Reader’s Roundup: Monographic Musings & Reference Reviews

Column Editor: Corey Seeman (Director, Kresge Library Services, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan; Cell Phone: 734-717-9734) <cseeman@umich.edu> Twitter @cseeman

Column Editor’s Note: As I write this, late as usual, I am contemplating the end of the 2020-2021 academic year at the University of Michigan. Graduation was held virtually this past Friday and Saturday. The year was long, challenging and tiring. Though to be fair, it is not a situation that is unique to the Wolverines of Michigan — it was faced and faced again by schools and students and faculty and librarians from sea to shining sea. Who are we kidding, unless you are in Australia or New Zealand, it was really bad for you.

At the close of the academic year, we have that strange experience when the year ends, but almost immediately, it starts up again. This Friday, the Ross School of Business welcomes new students in the Weekend MBA program. What is more special about this event is that we will have in-person orientation. So I will be at Ross, this week, talking with students about library services that we provide. The best part is that I will be able to be in the same room as they are. So it will come with the pressure that if I tell a funny story, I will know immediately if they thought it was humorous. I guess that is the upside of orientations over Zoom.

Schools are bound an determined to make this Fall Term look more like what students have come to expect. Though it will not be exactly like 2019 and earlier, it will hopefully be more in-person and more interactive than Fall 2020. With that return of students to campus, we expect that the staff will return as well. This will also mean that the work normally done on campus will return. One of the elements that will return will be that time-honored tradition of receiving boxes of books to provide our students with a way for a deeper-dive into a subject. Like with students returning in bigger numbers this Fall, the same might be true for books. With the ability to select books again, I hope you find books here that will bring joy to the readers who take them from your shelves.

I am very fortunate to have a great crew of reviewers for Against the Grain. I thank my reviewers Jessica Brangiel (Swathmore College), Janet Crum (University of Arizona), Mary Gilbertson (University of Arkansas), Jane Meland (Michigan State University), Michelle Shea (Texas A&M - Central Texas) and Katherine Swart (Calvin University).

If you would like to be a reviewer for Against the Grain, please write me at <cseeman@umich.edu>. If you are a publisher and have a book you would like to see reviewed in a future column, please also write me directly. You can also find out more about the Reader’s Roundup here — https://sites.google.com/view/ squirrelman/atg-readers-roundup.

Happy reading and be nutty! — CS

Allan, Barbara. the No-Nonsense guide to Leadership, Management and teamwork. London: Facet Publishing, 2019. 9781783303960, 245 pages. $81.99. reviewed by Mary gilbertson (Monographs Cataloging and Acquisitions Unit head, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas) <mag@uark.edu>

Author Barbara Allan is an author and trainer who has written numerous books on librarianship. Her works focused on business skills in libraries include: The No-Nonsense Guide to Training in Libraries, Project Management, and The No-Nonsense Guide to Project Management. Her background includes managing in the workplace and in academic libraries.

This book offers a comprehensive guide to the practice of library management. It covers many of the basic topics needed to become a good manager such as strategic planning, managing finances and projects, and human resource management practices. It also includes some topics that are not as deeply covered by the existing literature. These topics include taking care of one’s self, work life-balance, and a “duty of care” for employees.

Allan presents a useful explanation of the different leadership styles exhibited by library managers. It is worthwhile to more than just managers, but also useful to those wondering about the pressures and approaches of their manager. The inclusion of case studies is a practical and useful addition that adds a more functional aspect to this book rather than only writing about theory. It also includes advice for the solo librarian who works in a small library environment and the management practice of leading from the middle.

The book stresses that managers be clear about their role, responsibilities, and boundaries and encouragement to be moral leaders. It discusses teamwork, even discussing working with virtual teams, volunteers, and crowdsourcing. It discusses process mapping, setting objectives, delegating tasks, and emergency preparedness. Managing change is also discussed. The author states that “The people side of change is vital and this includes managing stakeholders as well as supporting people through change.”

