101 Computer Projects for Libraries
by Patrick R. Dewey. ALA Editions, 155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606-1719 (http://www.ala.org/editions). 2000. 159 pp. ISBN 0-8389-0772-5. Softcover, $42 (ALA members $37).

This title comes from Patrick Dewey’s “101 Series” and includes a collection of ideas to incorporate technology into libraries effectively and easily. Using creative and innovative librarians around the country in various settings, the chapters cover academic, public, and school libraries, as well as library associations. Topics range from budgeting and administration to generating bibliographies, reading club projects, circulation and automation catalogs, computer centers, the Internet, statistics, public access and training issues, public relations, and reference services. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction, followed by case studies. Entries include the library name, contact information, software and hardware used, and a short descriptive paragraph about the project. The cost and length of the project as well as Web addresses are also included.

Appendices include Computer Periodicals, Project Software, and Software Companies. A glossary, bibliography and index complete the book.
 

Caldecott on the Net
by Ru Story-Huffman. Upstart Books, P.O. Box 800, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0800 (http:// www.hpress.highsmith.com). 1999. 93 pp. ISBN: 1-57950-020-X. Softcover, $16.95.

Based on WebQuests, the learning activity developed by Bernie Dodge, this workbook combines the celebrated world of Caldecott books with that of the fast-paced Internet. The book’s lessons can be used by individuals within a group. Each LearningQuest lesson contains an introduction, the assignment, and Internet Resources, as well as activities and fun things to do. A conclusion wraps up the lesson. “Educator Notes” present helpful Web sites for additional learning. “Books” explore further resources appropriate to the lesson. In the 18 lessons, books range from the latest Caldecott (at this writing), back to the ’30s and ’40s. This is a great resource for teachers wishing to make use of Caldecott books and the Internet.
 

Information Literacy Skills Grades 7-12, 3rd Edition
by Catherine M. Andronik, compiler. Linworth Publishing, Inc. 480 East Wilson Bridge Road, Suite L, Worthington, OH 43085 (http://www.linworth.com). 1999. 315 pp. ISBN: 0-938865-82-6. Softcover, $39.95.

This volume is a compilation of articles, many of them reprints, on topics related to information-literacy skills. This third edition includes little from the 1990 version because of the technological changes that have occurred in 10 years. In the 11 chapters, topics such as research methods, what is information literacy, computer skills, the Internet, multimedia presentations, collaboration, training students and teachers, and much more are covered. Each chapter contains a wide variety of articles with practical ideas, tips, and strategies for teaching information-literacy skills in grades 7-12. It’s easy to be skeptical about compilations, but I have to say that this book is a real gold mine of information for any busy educator or librarian who doesn’t have the time to research the topic of information literacy and wants practical suggestions for implementing them in the classroom.
 

The Librarian’s Quick Guide to Internet Resources
by Jenny Lynne Semenza. Highsmith Press Handbook Series, P.O. Box 800, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0800 (http://www.hpress.highsmith.com). 1999. 92 pp. ISBN: 1-57950-035-8. Softcover, $19.

The guide begins with a brief overview of the Internet and then follows with a selection of over 500 library-reference Web sites organized by subject area. Examples of subjects are consumer information, biography, magazines, movies, quotations, science, encyclopedias, and much more. The sites are meant to be practical and of use to educators, students, and librarians. Each entry contains the name, Web address, and a brief annotation. When possible, the authority (name of the organization responsible for the site) is given. The descriptions range anywhere from two or three sentences up to a good-sized paragraph. The book contains a Web site to update any URLs or to contact the author.
 

Skills for Life: Information Literacy for Grades K-6, 2nd Edition
by Christine Allen, editor. Linworth Publishing, Inc., 480 East Wilson Bridge Road, Suite L, Worthington, OH 43085 (http://www.linworth.com). 1999. 227 pp. ISBN: 0-938865-83-8. Softcover, $36.95.

Skills for Life: Information Literacy for Grades 7-12, 2nd Edition
by Christine Allen and Mary Alice Anderson, editors. Linworth Publishing, Inc., 480 East Wilson Bridge Road, Suite L, Worthington, OH 43085 (http://www.linworth.com). 1999. 237 pp. ISBN: 0-938865-84-6. Softcover, $36.95.

Both of these titles revolve around “Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning,” which include three parts: information literacy, independent learning, and social responsibility. Within each category are three standards students are expected to master, along with lesson plans and instructional guides that include activities, worksheets, checklists, and more to help achieve the goals. Lessons are from a variety of subjects and were prepared by library media specialists. Each guide was selected through a juried process. A correlational chart contains all lessons provided for each standard, making it easy to go to a particular one easily.
 

