Books to Read - Part I

Greetings this Holiday Season!
The following books have come across my desk that are interesting reads..Check them out!

we who are dark: The Philosophical Foundations of Black Solidarity
By Tommie Shelby, 2005
The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, ISBN#: 0-674-01936-9
From the inside jacket: "African American History resounds with calls for black unity. From abolitionist times through the Black Power movement, it was widely seen as a means of securing a full share of America's promised freedom and equality. Book chapter titles include: Two conceptions of Black Nationalism; Class, Poverty, Nationalism; Black Solidarity after Black Power"...etc.

The Advancement of Learning: Building the Teaching Commons
By Mary Taylor Huber & Pat Hutchings, 2004
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, ISBN#: 978-0-7879-8115-0
From the inside jacket: "Explores the premise that the scholarship of teaching and learning holds the key to improving the quality of higher education".

Religion: and the Rise of Jim Crow in New Orleans
By James B. Bennett, 2005
Princeton University Press, ISBN# 0-691-12148-6
From the inside jacket: "Examines a difficult chapter in American religious history: the story of race prejudice in American Christianity; it explores the relationship between churches: black and white, Protestant and Catholic- and the emergence of the Jim Crow laws, statues that created a racial caste system in the American south.

Market Women: Black Women Entrepreneurs: Past, Present, and Future
By Cheryl A. Smith, 2005
Praeger Publishers, Westport, CT, ISBN# 0-275-98379-X
From the inside jacket: Featuring in-depth interviews with 19 present day entrepreneurs, Smith reveals an approach to business that is based on personal relationships, pooling of resources, a sense of humor, apprentiseship and mentoring, and strong mother-daughter bonds that defy traditional definitions of business success".

Free Books for Libraries

Hi All,
Since the last time I posted something on this blog, I have been really busy: reading, writing, and submitting items for publication consideration. If I am not teaching classes or attending meetings, I am in my cubicle office typing away on my keyboard.

Anyway.........

The American Library Association is offering free books for libraries campaign. Especially K-12 and Public Libraries. Libraries will receive a collection of 15 classic hardcover books for young readers, all related to theme, "Becoming American". 1,000 libraries will receive this gift in the Spring of 2006.

The only requirement is that your library must plan programs that introduce "Becoming American" theme and books . The programs should be scheduled between May1, 2006-May 31, 2007.

For more information:

http://www.wethepeople.com by applying online betweeen Sept. 6, 2005-January 17, 2005.

Good Luck!
Leslie

Sweet Honey in the Rock

I want to share some inspiring music from a soulful and spiritually enriching group of dynamic women known as Sweet Honey in the Rock. Sometimes its just good to rejuvenate one's spirit by listing to some soul stirring musical inspiration.....Enjoy!

Live at NPR - November 10, 2005
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5007357

--Leslie

All about Crocheting

One of my favorite pasttimes is crocheting that I learned from my paternal grandmother. We would spend hours making blankets, etc..... I came across the following links and thought I would share with anyone interested in the Blog-0-phere!

Crochet Guild of America's
Official Web Site:http://www.crochet.org/

Crochet Pattern Central
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/

Patchwork Crochet for contemporary creativity
http://www.patchworkcrochet.com/

Mrs. Rosa Parks - Funeral Services Information

Good Afternoon,

Following are links to view some of the funeral highlights for the mother of the modern day Civil Rights Movement in America. In particular, the moving remarks from Dr. Charles Adams, Pastor-Hartford Memorial Baptist Church (Detroit), Minister Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Bishop T.D. Jakes from the following links.

The words of justice, responsibility, taking up one's cross, etc.., resonates a call to action, but most importantly a call to see that all things in this life we are blessed with are on the shoulders and backs of our beautiful ancestors. The message is clear, we have a responsibility.......


http://www.clickondetroit.com/index.html
http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm7103_20051102.htm

Leslie

Electronic Resources on Autism Spectrum Disorders

Being a newly minted librarian who has joined the professional organizations, I get subscriptions to magazines that are library information related. One such magazine, College & Research Libraries (October , 2005: Vol. 66, No.5) provided a listing of some really good sources of information regarding Austism. I actually referred the following resources to persons who are in need of this information from this volume:

What is Autism? From the Autism Society of America (ASA)
http://asa.convio.net/site/PageSaver?pagename=whatisautism.