Human resource management is covered from the recruitment management to the disciplinary actions and beyond. Money management is covered as a basic skill for library leaders and managers. Communication techniques are covered from briefings to email to social media. The book ends with a stress on lifelong learning including not only conference attendance but also mentoring.

The introduction to and summaries of these chapters are useful. The bibliography is well-rounded and the index is useful. This book would be most suited for a new library manager or to someone who is interested in moving into a management role in libraries.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.)

Bernier, Anthony. transforming Young Adult services, 2nd edition. Chicago: ALA Neal-schuman. 2020. 978-0-83891774-9, 272 pages. $64.99 (ALA Member $58.49). reviewed by Michelle shea (Education Librarian, texas A&M -

Central texas) <m.shea@tamuct.edu>

“Transforming Young Adult Services” advocates new methods for classifying and working with teens in libraries. Specifically, young adults are too often assessed with outdated psychological research, views are skewed toward middle-class sensibilities, and youthfulness is unfairly equated with inexperience. Rather, the authors argue that libraries should focus less on pre-conceived learning paths and more on youth as individuals who congregate because of interests and talents. This book provides a thought-provoking look at issues surrounding young adults, including terminology, rights, perspectives, and involvement in the library.

In the first section on “betweenness,” researchers recommend scholarly works, practical articles, and programming that incorporate teenagers’ input, while also acknowledging the impact of media and diverse literature on identify formation. School and public libraries are uniquely tasked with serving teens as learners by inspiring conversations that transcend race and gender. The second section on intellectual freedom deals with the ways that librarians consciously or unconsciously limit teens’ exposure to texts, liberties, and opinions. Specifically, librarians’ views on reading formats have shifted over time, while new legal cases and federal laws have impacted funding, collection development, and privacy in relation to minors. Libraries can gain additional insight for program planning by visiting teens’ communities, understanding how government structures impact youth voices, and considering new ways to draw in underserved groups. The third section on “confronting conventions” deals with publishing trends, dynamic storytelling, and communicative strategies based on critical race theory. A fourth part on “emerging roles” explores how to connect with young adults who make decisions and change society, without relying heavily on historical models limited to youth development initiatives. Finally, the book concludes with a fifth set of chapters focusing on how young adults are equal members of the community, not just passive citizens or recipients of services.

Editor Anthony Bernier writes the preface, introduction, final chapter, and conclusion. He is currently a professor in the School of Information for San Jose State University and has 15 years of experience as a public librarian. His courses often focus on youth services, including program evaluation and research methods, as informed by his professional efforts and his design of a teen-centered library in California. Additionally, he wrote articles for the Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) library journal for around a decade and a dissertation on public space usage in America. Fourteen other authors, primarily from universities, also contribute to this volume. Most have practical backgrounds, prior writing experience, and graduate degrees to back up their expertise on the topics of reading or young adults.

The primary advantage of this book is its ability to make the reader evaluate their current practice, especially regarding teen participation, collection development, and programming options. For example, chapter 9 affirms that librarians must reassess their assumptions, including what settings are welcoming, whether diversity-focused programs are too broad, how information literacy can extend beyond research, and who benefits from existing social structures. Chapter 10 ties-in with real-world examples of youth-led initiatives that have made a difference in communities. One small critique is that the entries on literature, storytelling, and historical thoughts for and about teens are generally longer compared to the chapters on daily practice; however, this could be expected based on the premise of showing transformation in young adult librarianship over time. For most chapters, a common thread is the question of whether teens are being fully heard or understood in libraries. Current and future librarians from public, high school, and university settings will find this text to be informative and worth reading, particularly as a catalyst for change.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this on my desk. (This book is so valuable, that I want my own copy at my desk that I will share with no one.)

