Learner Characteristics that Influence the Treatment Effectiveness of Early Literacy Interventions: A Meta‐Analytic Review

The purpose of this article was to systematically review the available research on learner characteristics that influence the treatment effectiveness of early literacy interventions. Meta‐analytic procedures were applied to a total of 30 studies that met the inclusionary and exclusionary criteria. Mean average effect sizes were computed for seven primary learner characteristic categories: (1) rapid naming, (2) alphabetic principle, (3) phonological awareness, (4) problem behavior, (5) memory, (6) IQ, and (7) demographic. The primary learner characteristics that influenced the treatment responsiveness of early literacy interventions were, in order of magnitude, rapid naming, problem behavior, phonological awareness, alphabetic principle, memory, IQ, and demographics. With the exception of the demographic category, the obtained effect sizes for the primary learner characteristics were moderately large. The demographic primary learner characteristic (i.e., disability, ethnicity, grade‐level status) of children was not statistically (p < 0.05) distinct from zero. The findings, limitations, and future research needs are discussed.     

利用都柏林元数据应用包管理多样化的元数据开发

大英图书馆长期大规模的资源数字化产生了大量的声像资源，这些项目由于大部分是由外来资金资助并与外单位合作，其产生的资源和元数据往往散藏在各个不同部门，元数据的有无及其结构格式区别很大，这给检索和使用带来极大的不便，因此跨库检索势在必行。在推行标准化的同时，大英图书馆考虑到各个特藏的功能和服务特点，允许足够的灵活性。他们遵循的一个主要原则是，如果数据是在大英图书馆系统之外建立的，该系统应该具有生成和输出基本元数据记录的功能，其格式应该与至少一种大英图书馆所支持的标准兼容，对元数据记录的最低要求是要与大英图书馆元数据应用纲要（BL Application Profile，B-LAP）一致。B-LAP是用XML标注、以都柏林元数据核心元素为基础的应用纲要。本文特别讨论了利用都柏林核心元数据应用纲要来支持检索的策略，以及如何应用纳要来控制在数字化资源过程中产生的多样化的元数据格式，并为各种早期的系统之间在高层次上提供互操作性。本义还描述了该系统的构建及如何支持横跨各种不同数据库之间的检索。     

Why accessibility is hard and how to make it easier: Lessons from publishers

The requirements for providing publications in an accessible form have recently become much clearer and easier to comply with. They are based on standard web accessibility guidelines that are commonly used globally, and the format for interchange is EPUB, a format many publishers already produce in their normal production process. Nevertheless, accessibility still proves difficult to accomplish for most publishers. This article refers to informal interviews and the author's own experiences to examine the issues that are challenging to publishers and their suppliers, assessing the level of effort required to address them, discussing the factors that make them difficult, and suggesting strategies for reducing the effort required. The article concludes that the best solution is to build accessibility into the publication workflow upfront as this can dramatically reduce the cost and effort required to make publications accessible.     

Preparing for Practice: Strengthening Third-Year Medical Students’ Awareness of Point-of-Care Resources

This column describes the development and implementation of a responsive library course designed to train third-year medical students as they begin their clerkships. The course design consisted of a brief face-to-face introduction during third-year orientation and an online course developed in Canvas, an online learning management system. The objective of the course was to not only introduce students to the resources but also to teach them how to effectively use those resources at the point-of-care. Students evaluated the course to assess the overall effectiveness of the instruction. Course development and content, feedback provided by students, as well as suggestions for improvement are discussed.     

Rural and suburban cluster grouping: Reflections on staff development as a component of program success

Staff development practices that successfully implemented long‐term applications of cluster grouping in two districts are analyzed, compared, and reviewed. Parallel practices and differences are discussed concerning program beginning, implementation, and maintenance. Conclusions are drawn and six steps for use and consideration by others engaged in gifted program development and implementation are suggested. These steps are: (1) conversations, (2) research, (3) choosing a course of action, (4) implementation, (5) supporting the new program initiative, and (6) maintenance and growth.     

Embracing the Opportunities Ahead: An Analysis of Communication Position Announcements for 2013–2014

Knowing what the Communication job market is can be helpful and informative when planning how to build a program of study or research. On the other side, those who are looking for a job or are preparing for future job hunting also need knowledge about the current job market to help make decisions and predictions. To facilitate these processes, this article surveys the entirety of job postings posted on NCA’s CRTNET service and Spectra publication over the course of 2013 and 2014. The analyses provide an in-depth look at what kind of positions are being offered, which have tenure-track options, what degrees are required, if and what research methodological experience is needed, what kind of institution is offering the position, whether grant and/or teaching experience is desired, and what kinds of topical specializations are sought after.     

Early Literacy and the Public Library: An Opportunity of a Lifetime (of Reading)

In this article, author Bill Ptacek says that the future is now, and, at least from the 1970s through today, in the field of early childhood work, the future has come so fast that it is constantly upon us. That reality means that those concerned about young children in libraries have been about adaptation on a continuing basis. In this world of rapid change, innovation is constant: City firefighters come to the libraries in uniform to read stories to children, library outreach specialists take programs to daycare centers in their communities, and staff members create a space in a library devoted to early childhood reading. This tradition of rapid change means that the early childhood staff of most large public libraries in North America is changing for the future on a regular basis. The work unit should be considered seriously as one model for 21st century public library reform.