[Editor], '[Reviews]', LIBRES v5n01 (March 31, 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/libres/libres-v5n01-[editor]-reviews] LIBRES: Library and Information Science Research Electronic Journal ISSN 1058-6768 March 31, 1995 Volume 5 Issue 1 Quarterly LIBRE5N1 Reviews _____________________________________________________ _Mastering Information in the New Century_. By Marvin J. Cetron and Owen Davies. Washington, DC: Special Libraries, 1994. 94 pp. ISBN: 0-87111-431-3. For an information provider and consumer, mastering information in a technologically fluid environment is a compelling issue that raises many questions and demands much thought. The intent of this work is to attempt to answer some of the questions many of us many have, in our profession, and in our roles as members of a complex global society. It also provides a framework within which to view the outcome of technological advances, and to make decisions that will govern our viability in the work place. Cetron and Davies state that they ...will try to forecast both the development of the information superhighway and the changes it will bring within the next decade(p. 3). They accurately assess that this is no easy task in light of the fact that ... many of the critical decisions that will shape the result are just reaching the discussion stage. (P. 3) As stated in the preface by David R. Bender, Executive Director of the Special Libraries Association, the authors' goals are to define what the information superhighway is, how it will change information specialty, what new opportunities it will bring, what new skills it will require of information professionals, and lastly, what this transition will mean for the Special Libraries Association. This highly readable text approaches these topics by first focusing on the broader issues involving the complex causal relationships of economics, politics, education, and technology, and then synthesizing this information in a final chapter dealing with the evolving demands placed on information specialists. In its contextual approach, the book provides a meaningful framework for this analysis. A lengthy appendix dealing with seventy-four major trends now changing the United States follows, detailing demographic, economic, and social patterns affecting the issues discussed in the book. (P. 53) Of the forces at work, the computer is ...seen as one of the most potent...transforming American life. (P. 4). This is illustrated by the fact that ...computer power doubles every eighteen months to two years. (P. 8). Cetron and Davies accurately list time, demographics, international trade, and competition as the other major forces involved in the process of reshaping our social environment. For those who may view the resulting changes with skepticism and/or wariness, the first chapter may paint a bleak future. It is indicated that ...at least two generations of Americans...will be lost in the era of information: the baby boomers who completed high school and counted on manufacturing jobs..., and too many of their children, whose schools have failed them completely. (P. 21) As one delves further into the book, one sees an intimation of a more positive light shed on a future which may bring undreamed of opportunities as a concomitant to change. One criticism one could make of this work is that, although it relies heavily on statistics, no references are given to the sources used, with the exception of one figure. This does not allow the reader to explore specific information without conducting additional research, nor does it allow for verification of information. In light of the implications that learning should be a lifelong pursuit, and that information specialists must hone their skills, one could generously interpret these omissions as intentional. Additionally, it would have been of interest to the reader to be provided with information about the authors. Nonetheless, within its intended focus, this text presents a wealth of data in a manageable format and is clearly written. Even though the final chapter deals with information specialists and discusses the impact on the Special Libraries Association, its readership should not be limited to these specialists within the field of Library and Information Science. The information superhighway has far-reaching implications for our society, and is fast becoming the warp and the weft of a global tapestry that will impact all individuals, and for those wondering what may lie ahead in a fast-approaching future, this book provides a useful summary of vital information. Suzanne Milton Eastern Washington University Jaffe, David Lee _Introducing the Internet: a trainer's workshop_ 1st edition, Plus, Internet workshop series, No. 1. Berkeley, California: Library Solutions Press, c1994 Includes two 3.5" diskettes of presentation slides created in PowerPoint, one readable with DOS and one with Mac based computers. ISBN: 1-88208-05-6 Price: $45.00 Ordering Information: 11000 Industrial Road, Suite 9 San Carlos, CA 94070 Fax Orders: 415-594-0411 Phone Orders & Inquiries: 510-841-2636 Introducing the Internet: a trainer's workshop, is aptly named. The text contains Jaffe's lecture, presentation slides and handouts for presenting an introductory course on the Internet. The lecture is accompanied by tips on how to conduct such a lecture. The text of the book is divided so that the trainer's lecture notes read in a right column covering approximately three quarters of each page, while notes on when to use transparencies and tips for the trainers follow down the left column. Jaffe claims the purpose of the book is two fold. Introducing the Internet is written first for novice trainers whose primary job has not previously been to train users on the Internet. Jaffe states that the introductory lecture is designed to answer the questions: "what is the Internet?", "what does it do?" and "why should I be interested?" Introducing the Internet is written secondly for the beginning Internet user to follow as a self-paced tutorial. The author notes in the preface that in order for the book to be used as a tutorial, the user must work through each handout systematically. Jaffe begins with "Preliminary Steps" for trainers on preparing for a class. He then supplies an outline and text of a complete lecture, suggestions for an online demonstration, a complete set of presentation slides to accompany the lecture, and handouts which could be distributed to participants. The text concludes with a sample of how another presenter has adapted Lee Jaffe's slides and lecture notes to fit her particular style. The Introducing the Internet is available in two editions. The Plus edition includes diskettes of the presentation slides while the other edition supplies the book alone. The author notes that the slides may be used or adapted for use as long as the originator is given credit. TEXT OF THE REVIEW The text is excellently suited as a ready made session or a model for the novice trainer. Reading through the text serves to reinforce the trainer's basic knowledge of the Internet, email, remote logon (Telnet), Gopher, and FTP. Once the novice trainer is confident in their grasp of the basics, the text can serve as an outline to keep the novice trainer's lecture on track. The novice will find Jaffe's notes and tips useful. There are notes on the principals underlying a particular method that Jaffe uses to deal with a topic, the equipment needed, advice on how to assemble the right components for an introductory