At a recent Harvard University speech, New York Times Book Review Editor Barry Gewen revealed unknown details about The New York Times Book Review’s “inner workings.” Authors wanting to get the scoop on the process will find insight into the minds of the reviewers at “The Gray Lady.” These inside secrets from that speech and gleaned from other sources may give authors a better idea if their book ever has a chance at making the cut.
This beautifully written novel takes place in an English village during the 1950’s, telling the tale of Lewis Aldridge. It starts in 1957 when Lewis returns home from prison aged 19, then zooms backwards in time, to ten years earlier when it is Lewis’ father returning home from war. Lewis’ mother, a clever, glamorous lady is involved in a tragic accident and Lewis and his Father are left on their own.
For many years the visually impaired had few options for reading. They must either have a reading partner or learn and use Braille. While both of these options are viable there were drawbacks that allowed the blind reader to slip through the cracks.
Some major issues in collection development
Ifidon (1990) focused attention on thirteen university libraries in developing countries and identified their purpose or mission. Books, quick service collections and peripheral materials serve the course work of under graduates. Theses and dissertations, staff publication, audio-visual items for faculty specialists serve post-graduates and researchers. Light reading materials and newspapers enhance personal self development. Special collections also exist to meet the needs of the university in which they are situated. For example, the newspaper collection at Fourah Bay College Library, University of Sierra Leone contains invaluable grey materials which could not be available elsewhere. The newspapers in this collection are collected periodically and sent to the Bindery Department for hard covers. These are eventually shelved as books in the library and the newspaper collection could be traced as far back as 1954.
Bloomfield (1988) outlined what are considered as the major issues in collection development. The six identified issues include the identification of the purpose of mission either of the library itself or its parent body, the formulation of specific library strategies and policies for implementing the collection policy statement, the division of the budget and its consequent problems, monitoring and resource sharing. It is taken for granted that these issues include the assumption that libraries do not have sufficient funds. Formally, the University of Sierra Leone (which currently comprises Fourah Bay College, College of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences and the Institute of Public Administration & Management) budgeted 6% for its libraries but the economic situation from the late 1980s onwards forced this support to be converted to collegiate funding. Unfortunately, the administration often stresses that there are many other competing demands which frustrate the level of support libraries eventually receive.
Gyeszly (1990), Harrell (1990) and Smith (1990) compared and analyzed statistically the collection growth of the Sterling and C. Evans Library, Texas A and M University. Student enrolment, faculty size, materials budget, library funds and expenditures, acquisition of monographs and serials are discussed. Libraries which are actively engaged in collection development are in a dilemma to deal with increasing material prices at a time of decreasing state-supported appropriations. Collection development policies in each department must be carefully written and reviewed to address the needs of different departments. Unfortunately, several libraries do not have well written collection development policies. A corresponding effect is the growth of some subject areas in libraries at the expense of others.
Kelly (1991) focused attention on funding patterns in academic libraries and collection budget allocation methods. It is important to use various techniques in reductions in the budget. Forecasting models and allocation formulae previously used at Laurentian University are detailed. Collection development methods and allocation formulae that work very well in times of increasing budgets should be re-examined when budgets are cut or even remain the same. The author however failed to realize that in Third World University Libraries budgets hardly remain the same. The general trend is a gradual decline which frustrates growth of these libraries.
Collection development policies
Futas (1984) examined a survey conducted of academic and public libraries policies in relation to collection development. Ten academic library collection development policies as well as several selected portions of library policies like goals and objectives, selection, collection maintenance, and intellectual freedom are outlined. Finance is and has always been an issue of concern in the policies. The initial practice of having a policy on what percentage will be spent on what type of material gives place to generalizations and formulae. One implication is that policies do not have to change every year with a new budget. The results of the survey could be safely extended to other academic libraries in the developed nations.
Cabutey-Adodoadgi (1988) focused on the development of library collections in a developing country like Ghana and attributed the poor and unbalanced collections to the inability of libraries to draw up clear cut policies. The ideal however is to evolve a collection development policy that will be based on key factors like library budget, selectivity, user needs and evaluation. Library collections of developing countries, if anything, should reflect balance. Unfortunately, the situation falls far short of the expectations.
