New Titles for Information Professionals

A sampling of recent publications. Details below the fold. [JH]

• Building Web-Scale Libraries: Libraries, Networks and Services, by Lorcan Dempsey and Brian Lavoie
• Blended Learning: Tools for Teaching and Training by Barbara Allen
• Semantic Web for the Working Ontologist; Effective Modeling in RDFS and OWL by Dean Allemang and James Hendler
• Keeping Found Things Found: The Study and Practice of Personal Information Management by William Jones
• Knowledge Management and Reducing Risk by Joseph M. Firestone
• Making Knowledge Work- The Arrival of Web 2.0 (2d ed.) by Jon Husband and Jim Bair
• Video Over IP: IPTV, Internet Video, H.264, P2P, Web TV, and Streaming: A Complete Guide to Understanding the Technology (2d ed.) by Wes Simpson (forthcoming August 2008)

Building Web-Scale Libraries: Libraries, Networks and Services
By Lorcan Dempsey and Brian Lavoie

List Price: $115.00
Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2008
224 pp
ISBN: 9781856046336

Book Description: Libraries are entering a second phase of their networked life. In the first they thought about how to connect their services to the network. However, now that the network has reconfigured behaviours and structures in significant ways, a new set of issues needs to be addressed. In this second phase, libraries need to create value in an environment where major web presences have changed how people search for information, where the conduct of learning and scholarship is changing, and where scale and network effects are increasingly important. Combining published blog entries and new material this collection explores these issues and considers some library responses.

Blended Learning: Tools for Teaching and Training
By Barbara Allen

List Price: $115.00
Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2008
192 pp
ISBN: 9781856046145 

Book Description: Blended Learning integrates traditional and distance learning methods into a blended approach, the ideal for today's modern learning environment. With this book, you'll learn how to combine the best of traditional and new approaches to learning, gaining the benefits of both and none of the disadvantages. This practical guide to designing and delivering training that meets the needs of every group, no matter the size, is filled with library-based examples, checklists, and case studies. Topics include:

• Virtual communication tools
• Models of teaching and learning
• Individual and group learning activities
• Development of online communities

Semantic Web for the Working Ontologist
Effective Modeling in RDFS and OWL
By Dean Allemang and James Hendler

Paperback, 352 pages,
Publication date: April 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-12-373556-0
ISBN-10: 0-12-373556-4
Imprint: MORGAN KAUFFMAN
Price: $49.95

Description: The promise of the Semantic Web to provide a universal medium to exchange data information and knowledge has been well publicized. There are many sources too for basic information on the extensions to the WWW that permit content to be expressed in natural language yet used by software agents to easily find, share and integrate information. Until now individuals engaged in creating ontologies-- formal descriptions of the concepts, terms, and relationships within a given knowledge domain-- have had no sources beyond the technical standards documents. Semantic Web for the Working Ontologist transforms this information into the practical knowledge that programmers and subject domain experts need. Authors Allemang and Hendler begin with solutions to the basic problems, but don?t stop there: they demonstrate how to develop your own solutions to problems of increasing complexity and ensure that your skills will keep pace with the continued evolution of the Semantic Web.

Keeping Found Things Found
The Study and Practice of Personal Information Management
By William Jones

Paperback, 448 pages
Publication date: November 2007
ISBN-13: 978-0-12-370866-3
ISBN-10: 0-12-370866-4
Imprint: MORGAN KAUFFMAN
Price: $49.95

Description: We need information to make good decisions, to get things done, to learn, and to gain better mastery of the world around us. But we do not always have good control of our information - not even in the "home waters" of an office or on the hard drive of a computer. Instead, information may be controlling us - keeping us from doing the things we need to do, getting us to waste money and precious time. The growth of available information, plus the technologies for its creation, storage, retrieval, distribution and use, is astonishing and sometimes bewildering. Can there be a similar growth in our understanding for how best to manage information and informational tools? This book provides a comprehensive overview of personal information management (PIM) as both a study and a practice of the activities people do and need to be doing so that information can work for them in their daily lives. Introductory chapters of Keeping Found Things Found: The Study and Practice of Personal Information Management provide an overview of PIM and a sense for its many facets. The next chapters look more closely at the essential challenges of PIM, including finding, keeping, organizing, maintaining, managing privacy, and managing information flow. The book also contains chapters on search, email, mobile PIM, web-based support, and other technologies relevant to PIM.

Knowledge Management and Reducing Risk
By Joseph M. Firestone

Pages: 72
ISBN: 978-1-906355-12-8
Price: £295
Year published: 2008
Publisher: Ark Group

Description: The need for an effective risk management strategy has never been clearer. As Enron, Arthur Anderson and Merrill Lynch have fallen the professional and public worlds have woken to the real danger of unchecked risk. This crucial new report from the Ark Group focuses in on the root cause of bad management, the faults in the decision making process, and shows you the techniques and tools you need to correct them. Communicating in a clear and entertaining style Joseph Firestone leads you step by step through the process of using knowledge management (KM) to risk-proof your organisation.

Knowledge Management and Reducing Risk covers the crucial issues in Risk Management:

• Capturing knowledge to pinpoint your business’ areas of risk;
• Identifying differing types of risk and reacting accordingly;
• Adapting your decision making models to minimise risk and maximise opportunity;
• Weighting risk to provide a ‘fair comparison’ analysis;
• Developing a risk savvy culture through knowledge sharing;
• Measuring the success of the decision making process;
• Maintaining an atmosphere of open debate to ensure continued success.

Making Knowledge Work- The Arrival of Web 2.0 (2d ed.)
By Jon Husband and Jim Bair

Pages: 206
ISBN: 978-1-906355-09-8
Price: £345
Year published: 2008
Publisher: Ark Group

Description:  Making Knowledge Work is a unique, uncompromising examination of the practical considerations that influence the success of knowledge management (KM) in a corporate context. From exploring the various definitions of KM to understanding the arguments against KM programmes, Making Knowledge Work equips you with the knowledge and theories to effectively champion and implement KM at your organisation. Whether you are introducing KM to your organisation for the first time, or understand the huge potential and growing importance of Enterprise 2.0 to your existing KM strategies, this report is essential research in helping you realise the massive benefits while avoiding expensive pitfalls.

Since the first Making Knowledge Work report was published in 2004, there has been an enormous amount of implementation of KM-oriented technology, both with respect to systems architecture and the integration of KM-oriented capabilities like enterprise search, taxonomy, document management and more… The 2nd edition of this report takes into account all these advances and most specifically, the massive impact of Web 2.0 on information management, collaboration and organisational culture.

Making Knowledge Work considers these important developments while specifically guiding you through:

• Overcoming cultural issues;
• Securing senior management support;
• Selecting the most appropriate KM tools and technologies;
• Maximising the return on your investment.

Video Over IP
IPTV, Internet Video, H.264, P2P, Web TV, and Streaming: A Complete Guide to Understanding the Technology (2d ed.)
By Wes Simpson

Paperback, ISBN-13: 978-0-240-81084-3, 464 pages,
Publication date: August 2008
Imprint: FOCAL PRESS
Price: $59.95

Description: Video Over IP gives you everything you need to know to choose from among the many ways of transferring your video over a network. The information is presented in an easy to read format, with comparison charts provided to help you understand the benefits and drawbacks of different technologies for a variety of practical applications. This new edition is expanded to fully cover HD and wireless technologies and new case studies. Whether your background is video, networking, broadcast, or telecommunications, you will benefit from the breadth of coverage that this book provides. Real-life application examples give readers successful examples of a variety of Video over IP networks that are up and running today.