Sarah Tusa

Developing Library and Information Center Collections, 4th edition.

ERIALS R EVIEW – T ERESA M ALINOWSKI – The commercial development of speech and other technologies to the level that they would be useful in a library environment seems to be years away, and the costs involved in their development will certainly prevent libraries from undertaking those tasks. The conclusions in chapter 5 are perhaps the most interesting and insightful part of the book. Here the authors discuss the cost/benefit analyses that commercial interests must undertake when deciding whether to pursue the development of intelligent technologies. Because of the enormous costs involved, librarians may be forced to consider the use and adaptation of technologies developed in other arenas rather than funneling scarce resources into expert system product development. The chapter also provides an excellent discussion of why building intelligent systems that adequately address the complexities of many library tasks is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Of the five appendices, two are most useful: the fourth, which recommends some sources for maintaining awareness of new developments, and the fifth, which reprints two key sources that identify criteria that might help librarians decide if an expert system is a justifiable solution to a problem. Finally, the volume contains a lengthy reference list and an index; both contribute to the overall usefulness of the book. In light of the expectations that have arisen with the development of other computer technologies (e.g., the Internet) over the past few years, it is revealing to note the reasons Lancaster and Warner give for the rise and fall, and rise again, of interest in intelligent technologies. In the 1980s, interest fell because “the technologies had not lived up to their expectations” (p. 108). The authors note that some proponents (usually nonacademics) continue to make wildly optimistic claims, but they also give credence to researchers who warn that the potential contributions of intelligent technologies should not be overestimated. Considering that Lancaster himself has backed off from some of the statements he made during his “paperless society” days, it is important for librarians to remember that intelligent technologies—or any other type of computer technology—are simply tools, not ends in and of themselves. Rather than making a mad dash to the next fancy gadget, librarians can better serve their patrons by approaching all technologies, and other materials, for that matter, with a finely tuned critical eye. N OTES

Reshaping roles in Acquisitions

Abstract Pamela K. Goude explained the reorganization of the Acquisitions Department at the Dartmouth Library. Using a client-centered approach, library managers assigned areas of responsibility to designated specialists and their corresponding teams. Goude discussed methods of including staff in the planning process, as well as ways of easing the stress that typically accompanies change. Goude also identified and explained each of five areas of specialization. Written procedures and thorough documentation provide open lines of communication with other departments and play an important part in the training and ongoing success of the acquisitions teams.

The Read Feed—Reviews

ABSTRACT Beth Ashmore reviews More Library Mashups: Exploring New Ways to Deliver Library Data; Michelle DeMars reviews Library Consortia: Models for Collaboration and Sustainability; Sarah Tusa reviews Library Management in Disruptive Times: Skills and Knowledge for an Uncertain Future.

Web 2.0 and Libraries: Impacts, Technologies and Trends: edited by Dave Parkes and Geoff Walton. Cambridge: Woodhead Publishing Ltd, 2010, (Chandos Information Professional Series). 188 p.

who wish to take on administrative duties. Chapter 7 provides insight into these processes and gives information about grants and research aswell as endowments and how they affect an institutions revenue picture, stability, and growth. The next chapter on facilities provides an overview on planning for new spaces, space management, disaster management, and considerations for assigning space to faculty and students. Chapter 9 briefly outlines planning and cost control for technology but only touches on the delicate balancemost academic libraries manage between in-house system departments and offices of information technology that serve the rest of the university. Likewise, chapter 10 provides an introduction to the accreditation process, but does not go into great detail as each academic library falls under specific accrediting bodies whose guidelines are explicit to regional and other FTE-specific standards. Part 4 is the largest, as it should be, for it contains the bulk of information about the academic library. It is sub-divided into six chapters:

75.00. ISBN: 9781843343462

and activists point of view. There are other books that present more detailed discussions of these issues, including Minow and Lipinskis The Librarys Legal Answer Book. However, if readers want a concise approach that will provide staff with vital information on state and federal privacy protections as they pertain to patron records and the publics right to receive information, it is an easy decision to choose this volume and be prepared to stand up to legal challenges.

The Quality Library: A Guide to Staff-Driven Improvement, Better Efficiency, and Happier Customers, by Sara Laughlin and Ray W. Wilson. Chicago: American Library Association, 2008. 144 p.