Autism fact sheet from Child Development Institute
http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/disorders/autism_fact_sheet.shtml

Autism Resources
http://www.autism-resources.com

-Leslie

In Honor of Mrs. Rosa Parks

Greetings,

I had the most profound pleasure to have met the woman who has an important place in African American History: Mrs. Rosa Parks. My former high school in Detroit: St. Martin dePorres High School invited Mrs. Parks to speak to the junior class about leadership; she was phenominal and because I was class president, I got the opportunity to talk with her privately for a few moments. I was honored and humbled to be in her presence.

I got word directly from Detroit, MI from my brother-in-law of Mrs. Parks passing on Monday, October 24, 2005. The Detroit Newspapers mentioned that she passed away quietly in her Detroit home amongst family and friends. If you would like to read more about this gracious and quiet warrior woman, please check out the following links:

ROSA LOUISE PARKS: 1913 - 2005, Good-bye, Mrs. Parks
http://www.freep.com/news/metro/parksobit25e_20051025.htm

MOTHER OF THE MOVEMENT: Rosa 1913-2005 Parks
http://www.detnews.com/2005/specialreport/0510/25/index.htm

Detroit cherishes indomitable spirit of civil rights pioneer
http://www.detnews.com/2005/specialreport/0510/25/Po4-360115.htm

-Leslie

African American Studies Reference Sources

I am working on my syllabus for a Library Instruction Course (I will be teaching) during the Winter Term (2006) and I thought it might be a great idea to share what I have found in my research of print sources (books) at the library in which I work:

Adeeko, Adeleke. The Slave's rebellion: Literature, History, Orature. Indiana University Press (2005). ISBN -0253345960.

Beyan, Amos Jones. African American settlements in West Africa: John Brown Russwurm and the American Civilizing. New York: Palgrave Press (2005). ISBN: 1403968918.

Holmes, Barbara Ann. Joy Unspeakable: Contempletative Practices of the Black Church. Minneapolis: Fortress Press (2004). ISBN: 0800636430.

Nesbitt, Francis Njubi. Race for Sanctions: African Americans Against Apartheid. Indiana University Press (2004). ISBN: 0253342325.

Taketani, Etsuko. U.S. Women Writers and the Discourse of Colonialism, 1825-1861. University of Tennessee Press, (2003). ISBN: 1572332271.

These are excellent sources for Africana Studies students, faculty, and history buffs.

Enjoy!

Semester At Sea

I came across some information re: study abroad programs. This one is really interesting because college/university students can study abroad via a cruise ship to visit lots of countries. If you are an undergraduate student, faculty member, or researcher in higher education, you might want to consider the information at the following website:

Semester at Sea
http://www.semesteratsea.com/programs.html

In Honor of A Great African-American Playright

Greetings....

In reading the New York Times (two days late), I learned that one of the Greatest African American Playrights, Mr. August Wilson succumbed to liver cancer on Sunday, October 2, 2005. I remember my first experience of one of his plays, "The Piano Lesson" in Detroit, MI. The experience was life changing and memorable. He wrote plays about Black People's lives covering every decade in the 20th century. He didn't "homgenize" Black People's stories in his plays. He wrote honestly and without apology. His plays are pure poetry. He will be truly missed. If you ever get an opportunity to experience one of his plays, you will be deeply moved and impacted in a very meaningful way.

