The native North American almanac

The native North American almanac

centralization, but these new parameters are not reflected in the book. Most of the essays begin with a disclaimer about alterations of the future due...

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centralization, but these new parameters are not reflected in the book. Most of the essays begin with a disclaimer about alterations of the future due to unforeseen changes, and just such a change is currently taking place. The impact of “the global network of networks” has already been tremendous for all of the issues and ideas presented in Libraries and the Future, but this impact is not assessed in the collection. A few of the essays mention the Internet or the National Research and Education Network (NREN)-already metamorphing into the national information infrastructure (NII)-but the time frame for producing print media would have required that these essays be written before, or perhaps just as, Internet access was becoming widely available. Another significant development not reflected in the collection is the recent and ongoing proliferation of full-text databases and the corresponding creation of search routines that go beyond Boolean capabilities to access their contents. Thus, several of the essays in the collection are, so soon after publication, obsolete for most purposes. One value of the collection, then, is historical. It shows a cross-section of distinguished professional thinking at a significant point in time. Also, the collection is wide ranging; by no means all of its contents are invalidated or out of date. Many of the issues raised are still worth discussing and critiquing, provided they are put into a current perspective. Library school instructors and others in positions of professional leadership might be especially encouraged to use this collection to stimulate their own and others’ thinking about large questions. Rapid change continues, and we as a profession are learning to function in this dynamic environment without losing sight of our socially vital mission and purpose. We realize that we are in a unique position to contribute to the shaping of the future. Despite their limitations, this book can assist in this.-Martha Weil, Humanities Librarian, Library-Information Services, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521. The Native North American Almanac, edited by Duane Champagne. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1994. 1,275~. $95. ISBN O8103-8865-O. ISSN 1070-8014. Permanent paper. Academic and popular interest in Native American subjects has continued to grow phenomenally since the 1960s and publication of reference sources within the field has paralleled that growth. Champagne, director of the American Indian Studies Center at the University of California at Los Angeles, has now produced the best general reference source on the market. Furthermore, he has drawn upon the talents of 58 scholars from anthropology, history, literature, law, sociology, religion, education, and geography to provide the reliable articles. The opening sections on chronology, demography, and cultural areas are excellent, even though they will probably be the most criticized because of page limitations which forced selectivity of coverage. Especially useful within these sections is the chronological coverage of major events between 1966 and 1992. These are followed by individual sections on languages, law, administration, activism, environment, urbanization, religion, arts, literature, media, health, education, and economy. Each of these is very detailed, expertly researched, and artfully written to suit the needs of academics and layperson alike. A concluding massive section provides biographies of prominent Indian people from the past and present. Averaging approximately three paragraphs each, these profiles are especially useful for understanding the diversity of current leaders, but

approximately one-third of the articles deal with historically significant Indian leaders ranging from Handsome Lake to Geronimo. Rather than attempt a hemispheric-wide coverage of Native Peoples, Champagne has wisely confined his treatment to the United States and Canada. His precise conceptualization of the subtopics and tight editorial control have helped blend diverse materials and individual writing styles into a well-integrated volume. Likewise, the extensive index directs attention to all relevant citations within the book, and the more than 400 photographs, maps, tables, and line drawings ably supplement the text. Despite its high cost, this is an essential item for the collections of university, research, and community libraries as well as a handy reference tool for tribal offices.-Michael L. Tate, Department of History, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182. Seeking Meaning: A Process Approach to Library and Information Services, by Carol Collier Kuhlthau. Norwood, NJ: Ablex, 1993. 219~. $45.00 (cloth). ISBN O-89391-968-3. $24.50 (paper). ISBN l-56750-019-6. LC 92-40770. In a technological age that provides access to overwhelming amounts of information, the bibliographic paradigm that has been the foundation of libraries no longer suffices to meet the needs of information seekers. Librarians cannot afford to be content any longer with simply providing access to information. They should develop reference services and instruction that address users’ feelings, thoughts, and actions as they proceed through the search process. Kuhlthau of Rutgers University builds upon her previous research on the Information Search Process (ISP) and borrows from a number of fields (including psychology, education, and the health sciences) to develop a theory which provides the necessary foundation for the development of process-oriented library and information services. The theory rests on an uncertainty principle, which states that uncertainty and anxiety are to be expected in the early stages of the ISP, when information seekers are vague about their topics. Increased confidence results from more focused searches. Librarians have traditionally slighted the affective component of the information search process, but the author argues that understanding the place of a user’s feelings in a search is of critical importance to providing quality assistance. Kuhlthau proposes five levels of intervention for reference (Organizer, Locator, Identifier, Advisor, and Counselor) and for instruction (Organizer, Lecturer, Instructor, Tutor, and Counselor). She emphasizes the need for librarians, as professionals, to diagnose what type of intervention is required, and when, but argues that librarians need to meet the rising demand for extended assistance by increasingly taking on the role of Counselor. Kuhlthau

describes

this role:

The Counselor establishes a dialogue that leads to an exploration of strategy and a sequence for learning. The mediator [librarian] expects the user to return periodically to reestablish the dialogue . The user and the Counselor redefine the problem, determine a strategy, identify additional sources, and a sequence for use. A variety of searches may be conducted with different purposes that match the user’s experience at the different points in the process (p. 144).

The last chapter provides several strategies for counseling users that will assist the reader in implementing her suggestions. In many institutions, however, lack of time will be a stumbling block to following her suggestions.

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