the book where ERM is discussed in more abstract terms and from the librarian’s perspective to the second half of the book, which focuses on pragmatic aspects of ERM and the user’s perspective. Bucknall poses excellent questions: “Is user-friendliness best achieved by a simple, Google-like interface that patrons say they want? Or is it user-centered to educate users-teaching them the best way to get the best results, even though they do not like having to learn something complicated?” (p. 67). This is one of the most thought-provoking papers in the book. Any work on ERM would be judged lacking if it did not include a discussion of use statistics. There are two such offerings in this compilation. Robert Molyneux (Sirsi Corporation) describes the current state of usage statistics collection (as of 2004), noting the pitfalls and possible solutions (COUNTER). He is concerned, rightfully so, that when it comes to developing usage statistics the needs and interest of librarians, scholars, vendors, and users can conflict. Jennifer Weintraub (Yale University), in one of three invited papers, presents a case study of one academic library’s approach to use statistics that includes a candid review of the problems encountered when gathering data. The study also contains some very useful ideas and questions regarding how the proliferation of books, images, data sets, art, and geographic information in electronic format will impact the collection of usage statistics. Although Warner and Molyneux provide two valuable perspectives on usage statistics, librarian and statistician, one longs for the missing piece of the puzzle—the publisher’s viewpoint. At several points in this book the source of many issues surrounding usage statistics is presented as being rooted in librarians’ lack of skill in statistical analysis. “Unfortunately, librarians have avoided using data to support decision making as a transition to using data for research purposes because the number of librarians trained in quantitative analysis and dedicated to measuring, collecting, and analyzing library data historically has been very small” (p. 95). Librarians are certainly capable of statistical analysis, given the time to conduct them and the proper training. It is to be hoped that libraries and other institutions in the information professions will recognize the need for professionals who possess these skills and communicate that need to library schools. Two invited papers on the preservation of electronic resources and their content conclude the text. George Machovec (Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries) characterizes the preservation problems electronic formats create and asks who should be responsible for preservation efforts. In her contribution, Paula Watson (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) provides a partial answer to this question by examining the potential for institutions to take responsibility for preserving electronic resources through the use of shared repositories. Despite some variation in the quality of the writing and in the level of technical expertise required of readers, Managing Electronic Resources provides useful background on the development of electronic resource management and captures the discussions of development issues and other concerns identified in 2003 and 2004. It serves as a starting point for librarians, vendors, and other professionals involved in meeting the challenges of managing electronic resources by designing or implementing ERM systems. The lack of an index detracts somewhat from the volume’s utility but, in general, Managing Electronic Resourcesmeets its stated purposes and is a valuable addition to the literature on ERM.

55.00. ISBN: 978-0-8389-0952-2, 0-8389-0952-3

Abstract

Collection Development Issues in the Online Environment, edited by Di Su. New York: Haworth Press, 2007. 170 p.

Sarah Tusa The authors of this book acknowledge that bthe literature is replete with articles...examining conceptual underpinnings and reporting case studies of CCD [Collaborative Collection Development]Q (p. 22). One surmises that the emergence of yet another publication on the topic is superfluous. In some ways that is indeed the case with this book; however, there is much of value here. In the introduction Burgett and his co-authors suggest that their book bneed not be read sequentiallyQ (p. xi). This statement accurately reflects the publicationTsmain virtue as a concise reference tool for blibrary directors, collection development officers and subject specialists who want to launch or participate in CCD activitiesQ (p. x). More experienced librarians may want to skim the first two chapters, since they offer little new information and much rhetoric. The first chapter provides the obligatory historical overview of the evolution of CCD, including the forever-cited Farmington Plan, which probably is discussed in every introductory course on collection development. This chapter heralds one of the bookTs strengths, namely its attention to the bhuman dimensionQ of CCD (pp. 4–6). More specifically, the authors introduce the relationship component of resource sharing programs, which is a common thread throughout the volume. The second chapter outlines the bbarriers and benefitsQ of collaborative collection development. Burgett and his co-authors rightfully start with the bsacrifice of autonomyQ (p. 23), one of the biggest hurdles to the practice and management of CCD. This discussion focuses on librariansT alleged reluctance to forego acquisition of materials that they would otherwise collect to support the interest of their local clientele. This point is certainly valid to some extent, but this reviewer wonders if the problem is as much one of ego as the authors tend to portray it. Citing an earlier work on the topic, Burgett and company comment that bin large academic libraries, CCD forces reexamination of a myth, still prevalent in collection building practice...that it is possible and desirable...to build comprehensive collections unilaterallyQ (p. 25). One canTt help but wonder if this myth is still prevalent or even alive. Since the advent of the binformation explosion,Q it is more reasonable to hypothesize that most library consortia exist because of the long-growing recognition that no library can serve its local clientele comprehensively. On the other hand, a libraryTs ability to retain autonomy in its collection building efforts often is eroded by imposed commitments or requirements to maintain certain levels of expenditure even when budgets are problematic. A commitment to collaborative efforts that requires collecting in certain subject categories can be difficult to maintain when a shift in focus takes place in the local environment, but such commitments can be renegotiated. The authors do emphasize the importance of flexibility and communication among all participants in a later chapter. While the authors note the financial commitment required of participating libraries in their discussion of autonomy, they focus more on workload distribution and potential disparities in the amount of funds required of the participants. While each member library has the option to cease participation when contract renewals are due, the impact from the ensuing loss of resources becomes palpable for all member libraries. Financial disincentives of collaborative collections development comprise a subtopic within the chapter, but it is covered in rather large brush strokes. The rest of the chapter promotes the value of CCD efforts. The lesson is simple; with wise management and ample cooperation, there is strength in numbers. The remaining eight chapters lay out the philosophical and practical stepping stones for establishing and administering a CCD program. The subtitle of each chapter states the specific issue addressed therein, bThe Principles of CCD,Q bResources Required to Initiate and Sustain CCD,Q bCCD Documentation and Legal Agreements,Q and bPromoting and Publicizing CCD.Q In each chapter the authors provide helpful checklists that summarize the major issues and/or activities to consider, respective of each major stage of planning and/ or implementation. Much to their credit, the authors acknowledge and delineate the investment of human resources as thoroughly as they treat the discussion of financial resources. For example, they encourage administrators to bfund selectors to visit partner libraries and meet their counterpartsQ and baward incentive grants of supplemental materials funds for bibliographers who arrange workable cooperative projects with their counterparts at other librariesQ (p. 72). The authors emphasize the human component in other ways, most notably by stressing the importance of nurturing confidence in relationships among participating libraries. Burgett, Haar, and Phillips draw on their work experiences within the Information Alliance of the University of Kentucky, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Tennessee (respectively) and enrich the volume with sample documents, such as the AllianceTs Constitution (p. 109) and Malinowski / Serials Review 32 (2006) 218–222

