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portal: Libraries and the Academy 7.3 (2007) 396

Briefly Noted
Technology and Copyright Law: A Guide Book for the Library, Research and Teaching Professions, 2nd ed., Arlene Bielefield and Lawrence Cheeseman. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2006. 270 p. $65 (ISBN: 1-55570-570-7)

This update to the well-received guide includes all of the practical information of the first, with additional sections that cover the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other changes in the world of copyright. The focus is on technology and how technological change has had an impact on copyright, which particularly means a focus on networked resources and distance learning. Other sections of note include one on common copyright misconceptions and another on the interplay between copyright and contracts, which helps to explain the role of copyright in licensed resources. (T.J.)

Radio Frequency Identification Handbook for Librarians, Connie K. Haley, Lynne A. Jacobsen, and Shai Robkin. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2007. 176p. $45 (ISBN 1-59158-371-3)

Though heavy use of RFID remains largely confined to the logistics and retail warehousing world at the moment, with a smattering of other applications growing quickly, it has frequently been a technology of interest to librarians as it holds out some promise for being the technology that succeeds both magnetic "tattle tape" and barcodes. This handbook explains the technology, identifies several scenarios for library use of radio frequency tags and readers, and includes basic coverage of all the important issues including dealing with the hardware, handling the resultant data, working with and choosing vendors, and making the transition to an RFID tagged collection. (T.J.)

New Directions in Reference, ed. Byron Anderson and Paul T. Webb. New York: Haworth Press, 2006. 161p. $19.95 softcover (ISBN 978-0-7890-3089-4). Published simultaneously as The Reference Librarian, no. 93 (2006)

This very wide-ranging collection of articles is only loosely held together by the concept of "reference." Articles explore new roles for librarians such as copyright management, virtual reference, and music reference, whereas others look at changes in technology for interlibrary loan, changing government publishing patterns, and e-mail reference. Interesting for those who want a few thoughts on the changing nature of reference writ large but perhaps disappointing for those looking for a more thorough overview of the current landscape. (T.J.)

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