The ATG Reviewer Rating is being included for each book reviewed. Corey came up with this rating to reflect our collaborative collections and resource sharing means and thinks it will help to classify the importance of these books. • I need this book on my nightstand. (This book is so good, that I want a copy close at hand when I am in bed.) • I need this on my desk. (This book is so valuable, that I want my own copy at my desk that I will share with no one.) • I need this in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.) • I need this available somewhere in my shared network. (I probably do not need this book, but it would be nice to get it within three to five days via my network catalog.) • I’ll use my money elsewhere. (Just not sure this is a useful book for my library or my network.)

Corsaro, Julie, and Kendal spires (Eds.). Children’s Core Collection, 24th Edition. ipswich, MA: h.W. Wilson, 2019. 9781642650235, 3,400 pages. $240.00. reviewed by Katherine swart (Collection Development Librarian, hekman Library, Calvin University) <kswart20@calvin.edu>

As its cover indicates, the single-volume Children’s Core Collection provides “collection development recommendations by librarians for librarians.” Containing over 15,000 preschool through grade 6 book recommendations, the volume was compiled by an editorial team of librarians led by Julie Corsaro and Kendal Spires, both Collection Development Librarians at NoveList/EBSCO. Originally published under the name Children’s Catalog, this book collection was originally created in 1909. Through its many editions, the book’s librarian editors have weeded outdated titles and curated a top-notch list of core children’s books for public, school, and academic libraries. The 24th edition has particular strengths in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Books are selected based on several factors, including critical consensus and diversity of viewpoints. Publication place is limited to the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. There are no non-English language books represented, though bilingual books do appear. And while there is a separate volume dedicated to graphic novels, Children’s Core Collection does include some graphic novels. The print volume correlates to a separately-priced EBSCO database with the same name. Enhanced database content includes full-length reviews, cover art, and Lexile scores.

Divided into two parts, the book begins with the Classified Collection. Entries are in order of Dewey Decimal Classification number, starting with nonfiction and followed by “Easy Books” (picture books for preschool to grade 3), Fiction, and Story Collections. Under each class, books are arranged by author (except for biographies) and include basic bibliographic information, such as title, illustrator, publisher, publication date, number of pages, and price. Additionally, each entry includes the recommended grade level, ISBN, Library of Congress control number, and suggested subject headings.

Following the bibliographic information, each book comes with a brief description, quote from a review source, and when applicable, a list of awards the book has received. Information about sequels, editions, and special features (e.g., contains bibliography) is also included. The second part of the book is an extensive author, title, and subject index.

The main strength of this volume is as a collection development tool. Since entries are arranged by Dewey Decimal Classification, librarians can use the book as a selection guide for developing specific parts of their collections. Moreover, when students come to the library with interests in particular topics or genres, librarians can rely on the book to give solid recommendations based on grade level, subject, and author. About 3,200 entries have stars to represent “most highly recommended.”

“The classification, subject indexing, annotations, and grade level designations” assist librarians with identifying curriculum support materials, such as books by Nikki Grimes or books featuring frogs. As a collection maintenance tool, the book aids in rebinding, replacing, and discarding decisions. And as a professional development tool, the book is an asset to academic programs in children’s literature and even contains recommendations for books about children’s librarianship.

Even though it will become dated with time, this is sure to be a volume children’s librarians consult over and over — both for reference and selection.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.)

Emery, J., stone, g., and McCracken, P. techniques for Electronic resource Management: terms and the transition to Open. Chicago: American Library Association, 2020. 10.15760/lib-01 9780838919040, 219 pages, $56.99 ($51.29 ALA Members). reviewed by Jessica Brangiel (Electronic resources Management Librarian swarthmore College, swarthmore PA) <jbrangi1@swarthmore.edu>

Techniques for Electronic Resources Management or TERMS was first conceived in 2008 by seasoned electronic resource professionals Jill Emery and Graham Stone with the help of crowdsourced feedback from the ERM community. TERMS provided a framework for library workers who deal with the many steps involved in the lifecycle of electronic resources management. The ERM cycle, with credit to Oliver Pesche for originally developing this concept, includes the core areas of acquisition, access control, administration, support, evaluation and renewal. Providing guidance and best practices for moving through each step in the electronic resources life cycle, TERMS has proved invaluable to new and experienced library workers and the TERMS framework has become an important tool in library school instruction. Additionally, TERMS has helped provide guidance for job description development and performance assessment for library workers in the continually expanding fields of electronic resources management and scholarly communications.

