Thinking Outside the Book

A Michigan resident, Carol Smallwood has practiced in school, public and special libraries. Her primary interest is practical librarianship, and she is the author of journal articles and editor of numerous books.

“A great resource filled with tips and tricks, something for everyone, from the novice to the guru!”—Mary J. Soucie, MLIS, Library Director, Wilmington Public Library District, Wilmington, Illinois; “Thinking Outside the Book is packed with practical tips for librarians in academic, public and school libraries. The ideas are fresh and full of twenty-first century cool while meeting the standards and expectations of traditional librarianship. This is a must read for librarians looking to bring renewed energy to their library.”—Kathryn Miller, JD, MAT, MLS, Certified Library Media Specialist, Associate Professor, National-Louis University, Chicago; “Whether you work with the general public, children, or college students, this book provides smart and practical techniques for improving your library and your career through chapters that are simultaneously innovative and practical.”—Lisa Bier, Social Sciences Librarian, Southern Connecticut State University; “Thinking Outside the Book is a fabulous compilation of skills librarians often are asked to perform, but have little experience with. A must need for those that ever think, ‘they didn’t cover this in library school.’”—Kristen Mastel, Reference Librarian, MINITEX Library Information Network; “The essays have sound, practical, and doable advise; with topics such as community outreach initiatives, Web 2.0 technologies for all ages, library-sponsored writing workshops, and cybrarian professional development.”—Carol Anne Germain, Networked Resources Education Librarian; “Thinking Outside the Book offers a refreshing variety of practical ideas for library professionals at any type of library. The authors speak from experience, offering inspiration for improving your library and refining your personal skills.”—Nancy Maloney, Electronic Resources Librarian, BP North America, Naperville, Illinois.

