Know it all Find it Fast for Youth Librarians and Teachers

Citation

Brenda Hooper (2015), "Know it all Find it Fast for Youth Librarians and Teachers", Library Management, Vol. 36 No. 4/5, pp. 385-386. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-04-2015-0018

Whilst this information handbook is a follow up to Know It All: Find It Fast: An A-Z Source Guide for the Enquiry Desk, it is a completely new publication rather than a new edition. A note of caution, the book is heavily biased towards the UK, and whilst having some global interest, it will be most useful in the UK market.

This volume is an excellent starting point for the library professional, the librarian in training, teachers and families and provides an aid memoir for the experienced information professional. It is packed with information on useful reference books, general titles, and electronic resources, covering an extensive range of information applicable to most aspects of the lives of children and teenagers, from schooling, hobbies, personal development and health. It is written in plain English, so it is easily accessed by both the professional and the layman.

Christinea shows her experience and obvious love and enthusiasm for her subject. and audience and provides a subjective and objective opinion on the sources included. The “tips and pitfalls” sections throughout the book are particularly useful to help and guide the less experienced user.

The book is divided into four parts. Part one deals with schools and education, general sources, and general knowledge. Part two with subjects related to the UK National Curriculum. Part three with issues and concerns around school life (topics of a personal and social health nature) and part four around hobbies, leisure and sport. There is an inevitable cross over between sections, and this is excellently cross-referenced, so it should not cause a problem for less expert information seekers. There is a good index at the back of the book.

In this fast moving world of information it is very difficult to produce a textbook that does not date very quickly, and this is acknowledged by the author in the introduction to the book. I would recommend that users of the book do read the introduction (it is tempting to skip it when you are anxious to get to the meat of the book) as it does explain the thinking behind the book, its usefulness and limitations.

Printed resources are up to date, and in addition to the function of the book as a reference tool, Christinea also recommends titles that would be useful for purchase for the library collection. In addition she includes more general information designed to keep children amused, occupied and at the same time informally educated.

It may be the quick way to use the internet as your main information source, but the internet does not always provide the most useful or accurate information and is not always the easiest route to information, therefore this book still has a place on the reference shelf.

The web sites described are extensive, and very useful starting points for information. Christinea also signposts to the most current resources, e.g. from the media.

This is a thoroughly well-researched tome. However, if I were to pick one area that merits more emphasis, it is more guidance on the use of electronic media. The internet is a very valuable research tool, and a source that children (and some adults) are inclined to believe without questioning. Information on web sites can be there one day, and gone the next.

It is also worth stressing that internet sources need validation, and when using web sites, check that the information is current, and that the site has good credentials (e.g. backed by a reputable organisation or author in the field).

Some sites are already dated – that is to be expected, and a current copyright date on the page, doesn’t necessarily mean that page has been updated. Examples of sites that are outdated or have changed, include the Department for Children, Schools and Families education site, that has been taken down by the current government, and the site from Mrs Mad (p. 187), which although a really useful site for young readers and teachers(p. 271), is showing its age. On the latter site Bookstart is described as being a scheme sponsored by a supermarket – quite correct, but that sponsorship disappeared over ten years ago! Education can be an area where information changes fast, and where good projects are difficult to sustain. An example of an initiative that has been discontinued is the Book -It scheme from ContinYou. However, the ContinYou site is current and the Book-It toolkit accessed through the link is still relevant to anyone starting a reading club with children.

All in all this is a really good book to have on your bookshelves, one that you can dip into for interest as well as research and one that merits regular use in both public and school libraries in the UK. I certainly learnt from it, and will be recommending it myself to staff and students.