Table of contents: issue56

Book Review: Visualizing Data

editor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Pete Cliff considers a new book on data visualisation and hopes one day to implement some of the interesting ideas presented in this work.

I'll be honest - I am no expert in data visualisation. I had not heard of Edward Tufte [1] before looking at this book and while I thought I had an idea about the topic, the book suggested to me I did not. Perhaps this makes me unable to judge the value of its content; but I prefer to think this means I can come at the work as a member of the target audience:

Book Review: What's the Alternative?

editor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Lina Coelho takes an enthusiastic view of the opportunities open to library and information professionals presented in this career-enhancing book.

If you have been wondering whether there are any alternative career options you could pursue whilst using your skills to full potential, do not miss this book. It will boost your confidence, focus your mind and take you on dozens of brief career journeys with fellow professionals.

Book Review: Information Literacy Meets Library 2.0

editor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Emma Delaney considers the effects of Web 2.0 on delivering information literacy to library students and end-users.

To my mind, information literacy is all about education: teaching users of all kinds of information how to find it, understand and evaluate it, and use it effectively. Yet it is getting harder and harder to find ways to teach these skills when so much information is available at everybody's fingertips. As a consequence, many people think they can get all they need from the Internet for free, let alone when your end-users are busy professionals for whom reading a book is often a desirable option they rarely find time to take up.

Book Review: Copyright Compliance

editor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Stuart Hannabuss argues that the book's online big sister, Keeping Within the Law (KWtL), launched at the same time, is really the place to go and the source to buy.

Books are not mushrooms and do not grow in the dark: we tend to know they're there and we know the frame within which they work. Copyright Compliance is one in a useful line of books about information law from Paul Pedley and others, published by Facet Publishing (which is owned by CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, formerly The Library Association).

Blended Learning and Online Tutoring: Planning Learner Support and Activity Design

editor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Lyn Parker does not consider that the second edition has changed considerably from the first edition despite the publishers' blurb to the contrary. Nonetheless, she feels there is much of value.

When asked to review the second edition of this book, I willingly accepted as I considered the first edition to be "easy to read, full of practical advice, whilst challenging me to reflect on my own practice".

Book Review: Web Accessibility

editor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0000

Martin White reviews a book that provides advice for managers on how to ensure that Web sites, intranets and library services are fully compliant with guidelines and legislation on accessibility.

There are many books on Web accessibility but they tend to come at the subject from quite a narrow area of Web design. This is especially true of books published in the USA, a country which has quite limited Federal legislation on the need to implement accessible Web sites and intranets. It is a subject that should be of passionate interest to our profession in its commitment to providing access to information to all who request it. We not only have a duty under legislation to provide accessible access but, as the back cover of the book highlights, also a moral duty.