The book provides an up-to-date overview of the diverse medical applications of advanced polymers. The book opens by presenting important background information on polymer chemistry and physicochemical characterization of polymers. This serves as essential scientific support for the subsequent chapters, each of which is devoted to the applications of polymers in a particular medical specialty. The coverage is broad, encompassing orthopedics, ophthalmology, tissue engineering, surgery, dentistry, oncology, drug delivery, nephrology, wound dressing and healing, and cardiology. The development of polymers that enhance the biocompatibility of blood-contacting medical devices and the incorporation of polymers within biosensors are also addressed. This book is an excellent guide to the recent advances in polymeric biomaterials and bridges the gap between the research literature and standard textbooks on the applications of polymers in medicine.
Over the past three decades advanced polymer composites have emerged as an attractive construction material for new structures and the strengthening/rehabilitation of existing buildings and bridges. The techniques associated with the technology, analysis and design of polymer composites in construction are continually being researched and the progress made with this exciting material will continue at an ever- increasing rate to meet the demands of the construction industry. This volume of proceedings is from the Second ACIC 2004 International Conference, which focused on the application and further exploitation of advanced composites in construction. The conference allowed practising engineers, asset managers, researchers and representative of regulatory bodies to promote the active exchange of scientific and technical information on the rapidly changing scene of advanced composites in construction. This volume focuses on the presentation of new concepts, techniques and case studies, which will lead to greater exploitation of advanced polymer composites and FRP materials for civil engineering infrastructure, rehabilitation and renewal. Presents new concepts, techniques and case studies
Leading figures pay tribute to an expert in the field Honoring the work of Ruth C. Carter upon her retirement as editor of Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, Cataloger, Editor, and Scholar is a unique collection that features 21 articles from experts in the field. Celebrating Dr. Carter’s dedication to technical services, cataloging, history, and management, these essays recall all the important aspects of her life and career. The important compendium also includes an interview with Dr. Carter and a review of Cataloging & Classification Quarterly (CCQ) during her 20 years at its helm. In four parts, this wide-ranging collection includes articles that not only span the length and breadth of Dr. Carter’s professional career, but also present new contributions to the field. The first section of Cataloger, Editor, and Scholar considers Dr. Carter’s personal history and direct influence on CCQ as well as what she sees as key issues in cataloging at the beginning of the 21st century. The studies in part two take an international look at cataloging and bibliographic history while new research in the field is presented in part three. Finally, part four offers papers that consider current trends as well as possible directions for the emerging digital future. Chapters in Cataloger, Editor, and Scholar include: a commemorative biographical sketch of Ruth Carter an interview where she discusses her career as a librarian, archivist, historian, and long-time editor a comprehensive review of the contents of Cataloging & Classification Quarterly from 1990-2006 an analysis of the availability of books and reading materials in Monroe County, Indiana, through 1850 annotation as a lost art in cataloging early twentieth-century British libraries twenty-five years of bibliographic control research at the University of Bradford the Italian cataloging tradition and its relationships with the international tradition technical services and tenure impediments and strategies the “works” phenomenon and best selling books measuring typographical errors’ impact on retrieval in bibliographic databases meeting the needs of special format catalogers copy cataloging for print and video monographs in academic libraries balancing principles, practice, and pragmatics in a changing digital environment the development of knowledge structures on the Internet and may more! A unique compilation of the many issues that appeared in CCQ during Dr. Carter’s 20-year tenure, Cataloger, Editor, and Scholar is an informative resource for librarians, LTS professionals, catalogers, students, educators, and researchers.
Understand the challenges faced by university based EAPs and the strategies to effectively meet needs—and discover what works and what does not Academia is a diverse workplace unlike any other, and subsequently, employee assistance program (EAP) issues are unique. Employee Assistance Programs in Higher Education focuses on the unique challenges of employee assistance service delivery in a university setting. This handy resource discusses the evolution, development, and strategies in managing an EAP in academia while comparing the substantial differences in program application between academic settings and corporate settings. Discussions include outsourcing, support groups, implementation of services, and effective model frameworks. Employee Assistance Programs in Higher Education explores in depth how the difference of being an academic institution influences the administration of an EAP. Reducing costs, assessing the value of an EAP, faculty resistance to accessing EAPs, organizational and interpersonal problems, manager support groups to reduce stress, developing ’soft skills’, and addressing the deaths of faculty, staff, and students are examined in detail. This unique resource is extensively referenced and includes tables to clearly present data. Topics in Employee Assistance Programs in Higher Education include: the evolution of the IAEAPE university EAP response to traumas on campus enhancing faculty access university EAPs and outsourcing creating a specialized EAP program comparison between academic and corporate cultures case study of the University of Saskatchewan EAP and more! Employee Assistance Programs in Higher Education is a comprehensive resource for academic administrators; benefit plan managers; university based EAP managers and directors; EAP, work/life, and wellness professionals; members of International Association of Employee Assistance Professionals in Education; Employee Assistance Professionals Association; Employee Assistance Society of North America; Association of Work Life Professionals; Society for Human Resource Management Schools of Social Work; educators in schools of social work, psychology, counseling education, and business.
