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Adaptive technologies for learning and work environments
1 Access to Information, Materials, Technologies, and Services for Print-Impaired Readers, by Tom McNulty and Dawn M. Suvino. Chicago: American Library Association, 1993. 162~. $28. ISBN: O-8389-7641-7. Permanent paper. (LITA Monographs 2).
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Adaptive Technologies for Learning and Work Environments, by Joseph J. Lazzaro. Chicago: American Library Association, 1993. 265~. $35. ISBN 0-8389-0615-X. LC 92-46993. Permanent paper.
Book Reviews Access to Information, Materials, Technologies, and Services for Print-Impaired Readers By Tom McNulty & Dawn M. Suvino Adaptive Technologies for Learning and Work Environments By Joseph J. Lazzaro Reviewed by Joe Jax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Depository Library Use of Technology Edited by Jan Swanbeck & Peter Hemon Reviewed by Denise J. Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insider’s Guide to Library Automation Edited by John W. Head & Gerald B. McCabe Reviewed by Gregory A. Crawford ......... ...... Into the Future By Michael A. Harris & Stan Hannah Reviewed by Russell Shank . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . Networks for Networkers II Edited by Barbara Evans Markuson with Elaine W. Woods Reviewed by Margaret A. Rohdy ...............
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The questions and issues associated with serving library users with disabilities are infinite. These two publications complement each other, discuss how best to serve impaired users, and offers a range of alternatives for libraries. Access to Znformation, Materials, Technologies, and Services for PrintImpaired Readers describes the various tactile, audio, and print enhanced technologies that will assist in integrating “print impaired” people with non-impaired library users. Of particular value is the explanation of why Graphical User Interface (GUI) featured by systems poses problems for speech synthesizer technology. Similarly, the authors describe research and developments in progress that will ensure that rapidly changing computer technology will not neglect the “print impaired” user. Advantages and disadvantages of each adaptive technology are also detailed. Lazzaro, who is legally blind, focuses on personal computers assisting persons with disabilities to master work, school, and everyday life. Basic adaptive technologies serving hearing, motor, vision, and speech impaired people are extensively covered. Specific products are reviewed; there is detailed description of what they will and will not do. Adaptive keyboards, which are not often covered in the literature, are described. There is also a good chapter on “funding sources.” Both titles give thorough, duplicate historical treatment of braille and the development of computing. Each title contains helpful lists, e.g., of products, vendors, agencies, and journals. Both titles are worthy and timely reading.-Joe Jax, Director; Library Learning Center; University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI 547.51-0790. Depository Library Use of Technology: A Practitioner’s Perspective, edited by Jan Swanbeck and Peter Hemon. Norwood, NJ: Ablex, 1993. 260~. $54.50 (cloth). ISBN O89391-908-X. $24.50 (paper). ISBN O-89391-999-3. LC 924035 1 (Information Management, Policy, and Series). The editors assembled a group of depository library practitioners to write about areas of technological concern for documents librarians. The book is divided into three sections: introduction, case studies, and conclusion. There are also brief biographical notes on the contributors, and author and subject indexes. The introductory sector contains a literature review, which provides a good background for readers unfamiliar with the subject; a chapter on government information policy, which supplies an excellent analysis and summary of issues; and a chapter on the Government Printing Office’s (GPO) electronic pilot projects. Also included are a chapter describing some of the available methods for automating processing, a chapter that provides a checklist of considerations for librarians contemplating loading GPO cataloging records into their online catalogs,
May 1994
99
\W
v v
Adaptive Technologies for Learning and Work Environments, by Joseph J. Lazzaro. Chicago: American Library Association, 1993. 265~. $35. ISBN 0-8389-0615-X. LC 92-46993. Permanent paper.
Book Reviews Access to Information, Materials, Technologies, and Services for Print-Impaired Readers By Tom McNulty & Dawn M. Suvino Adaptive Technologies for Learning and Work Environments By Joseph J. Lazzaro Reviewed by Joe Jax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Depository Library Use of Technology Edited by Jan Swanbeck & Peter Hemon Reviewed by Denise J. Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Insider’s Guide to Library Automation Edited by John W. Head & Gerald B. McCabe Reviewed by Gregory A. Crawford ......... ...... Into the Future By Michael A. Harris & Stan Hannah Reviewed by Russell Shank . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . Networks for Networkers II Edited by Barbara Evans Markuson with Elaine W. Woods Reviewed by Margaret A. Rohdy ...............
. 99
99
100
100
101
The questions and issues associated with serving library users with disabilities are infinite. These two publications complement each other, discuss how best to serve impaired users, and offers a range of alternatives for libraries. Access to Znformation, Materials, Technologies, and Services for PrintImpaired Readers describes the various tactile, audio, and print enhanced technologies that will assist in integrating “print impaired” people with non-impaired library users. Of particular value is the explanation of why Graphical User Interface (GUI) featured by systems poses problems for speech synthesizer technology. Similarly, the authors describe research and developments in progress that will ensure that rapidly changing computer technology will not neglect the “print impaired” user. Advantages and disadvantages of each adaptive technology are also detailed. Lazzaro, who is legally blind, focuses on personal computers assisting persons with disabilities to master work, school, and everyday life. Basic adaptive technologies serving hearing, motor, vision, and speech impaired people are extensively covered. Specific products are reviewed; there is detailed description of what they will and will not do. Adaptive keyboards, which are not often covered in the literature, are described. There is also a good chapter on “funding sources.” Both titles give thorough, duplicate historical treatment of braille and the development of computing. Each title contains helpful lists, e.g., of products, vendors, agencies, and journals. Both titles are worthy and timely reading.-Joe Jax, Director; Library Learning Center; University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI 547.51-0790. Depository Library Use of Technology: A Practitioner’s Perspective, edited by Jan Swanbeck and Peter Hemon. Norwood, NJ: Ablex, 1993. 260~. $54.50 (cloth). ISBN O89391-908-X. $24.50 (paper). ISBN O-89391-999-3. LC 924035 1 (Information Management, Policy, and Series). The editors assembled a group of depository library practitioners to write about areas of technological concern for documents librarians. The book is divided into three sections: introduction, case studies, and conclusion. There are also brief biographical notes on the contributors, and author and subject indexes. The introductory sector contains a literature review, which provides a good background for readers unfamiliar with the subject; a chapter on government information policy, which supplies an excellent analysis and summary of issues; and a chapter on the Government Printing Office’s (GPO) electronic pilot projects. Also included are a chapter describing some of the available methods for automating processing, a chapter that provides a checklist of considerations for librarians contemplating loading GPO cataloging records into their online catalogs,
May 1994
99