Some Internet Sources about August Wilson:

August Wilson @ Darthmouth:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~awilson/

August Wilson Information
http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc48.html

August Wilson- Fences, and the Piano Lesson: Lesson Plans and
other Teaching Resources
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/awilson.html

August Wilson's Obituary from my hometown newspaper:

http://www.freep.com/news/obituaries/wilson4e_20051004.htm

Hurricane Katrina Volunteer Opportunity

If you are interested in volunteering your time and talents as an
Information Specialist, please check out the following information below:

This organization called the Geaux Library needs
Librarians both on-site and remotely...they are
working in Louisiana shelters with survivors
setting up computer networks and helping folks find
information online such as locating loved ones;
finding housing and jobs; replacing lost documents
such as birth certificates and passports;
coaching folks with limited computer skills
on how to navigate the Internet, etc. You can
also answer reference questions remotely if
you cannot get down South to help in person:

http://www.geauxlibrary.org/


I didn't see information about this on the
ALA website, and wanted to get as many
Librarians and Information Specialists in
the loop as possible. If you don't find
plain old data entry, you can also help out
from your own home computer with PeopleFinder:

http://www.katrinahelp.info/wiki/index.php/PeopleFinderVolunt

Library Listservs

Greetings,

Below, please find a listing of library listserv's for information enthusiasts!

~Leslie

************************************************************************************

The first two are about literacy issues:

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/nifl-aalpd/aalpd.html

To the left of this screen you will see subscribe, click it, and follow the directions. :)

http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/nifl-esl/english_second_language.html

You subscribe to this one in the same way that you subscribe to the first link I posted.

Academic libraries/literacy listserv:
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/acrlinfolit/professactivity/electroniclists/electroniclists.htm

The instructions on how to join are right on the front page. Also it mentions archive availability which I always find to be very useful. More listservs......

http://www.lsoft.com/scripts/wl.exe?SL1=LIBREF&H=LISTSERV.UOGUELPH.CA

http://www.ala.org/ala/acrlbucket/is/ilil.htm

http://mingo.info-science.uiowa.edu/courses/adults/library_listservs.html

https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/pubyac

Youth oriented listservs.........

Yalsa-bk is about quality young adult literature:

1. Go to http://lists.ala.org/wws/info/yalsa-bk
2. Click on either 'subscribe' or 'unsubscribe' on the left hand side
3. Enter your email address and hit the gray button


Pub-yac is a great listserv for youth service librarians:
Go here and follow directions:

Employment Opportunities re: Hurricane Katrina

Good Morning,

I recieved an email this morning from a former colleague From New York's FEMA office with the following information. Unfortunately, these employment opportunities are not available for evacuees from the Gulf Coast region to take advantage of:

JOB OPENINGS

FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is recruiting through its hiring agent, AppleOne, for Customer Service Representatives ("CSRs") to staff its new Chicago call center. This call center is being opened in Chicago this week to help FEMA handle the estimated 50,000 daily calls it is receiving. Due to this state of emergency, Customer Service Representatives will be hired immediately for temporary positions.

<>
Here are the details concerning the position:

• Hourly payrate of $14.00/hr
• Shifts available during all hours of operation -- 7a-7p -- seven days a week (with generous overtime)
• Downtown location near Northwestern and Union train stations
• CSR's need to be able to handle large volumes of calls from distressed individuals
• CSR's must be able to type 35 words per minute
• CSR's must be able to pass a background check.

Please call AppleOne's downtown office today at 312-236-4645 for more information today.

Construction
Construction company hiring 1000 people to help with hurricane clean up.

$10/hr, 80-90 hrs weekly, food, lodging, transportation to area. Start immediately, could go on for 1-2 yrs. Anyone interested can call directly to: LVI Services, 713-991-0480

SBA
The SBA Disaster Assistance Office in Fort Worth is looking to hire 300 to 400 people immediately to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Positions are loan officers, attorneys, paralegals and customer service reps. The fax numbers for resumes are
817-684-5621 or 817-684-5799.

Please use the info yourself or pass it along to someone who is looking for work. ? This is a great opportunity to help the disaster victims while earning good pay.