Libraries are currently confronted by the challenges of managing increasing amounts of electronic information. Print vs. Digital: The Future of Coexistence presents the expert perspectives of eight of America’s leading library administrators on ways to effectively manage digital flow and offers strategies to provide a level of coexistence between digital and print information. This excellent overview explores how to best balance print and electronic resources, and explores important issues such as the selection of electronic resources, improving access to digital information for a larger user base, and effective management of a library’s fiscal and personnel resources. Print vs. Digital: The Future of Coexistence discusses the various challenges libraries now face from the massive influx of digital resources, including the ways that information-seeking behaviors have changed, the search for synergies between print and digital, economics of news preservation, and whether or not the end of print journals is at hand. New ideas and technological advances are explored, including the diverse ways these improvements will impact the future. This well-referenced resource includes useful tables, figures, and photographs. Topics in Print vs. Digital: The Future of Coexistence include: cooperative collection development balance of print and electronic resources evolvement of digital resources in libraries change in research libraries factors influencing the selection of electronic resources disseminating information about scholarly collections impact of digital resources on research behavior and techniques design of digital libraries JSTOR effects of digital information on reference collections transition of print journals to digital formats Print vs. Digital: The Future of Coexistence is a thought provoking, insightful resource on the future of libraries, invaluable for acquisitions, reference, and collection development librarians; and senior and mid-level administrators such as deans, directors, and department heads for public, special, and academic libraries.
Can the Dewey Decimal System meet the needs of the rapidly changing information environment? Moving Beyond the Presentation Layer explores the Dewey Decimal System from a variety of perspectives, each of which peels away a bit of the “presentation layer”—the familiar linear notational sequence-to reveal the content and context offered by the DDS. Library professionals from around the word examine how the content and context offered by the DDS can evolve to meet the needs of the changing information environment, with a special focus on the impact of the Internet on current and future developments. Moving Beyond the Presentation Layer examines whether the Dewey Decimal System is a rigid structure best suited to a physical information environment or a polymorphic one that can be adapted to meet a variety of physical and virtual needs. This unique book reviews the 40-year history of the online use of classification systems, the development of the Relative Index over 22 editions of the DDC, recommendations to ensure the viability of the DDC in a time of mass digitization, using DDS in an environment where it hasn’t been used before, teaching the DDS, special issues related to the use of the DDS in Europe, North America, and Africa, and the future of online classification. Topics examined in Moving Beyond the Presentation Layer include: using the DDC as the browsing mechanism for resource discovery classification as an online cataloging tool classification as an online end-user tool browser behavior in a DDC-based Web service the role of the DDS in the ongoing HILT (High-Level Thesaurus) project using the DDS to organize Web resources localization and interoperability in knowledge organization mapping terminologies to classification systems the DeweyBrowser and much more Moving Beyond the Presentation Layer is an essential professional resource for librarians, information scientists, computer scientists, and metadata and Web services specialists.
Get practical solutions to the problems faced when implementing an electronic reserve service! Academic libraries that provide electronic reserve services offer convenient access to information to their students and faculty while gaining numerous other advantages, such as reducing both loss and staff workload. Marketing and Managing Electronic Reserves presents leading authorities with practical solutions to the challenges in effectively integrating electronic reserves services and marketing them to users. This book provides positive approaches that any academic library considering the implementation of an electronic reserve operation can use. All factors are considered, including size of institution, the relationship between the library and academic departments, and the budget and plan for marketing the service. More and more colleges and universities are implementing distance education programs, highlighting the increasing need for remote access to information in the library, including reserve material. But executing monumental change is always difficult. Marketing and Managing Electronic Reserves tackles the difficult issues, discussing various libraries’ journeys in bringing about the changes needed to remain the central information source for students and faculty. Problems inherent in the evolution from traditional reserve services to electronic reserves are examined, offering effective strategies for smooth transition. Whatever type of system you are considering, from homegrown to commercial to hybrid electronic reserves service, this book can help. Marketing and Managing Electronic Reserves explains how others tackled challenges, such as: implementing Endeavor’s Voyager Integrated Library System and the software used for authenticating users handling copyright compliance integration of electronic reserves into course management systems moving from a paper-based to a Web-based course reserve system offering and marketing one-stop teaching support to faculty a large institution’s shift to a collaborative approach with electronic reserves and course management software establishing a suite of electronic utilities that fulfills teaching and essential learning activities implementing the Blackboard Content System™ marketing for a smooth transition from traditional to electronic reserves marketing to the faculty process improvement technique applied to electronic reserves integration of electronic reserve with a Library Management System and Course Management System trends for the future Marketing and Managing Electronic Reserves is crucial reading for access services librarians, circulation and reserve librarians, public service librarians, library school faculty who teach public services courses, integrated library systems managers, and university course management software specialists.
