Professional Reading: January 2012
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BODART, Joni Richards. They Suck, They Bite, They Eat, They Kill: The Psychological Meaning of Supernatural Monsters in Young Adult Fiction. No. 43. 260p. (Scarecrow Studies in Young Adult Literature Series). appendix. bibliog. index. notes. Scarecrow. 2011. Tr $45. ISBN 978-0-8108-8227-0; ebook $44.99. ISBN 978-0-8108-8228-7. LC number unavailable. HARLAND, Pamela Colburn. The Learning Commons: Seven Simple Steps to Transform Your Library. 112p. charts. photos. appendix. further reading. index. Web sites. CIP. Libraries Unlimited. 2011. pap. $40. ISBN 978-1-59884-517-4; ebook $40. ISBN 978-1-59884-518-1. LC 2010046019. LEHMAN, Katharine B. & Lori E. Donovan. Power Researchers: Transforming Student Library Aides into Action Learners. 172p. charts. appendix. bibliog. index. notes. CIP. Libraries Unlimited. 2011. pap. $40. ISBN 978-1-59884-911-0; ebook $40. ISBN 978-1-59884-912-7. LC 2011016037. MESSNER, Patricia A. & Brenda S. Copeland. School Library Spaces. illus. by authors. 100p. (Just the Basics Series). charts. diags. photos. further reading. index. Web sites. Libraries Unlimited. 2011. pap. $30. ISBN 978-1-59884-805-2; ebook $30. ISBN 978-1-59884-806-9. LC 2011002370.
This consideration of the rise of paranormal young adult fiction focuses on popular contemporary titles lightly contextualized in a historical frame. Bodart prefaces her discussion with commentary on the “culture of fear” surrounding today’s young adults, and how the perceived increased dangers in their lives make supernatural monsters a vicarious way to deal with them. The book is divided into four sections: “Vampires: The Aristocratic Monster”; “Shapeshifters: The Transforming Monster”; “Zombies: The Reanimated, Resurrected Monster; and “Angels, Unicorns, Demons: The Unexpectedly Deadly Monsters.” Each section opens with an overview of the literary and, when applicable, folkloric history of each supernatural being. Plot summaries of four popular contemporary offerings (single titles and series) follow, such as the Cynthia Leitich Smith’s “Tantalize” series (vampires) (Candlewick), Annette Curtis Klause’s Blood and Chocolate (shapeshifters) (Delacorte, 1997), A.J. Whitten’s The Cellar (zombies) (Houghton, 2011), and Diana Peterfreund’s “Rampant” series (unicorns) (HarperCollins). Excerpts from author interviews, including book-and-author related online resources, enrich the accessible text. Effort is made to connect the nature of the particular monster being discussed to the developmental stages of young adults, as well as to occurrences such as the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. Conspicuous by its absence is Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series (Little, Brown), which is mentioned obliquely: the author uses the undefined term “the Twilight effect” but does not expand on either the series or its impact. Bodart uses sources such as pop-culture icon Stephen King, developmental authorities Piaget and Erikson, and professional LIS journal articles to expand her discussion and inform her conclusions. While the analysis promised by the subtitle is uneven, this is an informative look at a popular publishing phenomenon. An appendix lists recent paranormal series titles (stand-alone, continuing, complete, and unknown) and provides a solid core for collections of this particular genre.–Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL
Written in clear, straightforward language, this enlightening book provides encouragement and recommendations for librarians and staff to step away from the traditional facility into the library of today and the future by creating, instead, a Learning Commons. Each of the seven chapters provides thoughtful steps, questions for evaluation purposes, ideas for changes, etc., all based on the author’s personal experiences in her New Hampshire school library. Harland shares many thoughts for developing a user-centered space, including simplifying library language, providing easier and friendlier access to assistance, weeding no longer used equipment and resources, and improving overall visibility. Other helpful suggestions include creating easily movable furniture and shelving, being more flexible with loan policies, and improving sustainability of the library website by using tools like blogs and wikis. The importance of developing a trust with students and faculty; joining forces with other departments, librarians, and community resources; and publicizing all assist in keeping the library relevant for students. Most useful is a section on how to implement the use of e-readers. Each chapter concludes with a helpful to-do list that serves as a chapter review as well as an implementation guide. Copious black-and-white figures support the information, and the appendixes include library activities, web page examples, a scavenger hunt, surveys, MLA formatting guides, and much more; all help in creating easily accessible information. An exciting, motivational resource.–Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE
Designed as a guide for ensuring that student library aides learn while working, this book has a complete library-skills curriculum for college-bound, independent-minded high school juniors and seniors. The authors provide detailed information lessons for student workers who also earn elective English credit for working in the library. They spent four years developing this course, and while the content changes according to technologies like web 2.0, the “scheduling format remains constant.” Each lesson guides students through an exercise/activity or research project, and is followed by a rubric for assessment and self-evaluation purposes. The lessons are not limited to use by student aides. Many can be applied to content classes as well. Chapters include “Shelving Dewey Style,” “Effective Internet Searching,” “Ethical Issues and Copyright,” “Steps to Information Literacy–Pathfinder Project,” “Creating a Web Presence: Taking the Pathfinder Project Online,” and “Preparing for the Twenty-first Century.” This text provides a good framework to train student workers and better prepare them for college research.–Wendy Scalfaro, G. Ray Bodley High School, Fulton, NY
This basic book provides a wealth of simple directions for those with limited library training who are stepping into a library position for the first time. User-friendly, no-nonsense suggestions for handling rudimentary organization and maintenance of shelves, pointers and themes for story corners, floor layouts, furnishings, and supplies–all provide helpful advice for operating a fun and productive program in an elementary setting. Recommendations for location of the circulation desk in regard to traffic flow, checkout procedures for automated systems or older methods, how to effectively display and circulate magazines, decorations and signage for creating interest in reading, bulletin-board ideas and recommendations for furnishings are all included. Diagrams and black-and-white photos provide examples throughout.–Susan Shaver, Hemingford Public Schools, NE
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