A Steve Jobs Message

This is an AWESOME message from Steve Jobs of Apple:

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505

Peace,
Leslie

Hurricane Katrina Information

I have been grappling with a lot of emotions since Hurricane Katrina. On a personal note, my extended family and former colleagues have been affected by this Hurricane. Attached below is a link I found from the Chronicle of Higher Education for individuals and persons interested in finding out about their colleges and universities affected by this storm:

http://chronicle.com/katrina/

Check it out; I was able to touch base with former colleagues who were affected by the storms.

Blessings,
Leslie

Microsoft 12

I know, its been awhile..check out the news about Microsoft 12 due out in mid-2006.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MICROSOFT_OFFICE?SITE=MIDTF&SECTION=HOME

Take Care,
Leslie

Article "Has Google Peaked?"

In the wake of Google Talk, check out this article by Robert X. Cringely:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050825.html


--Leslie

The Artist's Toolkit

Greetings!

In reading my e-mails from the Special Libraries Association, I came across this website. Artists who are having "brain farts" will find this a good site to do a creative simulation in order to stimulate your creativity.......

http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/explore.cfm

--Leslie

Information Literacy as a Liberal Art

It's been a while since I last posted. I've decided to change the name because I am now an official Academic Librarian. I am really excited and enthusiastic about my current opportunity. The focus of one of my projects is information literacy. The attached article poses the question of looking at Information Literacy as a Liberal Art. Check it out, and your comments would be really appreciated.

Leslie


This is an Educom review:
http://www.educause.edu/pub/er/review/reviewarticles/31231.html

Misc. Musings for Information Professionals

It;s been a while since I last posted to my blog. I am in the process of relocating to Indiana for an exciting and adventuous position in Academic Librarianship! Below, you will find some rather interesting sites that I would highly recommend for your information pleasure...Enjoy!

FreePint: This is an online network of information searchers. As stated in their newsletter," It's packed with tips on finding quality and reliable business information on the Internet".
http://www.freepint.com/issues/300605.htm

This is an interesting article.....

Does Your Company Need a Chief Risk Officer?
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/43737.html

Forrester analyst Michael Rasmussen said the C-level risk-related position is emerging in part because corporations are overwhelmed by the compliance challenges they face.

Movie Librarians:Notable Librarians & Libraries in film

I really like this web-site created by Antoinette Graham of Mocanopy, Florida.
She has created a wonderful bibliography of relating to movies and librarians.
Check it out!
--Leslie

http://home.earthlink.net/~movielibrarians/

Urban Library Journal

Check out the following link. This is a web link associated with the Library Association of the City University of New York.

http://lacuny.cuny.edu/ulj/tables.htm

Librarian and Information Science News

Hello Everyone!

I've been in the process of getting my self together to move from Michigan to Indiana and have not had time to update my Blog. Check out this interesting Blog for Librarians and Information Science students. Lots of good discussion....

http://www.lisnews.com/hof.pl

Check out this fake documentary...

"EPIC 2014" is a slick 8-minute fake documentary set in 2014 on what happens when Google and Amazon merge and largely take over the info world. It might be an interesting piece to use in an information literacy session to get students thinking about evaluation.

https://mirapointms3.wayne.edu/cgi-bin/fetch.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.robinsloan.com%2Fepic%2F

LLRX.com

Hi There,
Another wonderful link to online information......

"LLRX.com is a unique, free, independent webzine on legal research, resources, applications, and technology for librarians and legal professionals since 1996" - As quoted by its author, Sabrina I. Pacifici.

If you are into finding information sources in the legal area, as well as some other areas, this might be a good place to sign up for its listserv announcing what new information has been added.

http://www.llrx.com

Good Luck!
Leslie

Internet Library for Librarians

Good Afternoon!

I found an interesting online library for librarians. It's entitled:
"Internet Library for Librarians: A portal designed for Librarians to locate internet resources related to their profession".

What I found useful in conducting reference services this morning was utilizing their link to Book Awards. You will find important information on the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, etc.