Lundu (1989) and Lungu (1989) noted that a fundamental problem in relation to acquisition of scientific literature in Zambia is the lack of clearly-cut collection development policies. Apart from the University of Zambia library, the rest of the libraries they evaluated lack clear-cut collection development policies. The need for collection development becomes paramount if acquired materials should be planned to be relevant to needs and cost effective in relation to limited financial resources available for the book industry in developing countries.
Approval plans
Leonhardt (1990) presented approval plans as one of the most written-about, talked about, misunderstood and oversold aspect of librarianship. The sad realization is that in spite of all the discussions, professional librarians have different views in relation to their name, value and administration. Although they have an inherent value in collection building, they are not a universal remedy for collection development and budget woes. Attempts by librarians to run broad subject-based approval plans without the necessary funds also defeat their purpose. The danger is the less there is to spend, as is the case in most developing countries, the more they leave selection to the vendor.
Likeness (1990) noted that reputable place approval plans have in libraries. Among advantages outlined are option of return, limiting books received from a group of publishers from notifications rather than actual delivery, and blocking out of series or publishers already on standing order. Foreign language materials approval plans are also discussed. While some librarians may not want faculty to be involved in the approval process, many who use such plans involve them in the evaluation of approval books.
Bostic (1991) stressed the important role or gathering plans, in which library materials are supplied according to a predetermined profile and unwanted documents returned, play in the procurement of documents for the library. Advantages include availability of bigger accounts, saving of staff time, a golden opportunity to examine what should be purchased, a sharpening of the library’s focus on its informational support mission, allowing existing collections to be strengthened and providing the means of collection evaluation and assessment. These notwithstanding, there are normally gaps in coverage, slow delivery, duplication of material, difficulty in claiming and loss of budget control.
Somers (1991) compared approval plan profiles of two academic libraries, University of Georgia and Tulane University. Although each had vastly different profiles and completely different reactions, they positively view the approval plan as a method of collection development. The individual library profile which determines what is to be sent is at the heart of each plan. In spite of the unique circumstances on each campus, the profile is not only defined wishes but also set expectations.
Technique of evaluating library collections
Ford (1988) noted that in spite of initial opposition to the Aikinson Report which states the time limit stock should be discarded and acquired, the grounds for opposition to some of the proposals are being whittled away. Three choices with regard to the criteria used for identifying materials to be weeded out include category, objective and judgment. Five main types of the so-called ‘objective’ criteria include usage, obsolescence, age, death and decay. Although most libraries undertake weeding as a result of special circumstances, some do weed systematically and others are about to embark on a systematic programme.
Jones (1988) observed that the management of stock should be clearly seen within the context of the overall management of the organization. Analysis of borrowers and their use of different categories of stock are very important in stock management.
Principles used to determine whether to retain a material include age, popularity, accuracy and relevance of information and sound professional judgment. This is not a proposal to take decision-making from librarians and to give it centrally-based specialists.
Matheson (1988) firmly believed that co-operation and resource sharing are forward steps in the face of higher publishing outputs and declining budgets for collection development. Concentrating on the background to co-operatives initiatives in collection development between major research libraries in Scotland, it is reasonable to conclude that acquisitions budgets fail to retain their purchasing power because of the lack of true co-operation among libraries.
Sizer (1988) noted that academic libraries are under tremendous pressure in demonstrating that they are providing value for money received from their parent bodies. Value for money is concerned with optimizing economy in the acquisition of resources, efficiency in their use and effectiveness in the achievement of objectives. Accountability is not only measures in financial terms. If a library develops an integrated process of planning, resource allocation, budgetary planning and control, it should aim at achieving value for money demonstrated within and outside the university.
Williams (1988) admitted that although much of a librarian’s training involves selection, acquisition, storage and exploitation of resources, the ultimate stage, stock relegation, receives relatively little attention. If approached positively, the weeding of materials could lead to an enhancement of user satisfaction as well as an ultimate increase in operational efficiency and effectiveness.