Emery and Stone have added Serials Solutions co-founder and Electronic Resources Librarian Peter McCracken to their team to develop the revised edition of Techniques for Electronic Resources Management: Terms and the Transition to Open. As with the first edition, TERMS are broken out into six major parts 1) Investigating new content for purchase and addition, 2) Acquiring new content, 3) Implementation and troubleshooting, 4) Ongoing evaluation and access and annual review, 5) Assessment and 6) Preservation and sustainability. Each topic is further broken down into a least six additional sections to provide specific best practices and workflows. In the revised guide more detail on the management of streaming media and eBooks (specifically the complicated acquisitions landscape for eBooks) is included whereas the initial TERMS focused mainly on databases and electronic journals. The authors recognize there is significant overlap between the work of professionals in electronic resources management and scholarly communications including the management of open access content. Many of the issues, such as license terms and negotiation strategies, cross over multiple areas of library work and thus the revised TERMS helpfully incorporate perspectives relevant to each of these areas. The reader will now find expanded guidelines for licensing and negotiation to include specific deal breakers and negotiation techniques helpful to both electronic resource management and scholarly communication professionals.

This book is flexible in that it can be read cover to cover or used as a reference work where readers may skip to a section of interest to find specific tips and guidelines to address a particular problem or step of the electronic resources management lifecycle. Emery, Stone and McCracken state they have designed this book based on the Pareto Principle also known as the 80/20 rule (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle). In other words, it is often only 20% of all resources that take 80% of an electronic resources management professional’s time. However, any resource can fall into that problematic 20% at any time and thus the authors have structured each chapter to highlight workflows for basic resources, complex resources and open access resources. This is particularly helpful for those readers referring back to these guidelines as needed to hone in on their specific problem saving the time of the reader, hat tip to library visionary S.R. Ranganathan. Additionally, the authors have made their work open access in entirety further reducing any barriers to access.

As a librarian who has worked with electronic resources for nearly twenty years, I would have been ecstatic to have had a guidebook like Techniques for Electronic Resources Management: Terms and the Transition to Open when I first started out in the field. Furthermore, reading it now as an experienced Electronic Resources Management Librarian, I still find it is useful and relevant and thus would recommend it to new and experienced library workers both those dealing with electronic resources on

a daily basis and those who would like to learn more about this area of library management.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this on my desk. (This book is so valuable, that I want my own copy at my desk that I will share with no one.)

herron, Jennifer. 3D Printing in Medical Libraries: A Crash Course in supporting innovation in health Care. Lanham: rowman & Littlefield, 2019. 978-1-5381-2585-4. 180 pages. $110 (hardback), $55 (paper), $52 (eBook). reviewed by Janet Crum (Director, health sciences Library, University of Arizona, tucson, AZ) <janetcrum@arizona.edu>

In early 2012, the DeLaMare Science and Engineering Library at the University of Nevada, Reno, created its 3D printing service, one of the first in the United States to be based in an academic library. Since then, these services, often bundled into makerspaces, have become nearly ubiquitous in many types of libraries, including medical libraries. Medical library clients use 3D printing to print anatomical models, prototypes of medical devices, and much more. 3D Printing in Medical Libraries can help library staff get up to speed with technologies and applications related to 3D printing, though due to some limitations, it should be used in combination with other information sources.