Check it out:
http://www.itcompany.com/inforetriever/acq_r_aw.htm

Interactive Tutorials: Books, Articles, and Evaluation

Author: Kathy Keairns, Peggy Keeran, Erin Pheil, and Nonny SchlotzhauerInstitution: University of Denver

Interviewer: Barbara Petersohn
The full interview and browse the archive of previous profiles,please seehttps://mirapointms3.wayne.edu/cgi-bin/fetch.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ala.org%2Fala%2Facrlbucket%2Fis%2Fiscommittees%2Fwebpages%2Femergingtech%2Fsite/index.htm.

Description: These Flash tutorials are intended to assist the novice user of Penrose Library with library research. They are intended to supplement classroominstruction by librarians. There are 3 tutorials, one each for findingbooks, finding articles, and evaluating resources, and are intended to beviewed as a series. The tutorials are accompanied by 2 assessment quizzes (one for finding books and articles, the other for evaluating resources) that are used by instructors in the First Year English program to assess student comprehension of library research.

http://library.du.edu/FindIt/HelpWithResearch/

More Librarians with Blogs

Hello There!
I came across some additional Librarian blogs that I hope you will find interesting. Check it out:

The Vampire Librarian: Because those are the hours I keep and that's the job I have.
http://www.vampirelibrarian.blogspot.com/2005/05/so-i-get-this-phone-call-around-3am.html

The Feel Good Librarian: Why we do this.
http://feelgoodlibrarian.typepad.com/

Confessions of a Mad Librarian: A forum for the discussion of library and information topics and interests by a rank amateur, a dilettante, and a gadabout.
http://edwards.orcas.net/~misseli/blog/

Info Tech Tips and Trends -- Clicker Culture

I am part of an Information Literacy Listserv of Academic Librarians who share information about their experiences and or advice on how to enhance their Information Literacy Instruction sessions. Jennifer E. Knievel, a librarian from the University of Colorado recently shared the following information..Check it out:

"The Emerging Technologies in Instruction Committee would like to introduce you to a new technology that you might find useful, or a familiar technology you may not have used in library instruction yet. In this edition of Emerging Technologies "Tips and Trends," learn about the new "clicker" technology that is sweeping the nation's universities. Clicker Culture by Kate Adams o see this and other Tips and Trends articles, please go to:"

http://www.ala.org/ala/acrlbucket/is/iscommittees/webpages/emergingtech/techtips

Digital Libraries Bibliography

If you are interested in looking at some interesting examples of Digital Librarianship, then check out the link below.

--Leslie

http://info.lib.uh.edu/sepb/lbdiglib.htm

Booksense.com

Good Afternoon,

On the following website, I found a really interesting list of books for children to read during the Summer of 2005. In particular, I found the listing for children ages 9-12 a really good list of books. Check out the list!
--Leslie

Booksense.com

http://www.booksense.com/bspicks/kidspicks/sum05index.jsp

Mozilla Details Two New Security Flaws in Firefox

Hi There!

I knew sooner than later, something will have been said about flaws in Mozilla's Firefox.
Check out the link below.

http://www.newsbug.net/news/2005-05-10/h.php

Librarians At The Gate

Hi There!

I found an interesting blog that I wanted to share for anyone interested in checking it out.

http://librariansatthegate.blogspot.com

-Leslie

Bereavement Electronic Information Sources

Good Evening,

There are information sources available electronically for persons dealing with grief. I had a family dealing with the loss of relatives of various forms of cancer. They needed some information about how they could get some bereavement support to assist them in dealing with their grief. I wanted to share this with you just in case you might need this type of support.

Peace!
-Leslie

AARP - Grief and Loss Information Services
http://aarp.org/life/griefandloss

CLIMB: Center for loss in multiple births
http://climb-support.org/index.html/?about

Bereaved Families Information Services
http://growthhouse.org/famgrief.html

This is an internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss.
http://www.griefnet.org

A Good Print Source

Good Evening,

This afternoon, I had a student in search of reviews for academic journals. I was able to locate an excellent print source:

Magazines for Libraries
By Cheryl LaGuardia, Editor
ISBN: 0-8352-4541-1

Check it out!