lecture, hints on the amount of time which should be allocated to each area of the lecture, and tips on common problems which can be avoided. Even though I am not a novice trainer, I found the "Tip to Trainer" notes in the left margins to be helpful. The tips give suggestions on how to explain concepts difficult to the beginner which may seem intuitive to the expert. The suggestions for what a trainer can expect to cover in a specified period of time has proved helpful as well to solidify ideas which had been growing with my training experience. I found the handouts and presentation slides to be the most useful feature of the book. Each handout is well organized, covering basic commands and lists of resources available on the Internet. The presentation slides can easily be adapted to any style or situation, and, with this book as a guide, a tailored lecture could consist of a brief introduction, or could blossom into a lengthy training session with hands-on training. However, Introduction to the Internet is not well suited as a tutorial for beginning Internet users. The text is readable, but there are no specific exercises designed to give the beginner practical experience. Although Jaffe suggests in the preface that the beginner must "go through the handouts systematically" in order to use the text as a tutorial, the handouts are not organized for this purpose and do not include step by step instructions as a beginner would need. The idea of using Introduction to the Internet as a tutorial seems like an afterthought to give the book a wider potential audience. Tracy Bicknell-Holmes University of Nebraska-Lincoln _The Little Oxford Dictionary_. Edited by Maurice Waite. NY:Oxford University Press, 1994. _The Little Oxford Thesaurus_. Edited by Alan Spooner. NY:Oxford University Press, 1994. The first of these pocket sized companion volumes is _The Little Oxford Dictionary_. The previous edition (sixth) was published in 1986. This new edition has been greatly revised and expanded with over one hundred additional pages of entries than in the last edition. It boasts over 51,000 entries and 56,000 up-to-date definitions which reflect the constant change in the American language. Some new words include political correctness, chatline and ethnic cleansing to name just a few. This edition also contains new grammar and usage notes which are conveniently placed right below or on the same page of the definition that it refers to. Many of the grammar notes are quite lengthy and contain clear, straightforward examples. The definitions are concise but clear and define the current meaning of the word. Some slang and colloquial terms are defined but obscene or four-letter words are not included. The print size is small but readable with headword and any form of the headword (i.e. adjective, past tense, verb, etc.) in bold type. The first appendix includes a list of countries of the world with the personal name form of each country and the second lists general weights and measurement information. For a clear, straightforward source when you need to know the spelling, meaning, or usage of a word this pocket- sized dictionary is an excellent source to turn to. The second pocket sized volume is _The Little Oxford Thesaurus_ that was originally published as _The Oxford Minireference Thesaurus_ in 1992. The straightforward dictionary arrangement of this thesaurus provides over 150,000 synonyms. Each entry contains the headword in bold type by its part of speech label and then lists the synonyms alphabetically. Some headwords also contain cross-references to antonyms for opposite terms and cross-references to related words for terms that have a common relationship to the headword. A brief two page summary lists the instructions for using the thesaurus and also the abbreviations and symbols used in the thesaurus. The preface of this work states that _any_ thesaurus should be used with caution due to the vast variety of words that may be substituted for any one term and also because any two words in the English language are seldom completely interchangeable. Following this helpful advice, this pocket-sized thesaurus can provide anyone a convenient source to help them express themselves more effectively. Used together, these two tools provide the perfect pair of compact reference tools. Overall, these tools will provide most users home, office or schools general needs and is recommended for most libraries. Leela E. Balraj Kent State University _Information for Management: A Handbook._ Edited by James M. Matarazzo and Miriam A. Drake. Washington, D.C.: Special Libraries Association, 1994. Vii, 186 pgs. LCCN:94-21486. ISBN: 0-87111-427-5. $40.00(Pbk). Success in any organization depends on contribution to productivity, achievement of objectives and the bottom line. Success also depends on knowing customers...Continuous feedback and measurement of customer satisfaction is essential. Pp. V (introduction) The passage above describes underlying principle of this book. By collecting eighteen individual perspectives on management strategies, the editors create a useful tool for anyone interested in the new trends of management. Librarians interested in incorporating the new information technologies into their existing administrative structure will find this book very useful.. Although intended for corporate librarians, each chapter can be modeled for any library use, especially those focusing on practical advice and case studies. Information for Management is divided into eighteen chapters written by professionals in all types of libraries. From information assessment to global information networks, each chapter ponders the question of customer satisfaction. There is no index to this book nor is the Table of Contents very helpful for anyone looking for a specific case study. However, each chapter provides detailed references and some include bibliographies for further reading. One principle permeating this handbook, is the need for successful communication both to the patron and to the senior administration. The editors devote several chapters to communication. Of primary interest and use is Beth Dustons chapter entitled Getting to the Right Answer." Ms. Duston focuses on the need for appropriate information rather than on access to all information. In todays society of everything at your fingertips, it is imperative that information professionals be clear on h how to access, synthesize, and package information without getting trapped in an abyss of data overload. Ms. Duston points out that the Reference interview is still the key strategy to a successful bibliographic search. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. I found interesting pieces of useful information in every chapter. The lack of index is not really an impediment. However, if a future edition of this work is being planned, I would highly recommend including a comprehensive index to make this work more useful. Aimee C. Piscitelli Eastern Washington University ________________________________________ This document may be circulated freely with this statement included in its entirety: This article was originally published in _LIBRES: Library and Information Science Electronic Journal_ (ISSN 1058-6768) March 31, 1995 Volume 5 Issue 1. For any commercial use, or publication (including electronic journals), you must obtain the permission of the authors. To subscribe to LIBRES send e-mail message to listserv@kentvm.kent.edu with the text: subscribe libres _ ________________________________________