A brief analysis of the Slote method which a spine-mark technique to help individuals to identify materials for weeding is followed by an examination of reasons for justifying its use as an ideal approach of weeding library collections. The above notwithstanding, it is often a very difficult task to meaningfully select potential materials for weeding particularly so when the faculty fails to co-operate with the library in identifying them.
Woodward (1988) reported on the project sponsored by the British National Bibliography Research Fund aimed at designing models to evaluate different kinds of journal provision in the light of possibilities offered by the electronic transmission of journal articles. The Loughborough research clearly showed that a complete switch to electronic article transmission would be disadvantageous to both librarian and user. In brief, overall acquisition costs would be higher, funds would become complex as electronic article provision could not be financed in advance and the library user would suffer loss of quick and easy access of material.
Osburn (1990) identified practices that either impede or are likely to impede freedom of access to information. One such is censorship. Identification is one step to problem solving. Basic principles behind collection management - value and demand, diversity and balance, conservator and innovator are identified. As selection is the heartbeat of collection development, so are criteria for selection important to collection development policies. Allocation and budget justification are plans for action which, though related to policy are separate from it. The importance of collection evaluation is therefore seen in the revision of policy and of financial planning.
Taher (1990) and Kumar (1990) analyzed an American studies collection, taking into consideration growth and use patterns and highlighted the trends and prospects in collection development and evaluation of user needs in India. Two methods, descriptive and analytical are utilized to determine whether or not a collection is balanced. Such a study of collection development and evaluation is of tremendous importance to one’s understanding of existing needs to predict the future.
Tjoumas (1990) and Blake (1990) did comparative studies on collection evaluation which provided an inventory of possible techniques developed to assess library holdings. The two approaches which dominated were the impressionistic approach which is extremely subjective and the checklist method which requires a certified list of sources identifying titles essential to support an academic programme. Identifying collection evaluation techniques which are cost effective, easy to implement and accurate would provide librarians with valuable instruments to prepare both internal and external reports.
Wachel (1992) and Shreaves (1992) noted the strong alliance between acquisition and collection development to citing the Iowa libraries as examples. The re-organization at Iowa which shifted the administration of acquisitions from technical services to collection management was a very positive one since it reduced possibilities for conflict inherent in the old administrative structure. Co-operation is the watchword. The action of acquiring confirms a link with collection management and such a relationship is a potential linkage.
Summary
A role of collection development is not only to plan a stock acquisition programme but to make it relevant to immediate and future needs of the users. Born (1993) rightly observed that “a closer co-operation has developed between departments as librarians assess and evaluate library collections to ensure the current and future needs of students and scholars are met” (p.125). It is also evident that most University library collections in developing countries are under-developed as a result of the lack of clearly stated acquisition and collection development policies. The reverse is true of most university libraries in developed countries. Co-operation and resource sharing are two positive steps in the face of declining budgets.
Bibliography
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development: options for effective management. London: Taylor Graham. pp.3-16.
Born, K. (1993). “The role of the serials vendor in the collection assessment and evaluation process”.
Journal of Library Administration. 19(2), pp.125-138.
Bostic, M.J. (1991). “Approval acquisitions and vendor relations: an overview”. The Acquisitions
Librarian. 6(1), pp. 129-144.
Cabutey-Adodoadji, E. (1988). “Collection Development: a hypothetical perspective”. Ghana
Library Journal. 6(1), pp.20-30.
Ford, G. (1988). “A review of relegation practice”. In In S. Corral(ed). Collection development: options
for effective management. London: Taylor Graham. pp.71-81.
Futas, E. (1984). Library acquisition: policies and procedures. Arizona: Oryx Press.
Gyeszly, S.D. et al. (1990) “Collection growth and evaluation at Texas A and M University, 1978 and
1988: a comparative statistical analysis”. Collection Management. 12 (3-4), pp.152-172.