The Semantic Web, extends the popular, day-to-day Web, enabling computers and people to effectively work together by giving information well-defined meaning. Knitting the Semantic Web explains the interdisciplinary efforts underway to build a more library-like Web through “semantic knitting.” The book examines foundation activities and initiatives leading to standardized semantic metadata. These efforts lead to the Semantic Web—a network able to support computational activities and provide people with services efficiently. Leaders in library and information science, computer science, and information intensive domains provide insight and inspiration to give readers a greater understanding of the evolution of the Semantic Web. Librarians and information professionals are uniquely qualified to play a major role in the development and maintenance of the Semantic Web. Knitting the Semantic Web closely examines this crucial relationship in detail. This single source reviews the foundations, standards, and tools underlying the Semantic Web and presents thoughtful perspectives in the context of 2.0 developments. Many chapters include figures to illustrate concepts and ideas, and the entire text is extensively referenced. Topics in Knitting the Semantic Web include: RDF, its expressive power, and its ability to underlie the new Library catalog card for the coming century the value and application for controlled vocabularies SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System), the newest Semantic Web language managing scheme versioning in the Semantic Web Physnet portal service for physics Semantic Web technologies in biomedicine developing the United Nations Food and Agriculture ontology Friend Of A Friend (FOAF) vocabulary specification—with a real world case study at a university Web/Library 2.0 and more Knitting the Semantic Web is a stimulating resource for professionals, researchers, educators, and students in library and information science, computer science, information architecture, Web design, and Web services.
Get the information needed to advocate for the significance of your library! How do you make the case that your library is a valuable instruction center? The Teaching Library helps librarians assess data on information literacy instruction programs so that they can better support the teaching role of the academic library in campus settings. This practical, professional resource features case studies from across the United States and Canada—in both public and private institutions—that offer a variety of evaluation methods. Here are the latest, easy-to-adopt ways of measuring your library’s direct contribution to student learning, on-campus and off. With a unique multifaceted approach to questions of assessment, The Teaching Library is an important resource that not only offers the latest techniques, but answers the larger question of how to make use of this data in ways that will best advocate information literacy instruction programs. From creating a multidimensional assessment to turning an initiative into a program to teaching and learning goals and beyond, this invaluable text covers many of the core issues those in this rapidly-evolving field must contend with. These contributions reinforce the importance of the learning that takes place in the classroom, in the co-curriculum, the extra-curriculum, and the surrounding community. Some of the key topics covered in The Teaching Library are: assessment practices such as 360° analysis, attitudinal, outcomes-based, and gap-measured integrating the teaching library into core mission, vision, and values statements presenting the message of a library’s value to internal audiences of colleagues building momentum—and maintaining it tying information literacy assessment to campus-wide assessment activities identifying and reaching end-of-program learning outcomes assessing the impact of the one-shot session on student learning information literacy instruction and the credit-course model promoting instruction among Library and Information Science educators and many more! The essays in The Teaching Library offer viable and practical ways for librarians to demonstrate their direct contribution to student learning in ways consistent with those accepted as valid across the campus. An important resource for academic librarians and Information Science professionals, The Teaching Library is also a useful tool for those in the campus community concerned with developing, funding, and continuing successful library programs—professional staff such as alumni directors; faculty and educators looking to make students more successful; and researchers.
Learn from those who actually dealt with disaster! Regardless of the type of library, natural disasters can have catastrophic effects on its collections and artifacts. Dealing with Natural Disasters in Libraries provides an inside look at different disasters and how diverse types of libraries dealt with the consequences. This useful resource covers a wide range of natural disasters, including flood, fire, water damage, mold, sick building syndrome, and hurricane damage. Librarians from different types of libraries describe personal efforts to cope with real-life cases of disaster, and discuss principles and lessons which can be used to plan for—and better respond to—future catastrophic occurrences. Every library should have a disaster plan in place. Dealing with Natural Disasters in Libraries provides realistic guidance on how to best prepare for catastrophic damage and loss, and practical suggestions on how to best respond once disaster does strike. These authors use their unique perspectives on having lived through a disaster to provide a close examination of lessons learned. This crucial book includes a selected bibliography and a series of case studies that illustrate what other librarians did to repair and rebuild collections and facilities after experiencing some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable. Managing people, education and training, the creation of a disaster plan, the treatment of damaged materials, recovery of materials, and the successful rebuilding of a library after its complete destruction are all discussed in detail. Dealing with Natural Disasters in Libraries examines: case studies of different types of disasters and effective responses steps small libraries should take during the first month after a disaster strategies to deal with fire, smoke, and water damage issues what to do to avoid mold growth after moisture problems or water damage fixing “sick” buildings dealing with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina post-disaster recovery differing responses to minor disasters, localized disasters, major disasters, and catastrophic disasters providing public access to vital information after disasters strike prevention of potential disaster situations and more! Dealing with Natural Disasters in Libraries is an essential resource for academic librarians, public librarians, special librarians, school librarians, library science faculty, and administrators.