WWW Almanac: Making Curriculum Connections to Special Days, Weeks, and Months
by Sharron L. McElmeel and Carol Smallwood. Linworth Publishing, Inc., 480 East Wilson Bridge Road, Suite L, Worthington, OH 43085 (http://www.linworth.com). 1999. 218 pp. ISBN: 0-9-388065-78-1. Softcover, $34.95.

Here is a book for anyone who wants to have a ready-made set of Web sites for all those special days, holidays, and other celebrations but doesn’t have the time to surf the Net to find them. The sites include lesson plans, interactive projects, virtual visits to museums, sites for kids, as well as for librarians and teachers. The observances are listed by calendar—January through December—arranged by month. Each entry has a description of the day, followed by selected Web sites to visit. The sites contain the title, author or sponsor, level of use (primary, intermediate, etc.), approximate number of pages for printing, and URL. A “Quick List” at the end of the book provides links to statehood by date and alphabetically, presidential birthdays, and author birth dates. Includes an index.
 

Communicating on the Internet
by Art Wolinsky (The Internet Library Series). Enslow Publishers, Inc. Box 398, 40 Industrial Road, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-0398 (http://www.enslow.com). 1999. 64 pp. ISBN: 0-7660-1260-3. Library binding, $16.95.

Art Wolinsky has written four books for grades 4-12 that are part of the Internet Library Series. Communicating on the Internet intends to help students learn about effective communication on the Internet. It is not meant to teach how to use specific mail products or other tools. Instead the chapters cover topics such as what is e-mail, netiquette, emoticons and smileys, spam, hoaxes, an e-mail address, avoiding a clogged mailbox, chat, conferencing software, mailing lists, and more. Along with discussion are helpful URLs for further information. Web, a cartoon computer, appears throughout with some hints and suggestions related to the topic under discussion. The print is a bit larger, and the language is practical and easy to follow. Includes a glossary and index.
 

Creating and Publishing Web Pages on the Internet
by Art Wolinsky (The Internet Library Series). Enslow Publishers, Inc. Box 398, 40 Industrial Road, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-0398 (http://www.enslow.com). 1999. 64 pp. ISBN: 0-7660-1262-X. Library binding, $16.95.

This little book, one of the Internet Library Series, is a guide to teaching children how to create their first Web site. Along the way, Web, the cartoon computer, pops up with tips and practical advice. Wolinsky offers a step-by-step approach to building a Web site for a science experiment he used in his classroom. Note that the author assumes you are using the Windows environment when giving directions for basics such as saving files, etc. If you are lucky enough to be using an iBook or iMac (editor’s subjective view), the directions will be slightly different at times. Wolinsky does a good job breaking down the steps to learning HTML. It’s all very basic, of course, geared to grades 4-8. Throughout the process he includes some of the little things that can cause frustration when students are first starting out creating a Web page. Contains illustrations and screen prints plus a glossary and index.
 

The History of the Internet and the World Wide Web
by Art Wolinsky (The Internet Library Series). Enslow Publishers, Inc. Box 398, 40 Industrial Road, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-0398 (http://www.enslow.com). 1999. 64 pp. ISBN: 0-7660-1261-1. Library binding, $16.95.

Another in the Internet Library Series for students in grades 4-8, this guide presents a history of the Internet and World Wide Web that covers the major questions about the growth and development of this phenomenal communication network. There are helpful diagrams, illustrations, and links to Web sites for more information. Web, the cartoon computer, appears throughout with sidebars and other tips. Chapters include “Before the Internet,” “Beyond the Machines and Wires,” “The Internet Starts to Grow,” and more. Practical language and a simple writing style make the technical subjects easy for children to read. Along with a glossary and index is a “Further Readings” chapter with other children’s books about the Internet.
 

Locating and Evaluating Information on the Internet
by Art Wolinsky (The Internet Library Series). Enslow Publishers, Inc. Box 398, 40 Industrial Road, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-0398 (http://www.enslow.com). 1999. 64 pp. ISBN: 0-7660-1259-X. Library binding, $16.95.

With all the information available on the Internet and World Wide Web, it’s easy to get confused and lost in locating exactly what you need. Wolinsky’s fourth book in the Internet Library Series covers the subject of locating and evaluating Internet information. The author compares it to the gold rush in California in which many people found out it wasn’t so easy to find the real gold. Web, the cartoon computer, appears throughout with his tips and helpful information. The book familiarizes students with the types of search tools and how to choose the best ones, as well as how to evaluate what they find. Beginning with an introduction and a chapter about older search tools such as Gopher, Veronica, and Archie, the next chapters cover the earlier Web search engines up through today’s tools. There is an especially good chapter on search strategies and the importance of finding the right keywords. Also, the author spends time with examples of inaccurate Web sites and how they can fool students. Includes a glossary and index.
 
 

Communications about this column may be addressed to Jean Reese, Associate Director, Education Library, Box 325 Peabody Station, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203; e-mail: reesemj@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu.

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