Ifidon, B.I. (1990). Collection development in African university libraries: challenges and frustrations.
Indiana: African Studies Program.
Jones, J.H. (1990). “The Hertfordshire method: an approach to book stock management”. In In S.
Corral(ed). Collection development: options for effective management. London: Taylor Graham.
pp.95-101.
Kelly, G.J. (1991). “Using an economic approach to improve budget forecasting techniques, collection,
allocation methods and library budgeting decisions”. The Acquisitions Librarian. 5(11), pp.191-213.
Leonhardt, T.W. (1990). “Collection development outside the ARL: a newcomer’s perspective”.
Collection Management. 12(1-2), pp.11-14.
Likeness, C.S. (1990). “The creative use and acquisitions mechanisms in the college library. Collection
Management. 12(1-2), pp.3-10.
Lundu and Lungu, M.C. & Lungu, C.M.B. (1989). “Acquisition of scientific literature in developing
countries: Zambia”. Information Development. 5(2), pp.99-107.
Matheson, A. (1988). “Co-operative approaches in Scotland”. In S. Coral (ed). Collection development:
options for effective management. London: Taylor Graham. pp. 119-130.
Osburn, C.B. (1990). “Impact of collection management practices on intellectual freedom”. Library
Trends. 39(1-2). pp. 168-182.
Sizer, J. (1988). “Value for money: a framework for development”. In S. Coral (ed). Collection
development: options for effective management. London: Taylor Graham. pp. 132-140.
Somers, S.W. (1991). Book selection: principles and practice. London: Library Association Publishing.
Taher, M & Kumar, V.M. (1990). “Collection development and evaluation at the American Research
Centre, Hydembad”. Collection Management. 12(1-2), pp. 125-146.
Tjoumas, R. & Blake, V.L.P. (1990). “Counteracting at the divergence between professional
accreditation and the evaluation of library science collections”. Collection Management. 12(1-2),
pp.43-59.
Wachel, K. & Shreeves, E. (1992). “An alliance between acquisitions and collection management”.
Library Acquisitions: Practice and Theory. 16(1), pp.383-389.
Williams, R. (1988). “Choosing the Slote method of weeding library collections”. In S. Coral (ed).
Collection development: options for effective management. London: Taylor Graham. pp. 88-94.
Woodward, H. (1994). “The impact of electronic information on serials collection management”. IFLA
Journal. 20(1), pp.35-45.
This book is different to most other parenting books which take the ‘problems’ we face as parents and tries to address them. “This book [instead] is about the fun and heart of parenting. “
It is time to cease the argument regarding Socialism versus Capitalism and begin the movement towards Peace and Prosperity.
10 years ago, I was at Fuji Bank in the New York headquarters of what was then the largest bank in the world, in charge of corporate finance for the leading companies of that time. With support from the governments of Japan and other Asian countries, we were succeeding in the fight against the Asian financial crisis and rescuing troubled companies. However, we faced strong objections from the USA, and were criticized as having departed from the capitalist free economy competition principle. We were called socialists. The USA requested that Japan reduce government expenses and national debt, allowing the free market to eliminate poorly performing enterprises and punish the responsible executives. As a result, many leading world companies declared bankruptcy and numerous employees lost their jobs. Many CEO’s and other executives committed suicide, or were prosecuted and subsequently sentenced.
Now that a financial crisis has swept the USA, the government has taken completely different actions which included taking control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, taking over AIG, along with Washington Mutual and the top three investment banks, and relatively quickly passed the passed the $700 billion bailout plan.
Those actions prompted criticism from academia along with the media, as demonstrated by the following headlines:
Socialism creates a defining moment in American capitalism,
Socialism for Wall Street, Free Market Capitalism for Everybody Else
We’ve Crossed the Line from Capitalism to Socialism
Bush brings socialism to citadel of capitalism
Socialism, Capitalism, the Free-Market and the Future of America
The world crisis of capitalism and the prospects for socialism
From Capitalism to Socialism to ???: Crossing the Line Et cetera…
However, these accusations were utterly disregarded, resulting in absolutely no influence on the government’s decisions.
