Briefly Noted

Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction, Rita-Marie Conrad and J. Ana Donaldson, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004. 129 p. $20.00 softcover (ISBN 0-7879-6667-3)

This work is intended for teachers who are "relatively new" to online learning, and while it does delve lightly into the authors' concepts of engaged learning and their idea of "phases of engagement," the true value is in its hands-on, detailed ideas for enhancing online learning. These ideas take the form of online icebreakers, self-assessments, skill-building activities, and other very practical activities and resources that online instructors can use to foster the exchange of ideas and help students to take full advantage of the online learning environment. (T.J.)

Electronic Reserve: A Manual and Guide for Library Staff Members, Lori Driscoll, Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, 2004. 103 p. $24.95 softcover (ISBN 0-7890-1525-0)

Published simultaneously as Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery and Information Supply, v. 14, no. 1

Though this manual was also published as a journal issue, it is not a collection of articles but rather a coherent, step-by-step guide for setting up and managing a system for electronic course reserves. As befits the topic, the guide is roughly divided into two sections: the first dealing with setting up and managing the service, including planning, staffing, policies, training, and workflow; and the second dealing with copyright issues, permissions, and fair use. The appendix includes an extensive array of sample forms, letters, work flows, and policies. (T.J.)

Managing the Twenty-First Century Reference Department: Challenges and Prospects, ed. Kwasi Sarkodie-Mensah, Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, 2004. 124 p. $24.95 softcover (ISBN 0-7890-2332-6) Published simultaneously as The Reference Librarian, v. 39, no. 81

These articles are best examined individually, as they stand alone and in some ways cover material in a repetitive fashion. The nine articles are generally quite brief and range from very broad discussions of reference management and customer service to somewhat more detailed sections outlining core competencies desired for both heads of reference and reference librarians or discussing collaborative work and team-based management. It is perhaps useful as a general overview of some current reference management issues. (T.J.)

Computer and Network Security in Higher Education , ed. Mark Luker and Rodney Petersen, (Educause Leadership Strategies, vol. 8) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004. 111 p. $17.00 softcover (ISBN 0-7879-6666-5)

Like other volumes from Educause, this collection is intended to provide a good background on a technical issue affecting higher education administrators—in this case, computer and network security, which are clearly of significant importance for campuses and libraries everywhere. The articles work together sequentially, providing background on the interaction of security concerns with academic values and moving on to describe the steps necessary to assess security, develop plans and policies (as well as technical capabilities), and make the campus aware of security guidelines and responsibilities. (T.J.)

Charleston Conference: Proceedings, 2002 , ed. Rosann Bazirjian and Vicky Speck, Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2003. 216 p. $40.00 softcover (1-59158-102-8)

Claimed by the editors and recognized by many as "arguably the most influential and highly regarded conference in the U.S. library world," it is certainly true that the conference papers cover a broad range of collection management issues—from electronic publishing, digital archiving, and pricing to vendor and consortium relationships, with a significant focus on digital issues. Though a couple years past their date of initial presentation, the papers generally remain fairly timely and relevant. The usefulness of the material is bound to vary greatly, as longer presentations and papers that approach the details of a case study are interspersed with summaries of panel discussions and other less weighty fare. (T.J.)

The Complete Guide to Acquisitions Management, Francine C. Wilkinson and Linda K. Lewis, (Library and Information Science Text Series) Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2003. 312 p. $60.00 hardcover (1-56308-890-8)

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