34.95. (hardback)

The chapters on corporate misinformation and ecommerce contain some of the more eye-opening and hair-raising tales. The numerous examples of deceit range from cyber squatting and typo squatting (taking a real company or product, or a common misspelling, and adding a “dot anything” extension) to anonymous postings on listservs. Companies can direct visitors to a variety of Websites depending on the user’s originating domain name. “Pagejacking” diverts traffic by copying a legitimate Webpage to another site (p. 118). The exact amount of online fraud is difficult to determine. Credit card companies, wishing to promote the safety of online transactions, may downplay the total whereas others, such as the media and computer security firms, may prefer to point out the dangers of online transactions. Acquisitions librarians in search of elusive materials over the Internet should be alert for possible scams. In addition to corporate misinformation, topics addressed in the book include medical misinformation, charity scams, consumer fraud, identity theft, privacy invasion, legal advice sites, and Web hoaxes and counterfeit Websites. The information on privacy and security is of special interest to librarians; data mining is discussed in this context. The final chapter by Carol Ebbinghouse addresses some possible remedies for intentional misinformation, ranging from complaining to the person responsible for the Website to filing a lawsuit. Although she mentions some well-known revenge Websites, she warns against this remedy and offers information on governmental and nongovernmental agencies that handle complaints. Although the title Web of Deception: Misinformation on the Internet concentrates on the revealing, tell-all aspect of the book, informative chapters by Elizabeth D. Liddy, “How a Search Engine Works,” and Susan Feldman, “This Is What I Asked For? The Searching Quagmire,” offer useful insights on why searches return certain results. Feldman discusses “Misconceptions that Lead Us Astray” and “Search Engine Assumptions About Searchers” (pp. 180–6). She follows these discussions with tips for better searching, such as “Describe a question fully with synonyms and multiple concepts. This will not narrow the query. It will focus it” (p. 191). I found the information on search engines and the search tips to be quite helpful and will utilize both in future research. In addition to La Jean Humphries’ excellent chapter titled, “How to Evaluate a Web Site,” other authors provide evaluation tips specific to their designated topic; for example, Susan Detwiler comments on “Avoiding the Charlatans” (p. 41–5). Several authors include information on “Countermeasures” (pp. 22, 73–4, and 139–42). Paul Piper and Helene Kassler provide notes on using the Internet as an aid to avoid becoming a victim in “Where to Go for Help” (pp. 20–1 and 71–2), and Carol Ebbinghouse outline strategies for “Using the Web to Avoid Charity Scams” (pp. 105–7). The table of contents uses a boldfaced font to identify these and other helpful subheads. The extensive twenty-two page index aids the reader in locating specific Websites, associations, and topics mentioned in the book. The Internet has made communication easier and faster. Information can be accessed quickly anywhere an Internet Service Provider can reach a customer. Unfortunately, misinformation is accessed just as readily. Web of Deception clearly points out the need to verify information at all times before acting on it or passing it on to others.

19.95 (paperback). 978-0-7890-3086-3 (hardback) 978-0-7890-3087-0 (paperback). Co-published simultaneously as The Acquisitions Librarian, 19 no. 1/2 (2007).

SUMMARY The task of setting up predictive serials check-in records after ILS migration can be daunting. However, Michael Kaplan of Ex Li-bris and Kim Maxwell of MIT Libraries explained the advantages of shared prediction pattern records as initiated by CONSER. OCLC/ CONSER implemented the 891 to stand in for holdings. This initiative provides a standardized format that allows libraries to contribute and share predictive patterns in batch, rather than by inputting them one by one.