It is obvious that when it comes down to it, no one is willing to sacrifice his or her current success and own wellbeing to make a statement in the esoteric war against the hundred-year-old definition of socialism.
In 1980s, the new reforms and open policy developed by Deng Xiaoping’s leadership created a new era in China’s history. During this time, I introduced western economics and explained the workings of capitalism to socialist China, and facilitated China’s top decision-making. When I made a speech to Chinese leaders and scholars in Beijing in 1985, I most particularly emphasized, “Do not struggle - regardless of whether a policy is nominally dubbed Socialism or Capitalism, it must be applied in the race for economic development.” There was a round of applause from the audience.
I criticized the fact that Das Kapital, over 100 years old, still served as the main economics textbook at Chinese universities. Our textbooks dismissed Western countries’ scientific macroeconomic theory, consummation, government management mechanism, the macro-control function, and the extremely strict laws and regulations monitoring system, and still focused on market economy, free economy, and other age-old simple models in order to describe contemporary Western economy.
I indicated, “Economy, information, and society change with each new day, and the financial market is developing. As the result, Marxist Economics and Keynes Economics are difficult to relate to in light of the current economy. They can only serve as great historical milestones, not as modern ideas.”
China’s 30 year’s reform/open policy, which disregarded and dismissed arguments of socialism or capitalism and instead kept pace with the times and scientific developments resulted in great economic achievements.
Instead of pointlessly arguing over how socialist or capitalist something is, we need to focus on key economic issues. Specifically, the funding source and usage for the huge bailout plan. Increasing tax or debt is not an easy route. If we don’t have enough funds, the plan will be only a blank check from politicians to voters during this election year. We need to learn from the similar experience Japan faced in resolving the financial crisis ten years ago.
The concept that socialism is disastrous is outdated and obsolete. This time, the financial crisis has awoken Americans, many of whom did not focus on economic issues prior to this unprecedented situation. We need to cease debating about Socialism versus Capitalism and instead concentrate on moving towards a more peaceful country and safer people. We should take heed the wisdom of Deng Xiaoping’s adage: I don’t care if the cat is white or black, as long as it catches mice.
All time famous Catch Him and Keep Him was probably the first dating and relationship advice book ever written for women by a man who is not a professional psychologist, but a normal guy just like the ones you are probably dating now. And if you are dating men who seem mysterious to you, then you’ve stumbled across this article for a reason.
Ever wanted to record your family as the times go by but have no idea where to start? Do you want to make a family tree to hand down to your children but have no idea how to do it?
Our Family History is a beautiful scrapbook to help you preserve your family history with ease. You are able to keep your family photos in the delightfully adorned pages along with writing an explanation of the photo on the given lines that this scrapbook offers.
The Our Family History book will provide you with:
Beautiful framed spaces for family pictures
Lined areas for vital family information
Family tree pullout
Record book
With the easy to use templates, you have the option of using them any way you see fit. You are able to put all your pictures with the same information in one place. Unlike other books like these, you are able to label your family pictures any way you like.
Our Family History makes a great photograph album for the beginner historians to the well accomplished scrap bookers. It also makes a great gift to any family member, friend, new mother, or newlywed who you think will benefit from a gift that will help them create wonderful lasting memories.
It is a gift that will keep on giving. You will want to hand this book down to your children and your children’s children. With Our Family History’s wonderfully decorated cover, it can make a perfect coffee table book and conversational piece.
The author of this book is T.W. Jackson, he is a real person and very down to earth, and actually cares about his readers. In the first section of the book, you will take an in depth analysis of yourself to determine whether or not trying to get your ex back is in your best interest. Once that is done you will then reshape the image of yourself and work on your emotions. The books puts emphasis on your emotional state.
You will the receive tips and suggestions to turn you into a different person that will peak you ex’s interest. You will be challenged to get out of your comfort zone.
This next section is a step by step game plan to get your ex back. It covers everything from the first phone call, and what to say, to regaining trust, and some tricks that you can use to re-establish your bond.