Author Jennifer Herron established the 3D printing service at the Ruth Lilly Medical Library at Indiana University. In the introduction, she writes, “I’ve arranged this book to gradually explore 3D printing and then to provide support for building and developing the service through marketing and outreach” (xii). The book begins with necessary background information: an overview of 3D printing history and technology, legal issues related to 3D printing in medical libraries, and a substantive literature review. Subsequent chapters cover case studies of 3D printing services in medical libraries, finding 3D models, 3D printing from DICOM data, data management associated with a 3D printing service, and operational details such as policies, pricing, print failures, and editing and preparing 3D models for printing. The last few chapters discuss marketing and outreach, the maker movement, statements from health professionals on the value and impact of 3D printing services, and a list of recommended resources. Each chapter includes a list of references.

The greatest strengths of the book are the case studies and, especially, the information on where to find various types of models. The practical information on day-to-day operations (cost, print time, troubleshooting) will also be helpful to anyone developing a 3D printing service in a library setting.

The book does, however, have two notable weaknesses. First, assuming the book is intended to help librarians set up and maintain a 3D printing service, there are some significant gaps in coverage. Key topics given short shrift include software to take in and manage 3D print requests; receiving payment for requests; and staff training and expertise required to manage a 3D printing service. Information about these topics is typically mentioned briefly in the case studies, but readers would be better served by a more thorough, synthesized approach to presenting this information. The second significant weakness is the uneven quality of the chapters. The chapters on legal issues and data management read as though the text has been cobbled together from external sources with little editing to create a coherent narrative. The marketing chapter seems to provide a brief overview of library marketing in general — a topic far too broad to summarize in a few pages — rather than focusing on the specifics of marketing a 3D printing service.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this available somewhere in my shared network. (I probably do not need this book, but it would be nice to get it within three to five days via my network catalog.)

Defining Documents in American history: Capital Punishment. hackensack: salem Press, 2019. 9781642650365, 396 pages. $295.00. reviewed by Jane Meland (Library Director, Michigan state College of Law, schaefer Law Library, East Lansing)

<jane.meland@law.msu.edu>

This two-volume set on capital punishment is a new addition to Salem Press’s expansive “Defining Documents in American History” series. The decision to add this topic to the series couldn’t be timelier. In the last six months of 2020 the capital punishment debate returned to the public spotlight with the Trump Administration in the United States deciding to accelerate federal executions. During that short period of time 13 death row inmates were executed, exceeding the number executed during the previous 60 years combined.

While controversy surrounding the death penalty continues, the debate is nothing new. It’s been a part of our society since colonial times when capital punishment was meted out as a penalty for a wide variety of offenses, including idolatry, witchcraft, blasphemy and more. Over time, American society’s standards of decency have evolved and courts and legislatures have responded by limiting the use and administration of capital punishment.

The evolution of capital punishment policy in the U.S. is complex and the scope of death penalty literature is extensive and multifaceted. In this new addition to the “Defining Documents in American History” series, the editors have taken this expansive topic and distilled it into four main categories: constitutional questions, mental capacity & age, race, and methods of execution. Each category brings together source documents supported by explanatory essays. The essays are written by scholars of history, humanities, and other disciplines, and include an “Additional Reading” section for further research.

The selected source documents provide a broad understanding of capital punishment’s development throughout our country’s history. Emphasis is placed on U.S. Supreme Court rulings, which makes sense given that these court opinions set the framework for our nation’s approach to capital punishment; however, the editors have taken care to balance the solemn court rulings with sources representing a variety of perspectives. Some of the noteworthy sources included are historical documents that influenced the drafters of the United States Constitution, poignant essays published by advocacy groups, statistical data on lynchings in the U.S from 1889-1918, and newspaper accounts of the notorious “Damsel of Death,” Aileen Wournos (an American serial killer who was executed in 2002 after killing seven men in Florida). Additionally, the section on execution methods includes statements from the American Nurses Association and drug manufacturers highlighting the ethical issues associated with carrying out executions.

While most of the source documents include detailed references to attribution information, I was a bit surprised by the absence of citations for the court rulings. Even for abridged continued on page 29