An interesting electronic library

Good Evening All,
I came across this web-site in which the designers make the claim that they have carefully reviewed their resources, including the top 5% in educational resources for this site. Check it out, and tell me what you think.
Enjoy! -Leslie

http://www.awesomelibrary.org/

Librarians in the Movies

Hi There!

I found a very interesting website that talks about Librarians in the movies. This is a wonderful site to make up some really good trivia game questions or to see how Librarianship is marketed to the general public.

Enjoy!
--Leslie

LIBRARIANS IN THE MOVIES
http://emp.byui.edu/raishm/films/introduction.html

Feeds & Aggragators.....Information to know

The following links discuss the newest venture in technology as yet another alternative to communicating electronically. Check it out.
--Leslie

Podcast Information and How To AudioBlog by Phone, and RSS Instructions.
Blogs, webcasts, audiocasts, podcasts, and rss maybe a lot of hubub over nothing. In the scheme of things are these important to know about or spend time to understand? Is it in anyway better to read these words on a blog somewhere than on the webpage you are looking at right now?
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/Technology/podcast.html

RAIN: Radio and Internet Newsletter
Daily news and commentary on the key issues involving radio and the internet.
http://www.kurthanson.com/archive/news/013105/index.asp

iPodlounge: All things iPod
http://www.ipodlounge.com

Christian Periodical Index

I had a Pastor come into the Library this evening, and I was able to locate some electronic information about Christian-based information in the media. Check out the links on this index page at:

http://www.indwes.edu/ocls/cpi/cpi_fulltext.html

Electronic sources I used this evening to help students with tonight........

African American World
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/index.html

Black Press USA
http://www.blackpressusa.com/

Black Facts Online
http://www.blackfacts.com/about.asp

Medline Plus-Health Information
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

Librarians: We do have a sense of humor....

I was thinking about a lot of ways Librarians are people who not only like to share information, but also like to share our varying degrees of humor and our take on the world of politics, history, popular culture, and so on.

Listed below are some wonderful links to web-sites and blogs of real life Librarians. Check it out and share your comments with me.

"The Days & Nights of the Lipstick Librarian!
http://lipsticklibrarian.com/blog

"The Laughing Librarian"
http://laughinglibrarian.com

Library Juice: Intellectual Freedom, Social Responsibility, and a Protean Fire"
http://libr.org/juice/

"Bookslut: A well-written blog of book reviews and commentary"
http://www.bookslut.com

"The Warrior Librarian"
http://warriorlibrarian.com

Standards for Teaching Information Literacy in an Academic Setting

Academic Librarians have a responsibility to add substance to the undergraduate curriculum through its Information Literacy Instruction courses. For more information about our guidelines so that you will gain a sense of what we do in the Academic setting, check out the following links:

Objectives for Information Literacy Instruction:A Model Statement for Academic Librarians
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/objectivesinformation.htm

Association of College & Research LibrariesGuidelines for Academic Status for College and University Librarians
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/guidelinesacademic.htm

Wayne State University Library & Information Science Program
http://www.lisp.wayne.edu/

Jobs and Resources in Library & Information Science
http://www.lisp.wayne.edu/jobs/index.htm

Digital Librarian Grant Opportunity @ Wayne State University
http://www.lisp.wayne.edu/digitallibrarian/index.html

The Urban Academic Librarian

Welcome to my Blog!

This blog was created as another avenue of getting information electronically. It is my hope that you will find the information useful, informative, and possibly thought provoking.

Most of my patrons are undergraduate/graduate students, faculty members, and people who reside in Metropolitan Detroit who find the information I provide useful for their research needs. Please feel free to send me your questions and I will try to find the answer using academic based resources. I will try to post as much information that may be useful at least once or twice a week. Enjoy!