It covers: how to get them on a date, proper dating etiquette, the right setting for the date, how to speed up the reconciliation process,and when should you have sex (everyone gets this part wrong). You will also get a plan B if your ex throws you a curve ball.
The next section is full of tips to keep your relationship healthy and from running into the same problems and arguments that you had before you broke up. This part of the book is dedicated to help you steer clear of negative history and teaches you to stay focused on the future.
T.W. Jackson goes the extra mile by having a section that caters to men and another section that caters to women. He did this because men and women think differently and respond differently, and what works for a man to get a woman back would not necessarily work for a woman trying to get a man back.
With that being said, lets get into the pros and cons of the book. We will start with the pros.
Pros-price is $39 and you get immediate access to the guide. You get personal advise from the author, video tutorials, unique content that you will not see floating around on the internet, high success rate, it is easy to read, and it gets to the point, no fluff. It is for both men and women, it is 62 pages which means you could read it right away and start implementing the techniques laid out for you. It also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Testimonials of happy customers are also provided on video.
Cons-if you are shy or prefer things to be sugar coated for you, it may not be for you. Unconventional strategies force you out of your comfort zone. Not suitable for married couples with children and finances involved. It does not mention long distance relationships, no mention of how to deal with relationships that ended over a year ago.
All in all for me, I would give the book and eight on a scale of one to ten. The Magic of Making Up is a good book and if you are someone who is looking for a way to get your ex back, you can give this book a try. You can learn more about the book below so you can decide whether or not it is for you.
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Paula Snyder is an author and business owner. If you would like to learn more inside secrets and tips that will literally force your ex into begging to get back with you visit The Magic Of Making Up and watch the free videos. For more free tips, videos and articles, visit my blog at http://getyourexback-1.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paula_Snyder |
I’m looking for a particular quote, and I can’t find it. The quote goes something like this: If you want to know what a good painting is, you only have to look at a million paintings. The same can be said for writing. If you want to know what good writing is, you only have to read a million books.
I haven’t read a million books. Reading a million books would be the task of a lifetime. (I suspect that looking at a million pieces of art would take much less time than reading a million books.) However, I do have about a thousand books in my library, most of which I have read multiple times. Based on that, I believe I have a pretty good idea about what constitutes good writing.
Instead of describing good writing, I’m going to list authors who have done it. As I have always told my clients, reading books by great authors will help a person become a better writer. These are authors worth reading. If you would be a good writer, you would do well to read and study their writing.
These books represent a variety of genres. Most are fairly recently written, in the last 50 years or so, which means that the writing styles will be relevant for most modern readers. They are listed below in alphabetical order, along with a recommended book selection.
Bellow, Saul: Humboldt’s Gift
Card, Orson Scott: Ender’s Game
Cherryh, C.J.: Cyteen
Cormier, Robert: I Am the Cheese
Doig, Ivan: English Creek (book 2 of a 3-book series)
Eddings, David: The Belgariad (5-book series)
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel: 100 Years of Solitude
Heinlein, Robert: Time Enough for Love
Hemingway, Ernest: A Farewell to Arms
Hugo, Victor: Les Miserables
Hurston, Zora Neale: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Irving, John: Until I Find You
King, Steven: The Shining
Kurtz, Katherine: Camber of Culdi
Oates, Joyce Carol: The Falls
Pratchett, Terry: Interesting Times
Robbins, Tom: Skinny Legs and All
Roth, Philip: Zuckerman Unbound
Rushdie, Salman: The Ground beneath Her Feet
Sedaris, David: Me Talk Pretty One Day
Shakespeare, William: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft: Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander: Cancer Ward
Tan, Amy: The Hundred Secret Senses
Tolstoy, Leo: Anna Karenina
Twain, Mark: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Tyler, Ann: Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant
Updike, John: In the Beauty of the Lillies
Vonnegut, Kurt: Bluebeard
Waugh, Evelyn: Men at Arms
I wish you happy reading and great writing.