” begins with the words of Indira Gandhi: “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.”Walker is an experienced writer of non-fiction for children and this work demonstrates her typical proficiency. The book is well organized with good transitions between successive chapters. The index is rather brief, but the terms therein are consistent with the text. There is an informative list of sources.In a departure from her usual literary style, Walker occasionally attempts to use trendy language. There is a risk here: the vernacular of today’s young reader may be rejected as dated by tomorrow’s. This quibble aside, the book is highly recommended for use with upper elementary students. In particular, it could be a useful resource for Remembrance Day activities. Reviewer: Leslie AitkenHighly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special and university collections. She is the former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Developing and managing electronic collections: the essentials

The complex issues associated with developing and managing electronic collections deserve special treatment, and library collection authority Peggy Johnson rises to the challenge with a book sure to become a benchmark for excellence. Providing comprehensive coverage of key issues and decision points, she offers advice on best practices for developing and managing these important resources for libraries of all types and sizes. With an emphasis on practical solutions that will provide effective and timely access to online resources for library users, she presents an in-depth look at The fundamentals of electronic resource planning, selection, and evaluation The evolving world of acquisition options, licenses, and contracts Fostering and maintaining positive relationships with vendors and publishers Budgeting and financial considerations, with guidance on how to collaborate across library organizational lines to acquire and manage e-content more efficiently Tips, informational sidebars, and suggested reading lists accompany each chapter, and an extensive glossary defines essential terms and concepts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Author Peggy Johnson began her library career as a music cataloger and has been a children's librarian in a public library, and serials cataloger, technical services head, and a senior collection development officer in academic libraries. In 2002, she served as interim university librarian at the University of Minnesota. Johnson has consulted on library development in Uganda, Rwanda, Morocco, and China. She is a frequent speaker and consultant on collection development and management and on change in libraries, two areas of particular interest. She edits the journal Technicalities: Information Forum for the Library Services Practitioner, has published numerous papers, and written and edited several books.

Commemorative edition / Gedenkuitgawe Dorothy L. Ivey

Dorothy L. Ivey has pursued a notable career in librarianship, spanning the period 1950 to 1995, two countries and work both as a practitioner and academic. She has combined this uncomplainingly with her other roles as spouse, parent and friend.