American Library Association

Review
Reviewed Work(s): The Elements of Library Research: What Every Student Needs to Know
by Mary W. George
Review by: Eric Petersen
Source: Reference & User Services Quarterly, Vol. 49, No. 1 (Fall 2009), pp. 103-104
Published by: American Library Association
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20865204
Accessed: 17-07-2024 05:20 UTC

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 Reference Books

that can be duplicated and distributed at one's IL sessions as adult learners, and new readers tend to be neglected in many
well as used in curriculum development. The bibliographic library planning discussions. Easy Information Sources is time
exercises and scoring guides alone are worth the price of the ly because it brings attention to these groups and examines
book. Overall, Volkman has provided an unparalleled win ways to serve them. The purpose of this work is to list the
ner that every teacher and librarian should own.?Van Herd, best children's nonfiction books for this population and to
Reference Assistant, University of Oklahoma Libraries, Norman, discuss ways of choosing, using, organizing, and marketing
Oklahoma these books in the library. The first of the book's two parts
is a background discussion on how to use the information
sources discussed in the book, how to conduct reference in
Creating the Customer-Driven Academic Library. By Jeannette terviews with adults that might need such sources, and how
Woodward. Chicago: ALA, 2009. 208p. paper $58 (ISBN 0-8389 to house and promote this collection. The second part is a
0976-8). bibliography of titles of children's books that are suitable and
If students could design the perfect library, what would useful for adults. Special features include indexing by author,
it look like? Ask them. Jeannette Woodward writes on the title, and subject, and a separate bibliography of professional
subject of customer input in a conversational style based on resources for those looking for more information about as
her first-hand investigation of academic libraries. Woodward's sisting this group.
entire argument in this book is summed up in this statement: This book is a newer variation on an earlier book, Light 'n
"Unless customers tell us what they need and then immedi Lively Reads for ESL, Adult, and Teen Readers: A Thematic Bibli
ately become involved in the development of services to meet ography by La Vergne Rosow (Libraries Unlimited, 1996), but
those needs, we cannot expect to prosper in the twenty-first Easy Information Sources includes more specifics about devel
century" (50). Woodward touches on technology and con oping and housing the collection. The discussion throughout
cepts like Library 2.0. However, unlike Gibbons's The Aca part 1 of Easy Information Sources is the strongest and most
demic Library and the Net Gen Student (ALA, 2007), which is useful section of the book because it draws attention to this
concerned with students' use of technology and their research important service area and is very thorough in its coverage.
behaviors, Creating the Customer-Driven Academic Library The bibliography is somewhat helpful, but it is largely for
focuses on "the bricks and mortar" library and how the cus the librarian who is looking to purchase information sources
tomer sees it (viii). Woodward's book also varies from Gib that can be used by ESL students and adult learners. The
bons's in that she considers not only traditional undergradu bibliography includes just one or two books per subject,
ate students, but also nontraditional students and graduate which is of limited usefulness to the librarian working in a
students. "Marian," an example created by Woodward, is a reference setting.
nontraditional, married graduate student through whom the Easy Information Sources is useful for the librarian serving
reader vicariously experiences the library. Although Marian ESL learners, adult learners, and new readers. Strategies for
and other examples provide a unique perspective, Woodward promoting children's literature to adults, criteria for perform
sometimes seems to digress to other issues before reminding ing collection development, and methods for integrating chil
the reader that they are, in fact, still observing "Marian" (57). dren's nonfiction into the adult collection are rarely discussed
This tendency can be somewhat disconcerting, but does not in literature, which makes this book a valuable addition to
detract from the book's value overall. many professional collections. This resource will be most
In later chapters, Woodward discusses the entire process useful for public libraries that serve this population, but it is
of making a library more customer-driven, from planning recommended for middle and high schools serving the ESL
and budgets to evaluation and implementation, reminding population as well.?Katy Herrick, Children's Librarian, Dallas
the reader that not all projects have to be complete remodels. Public Library, Dallas, Texas
She includes a significant chapter on the information com
mons and how it should differ from a computer lab of yester
day. She also demonstrates an understanding of budget and The Elements of Library Research: What Every Student Needs to
staffing constraints, while encouraging librarians to remain a Know. By Mary W George. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Pr., 2008.
visible and vital part of the customer experience. Woodward 201p. paper $14.95 (ISBN 978-0-691-13857-2).
ultimately accomplishes her purpose, suggesting that libraries This volume promises to be a useful resource for college
must design services and spaces with the assistance of their students confronting their first library research assignment.
own, unique users.?Rebecca Weber, Reference and Instruction Writing in a conversational yet empowering style, George
Librarian, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida begins by conceptualizing library research with some potent
truisms; for example, "The logic of the library research pro
cess is the movement from what exists to what is worth us
Easy Information Sources for ESL, Adult Learners, and New ing" (21). Systematic analysis and evaluation are the guiding
Readers. By Rosemarie Riechel. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2009. principles here: George describes how to orient oneself to a
285p. paper $65 (ISBN 978-1-55570-650-0). new library building and website, browse a library bookshelf,
Services for English as a second language (ESL) learners, and create a research log. She stays true to the tenet that a

