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But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Print Resources
Heye, Dennie. Characteristics of the Successful Twenty-First Century Information Professional. Oxford: Chandos Publishing, 2006. ISBN 1- 84334-145-X. $59.95.
This book is probably the closest thing to a printed pep talk or rally that I have ever seen. With chapter titles like "You show leadership," "You can manage a project," and "You have effective presentation skills," the author provides a positive, upbeat manner with which to approach the skills and characteristics needed by any information professional in today's marketplace. Not only does he provide key skills needed, but he attempts to excite and push the reader to feel and know that he or she already possesses these skills. Visualizing, daydreaming, and post-it power brainstorming are just some of the cheerleading techniques used throughout the book, and the "You can speak the technical jargon" chapter provides an alphabetical listing of major acronyms and technologies currently available in the information environment. Heye takes a somewhat different approach from the typical "here's what you need to know, and here's how you go and get it."
(ICT readers receive a special discount on this title through Dec. 31; see "Editor's Note" for details)
Bradford Lee Eden, Ph.D., is Associate University Librarian for Technical Services and Scholarly Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He can be reached at eden@library.ucsb.edu.
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Maxwell, Nancy Kalikow. Sacred Stacks: The Higher Purpose of Libraries and Librarianship. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006. ISBN 0838909175. Price $32.00. Purchase from Amazon.com.
Is a library heaven on earth? Nancy Kalikow Maxwell explores the religious and spiritual aspects of that most public of institutions, the library, through its history. The first keepers of books were monks, and ever since, books and libraries have frequently been associated with religious life and high ideals. Some of the analogies between religion and libraries/librarianship are excellent and provide insight into current and attitudes and expectations regarding libraries from both the public viewpoint and that of librarians. Others, at times, feel like an effort to add yet another comparison. For Maxwell, the future of the library as an institution is dependent on its ability, as a sacred place, to provide solace, knowledge, and inspiration. Sacred Stacks is recommended for any librarian interested in the history of librarianship or seeking a reminder of the higher purpose of the profession as they go about their daily work.
Loretta Dunne received a MSLIS from Drexel University in September of 2005. She also has a background in English and Computer Science. She currently works as a software manager for Computer Sciences Corporation.