• Table of ContentsForeword Joy M. Greiner      Preface      PART 1: THE FLEXIBLE LIBRARIANThe Amplified Library: Grabbing Users by the EarsErika Bennett and Jaina Lewis      An Embarrassment of Riches at an Academic Library: Let Patience, Alertness, a Positive Attitude, and a Little Luck Work forAnne Marie Candido      Collaborating on Library PublicationsGwen Gregory and Mary Beth Chambers      Customers in the Driver’s SeatRuth A. Barefoot      Librarian as Author: Yet Another Thing They Didn’t Teach Us in Library School!Kathy Barco      When Is a Librarian Not a Librarian? When She Is a Student, Professor, Fellow, MentorCathy Carpenter      PART 2: DISPLAYSThink Outside the Cases: Strategies for Developing Online ExhibitsMerinda Kaye Hensley      The Traveling Museum Exhibition: A Resource for LearningMargaret Lincoln      When the Olympics Came to Town: The Rewards and Challenges of Creating a Large-Scale ExhibitionConnie Lamb and Russ Taylor      PART 3: PRESERVING LOCAL CULTURELibraries and Literary Clubs: The Perfect MatchLisa A. Forrest      The Life Stories Project: Collecting Oral and Written HistoriesDiana Brawley Sussman      Local HeroStephen Fesenmaier      Teaching and Outreach Using Archives and Special CollectionsSharon Carlson      PART 4: THE INTERNETHow to Start Your Own BlogNicole C. Engard      Me Publish? I Don’t Have a Clue: How to Get Published OnlineMelissa Aho, Erika Bennett and Susan Wakefield      Outreach and Information: Blogs in the Academic LibraryDiane L. Schrecker      Setting up a Quickie WikiNicole C. Engard      Webmaster 101: Building a Personal Web SiteJennifer Johnston      PART 5: VISION IMPAIREDSeeing Through Others’ Eyes Grant ProjectBob Blanchard      Technology for Visually Impaired PatronsBob Blanchard      PART 6: HOSTING LIBRARY EVENTSThe Art of the Picture Book Conference: Partnership Beyond Library WallsDiane L. Schrecker      Breathing Life into Your Library: Hosting the Perfect Author EventJennifer Johnston      Weekly CoffeehouseLee Johnson      World Building: A Comic Collaboration for Academics and Sixth GradersDiane Colson and Travis Fristoe      PART 7: THE CURRICULUMCONNECTing for Collaboration: How Six College Libraries Worked Together to Identify Common Information Literacy OutcomesPamela Hayes-Bohanan and Marcia B. Dinneen      Librarians and Educators in Partnerships: Instigating the Teachable Moment for Information Literacy in Core Education CoursesAnita Rao Mysore and Elizabeth Chadbourn McKee      Teaching and Librarianship: A Winning CombinationDarby Orcutt      What Is a Curriculum Developer Doing in Special Collections?Anita Rao Mysore      PART 8: GRANTSGrant WritingLoriene Roy and Sara Albert      Grant Writing and How One Grant Turns intoVictoria Lynn Packard      PART 9: PRESENTATIONSAce the Presentation, Win theRobert P. Holley      Presentations: Tools and TipsAnn Marlow Riedling      PART 10: WORKING WITH YOUTHBooktalking: Wicked Cool Advertising for Your LibraryJill S. Carpenter and Christen A. Caton      Attracting High School StudentsAlexandra Tyle      Innovative Programs for TeensIvy Miller      Looking through the Eyes of a ChildPam Nutt      Multimedia Story TimeRobin Bartoletti            Read, Write and Rap: Connecting Teens and Tweens to Poetry through Hip-Hop LyricsTamela N. Chambers      Splish-Splash Story TimeSian Brannon      PART 11: PUBLIC RELATIONS“El Día del los Niños/El Día de los Libros” Goes to CollegeMardi Mahaffy, Susan Metcalf and Irene Shown      The Librarian as Marketing Director for a Small Press PublisherPaula M. Storm      Why Publishing Is Good Both for You and the ProfessionJudith A. Siess      PART 12: LIBRARY INSTRUCTIONBeyond the Blue Carpet: Simulating Reference Desk Activities in an Academic LibraryJohn H. Heinrichs and Nancy Czech      College Information Literacy Assignments: How to MoveYour Lessons Out of theSandra E. Riggs      PART 13: REVIEWINGProfessional Service and Rewards of Book ReviewingKathy Piehl      Tips for Reviewing Educational MediaLori Widzinski      PART 14: GOING DIGITALAccessibility Beyond Our Walls: Using Web 2.0 and Podcasting to Teach Off CampusStephanie A. Thomas      Librarians as Indexers: Taking the Arkansas Publications Index from State Periodical Index in Card Files to Online DatabaseElizabeth Chadbourn McKee and Mary A. Walker      Reading Programs with 21st Century Know-HowMcKinley Sielaff      The Story of an Athenaeum SpiderCarolyn Davis      Using Technology to Reach TeensAlexandra Tyle      PART 15: WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITYCommunity PartnershipsElizabeth M. Timmins       Finding Funding in Your Own BackyardPam Nutt      Modern Mobilization: Creating a New Library CommunityMelissa Aho and Erika Bennett      School and Public Librarians Unite! A Case Study Showcasing Collaborative Programming between Parkrose High School and Multnomah County LibraryStephanie A. Thomas, Ruth B. Allen, Sarah Nelsen and Sara Ryan      PART 16: THE WRITING WORLDAuthors RRick Walter, Eileen O’Connell and Kathy Barco      Being Your Own PublisherJudith A. Siess      Crafting a Cover LetterKathryn Yelinek      Newspaper Column: A Conversation Among Book LoversGabriel Morley      The Poetry Sweepstakes: Beating the Odds of Getting PublishedLisa A. Forrest      Publishing an Article in a Scholarly JournalPerry Bratcher      Showcase Your Writing with a Professional PortfolioGabriel Morley      PART 17: MANAGEMENTBasic Staffing StudySian Brannon      Building the Dream Teen SpaceJill S. Carpenter      Connecting with CustomersRuth A. Barefoot      I Play Two Roles at My LibraryElizabeth M. Timmins      Teens as Library EmployeesThayla Wright      Time Management Skills in WritingLoriene Roy and Sara Albert      PART 18: DISTANCE EDUCATIONNew Distance Education Librarian: Tips and Tools from the TrenchesMelissa Aho and Sommer Berg-Nebel      World Geography and WebCTVictoria Lynn Packard      PART 19: LIBRARIANS HELPING ABROADThe Mobile LibrarianCarolyn Davis      A School Library Media Specialist in AustraliaMelissa Allen      Teaching Prospective Librarians as a Fulbright ScholarAnn Marlow Riedling      PART 20: CONTINUING TO LEARNThe Digital Doctorate in Library/Information ScienceMargaret Lincoln      Learning to Review, Reviewing to LearnDarby Orcutt      National Board Certification as a Professional Development OpportunityMelissa Allen      SandynistaStephen Fesenmaier      Still Eager to Learn: Outreach for SeniorsRhonda Harris Taylor and Nancy Larson Bluemel      Training Cyberlibrarians: The New Skill RequirementsJohn H. Heinrichs and Nancy Czech      About the Contributors      Index