volume 49, issue 1 I 103

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 SOURCES
quality research project depends upon an answerable research libraries, but it contains such valuable legal information that
question by providing a detailed discussion of brainstorming. other types of libraries are likely to benefit from it as well.
She then moves into the task of searching for specific types of Over the course of seven chapters, Chmara touches on top
print and electronic resources. Her discussion of the benefits ics such as the First Amendment as it pertains to privacy and
of assigned-subject (versus keyword) searching should be confidentiality, state and federal laws and statutes, privacy
compelling and understandable to impatient Googlers. The and confidentiality concerns relating to the Internet and to
evaluation of sources is also described. She includes valuable the rights of minors, and the development of a privacy policy
material on the roles of imagination and insight (the "Aha!" for one's institution. In addition, an appendix is included that
moment) in research, demonstrating her thorough grasp of briefly summarizes the privacy and confidentiality statutes of
the psychology of information gathering. each of the fifty states (as of September 2008). The book is
George concludes by tackling the age-old student chal refreshingly jargon-free?all legal terms and abbreviations are
lenge of time management during the weeks before a project clearly defined. Privacy and Confidentiality Issues is a broad,
is due. She includes research timelines for projects assigned but useful, overview of its subject.
two, four, and six weeks in advance. A glossary also de Each of Chmara's chapters takes a question-and-answer
fines more than two hundred research terms. Arlene Rodda format, which enhances its readability and makes it useful
Quaratiello's The College Student's Research Companion (Neal as a quick guide to a variety of legal situations. Frequently,
Schuman, 2007) is also an excellent guide, although it focuses major points are repeated, which is jarringly repetitive upon
more on the actual use of library materials and electronic first reading; however, this kind of repetition makes sense for
resources; its coverage of research topic formulation is brief. readers using the book as a reference guide rather than read
However, it does contain high-quality material on specific ing it from beginning to end. Likewise, many of the questions
database interfaces and Internet searching. Combined, these seem posed or artificial?merely a way to provide further
two books would be a terrific set of textbooks for a semester information about a point or topic. However, this quality is
long library instruction course. likely to be useful for reference use by readers picking up the
The Elements oj Library Research is a very useful tool for book to learn about just one or two relevant topics. A variety
of scenarios familiar to librarians and library staff are laid
students struggling to identify a topic for a term paper, and it
effectively frames the subsequent information gathering as a out as examples, and for each scenario the author not only
challenging but fun treasure hunt. Highly recommended for presents the recommended action or appropriate person to
undergraduates.?Eric Petersen, Assistant Director of Library contact but also cites applicable laws and statutes. Case stud
Services, Dana College, Blair, Nebraska ies are included throughout the book as further examples.
The two most commendable qualities of Privacy and Con
fidentiality Issues are the practicality of the information given
Privacy and Confidentiality Issues: A Guide for Libraries and and the clarity with which that information is presented.
Their Lawyers. By Theresa Chmara. Chicago: ALA, 2009. 98p. This book will make an excellent go-to source for the sundry
paper $40 (ISBN 978-0-8389-0970-6). privacy and confidentiality concerns that libraries routinely
Approachable and succinct, Privacy and Confidential encounter.?Sarah McHone-Chase, Information Delivery Ser
ity Issues seems intended primarily for school and public vices Librarian, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

ABC-CLIO.5 Hoover's.cover 2
Annual Reviews.cover 3 MLA.7
Compendium.1 Omnigraphics.cover 4

104 | Reference & User Services Quarterly

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