Against the Grain

Volume 27 | Issue 6 Article 27

2015 From the Reference Desk--Reviews of Reference Titles Tom Gilson Against the Grain, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Gilson, Tom (2015) "From the Reference Desk--Reviews of Reference Titles," Against the Grain: Vol. 27: Iss. 6, Article 27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/2380-176X.7240

This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Booklover from page 37 From the Reference Desk by Tom Gilson (Associate Editor, Against the Grain, and Head of Reference Emeritus, newspaper or admired themselves in the looking-glass.” College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29401) These opening two paragraphs of Issues in U.S. Immigration (2015, 978-1- Issues in U.S. Immigration will be a wel- Chapter III — “The Flight of the Zany” 61925-708-5; $295) is a second edition of a set come addition to high school and undergraduate from Miguel Ángel Asturias’ El Señor originally published in 2006 by Salem Press. collections as well as some public libraries where Presidente is a perfect illustration of Once again edited by Carl L. Bankston III and immigration is a topic of interest. Both upper level why I study word craft, admire word Danielle Hidalgo of Tulane University, this high school students and undergraduates will find craft, and particularly the word craft updated two-volume set deals with a subject that it valuable as a background source on key issues involved with the surreal imagination seems to be perennially in the news. Consisting as well as a useful tool for research paper topic of Latin American authors. Once again, of 215 essays, this reference attempts to supply selection. Lay readers will appreciate its brief the translator is inspiring. Frances both historical context for a recurring theme in and fact driven approach when becoming more Partridge provided the English version the American story as well as discussion of the familiar with topics of personal concern. of Asturias’ Spanish word craft. This contemporary issues that make it relevant today. novel is centered around the influence of As is typical of Salem Press publications each a dictator on the people of an unnamed Hispanic American Leadership: A Concise entry follows a similar structure starting with a Latin American country. Asturias Reference Guide (2015, 978-0990730026, $130) definition of the topic, a list of the issues related was a native of Guatemala and though is another title in the leadership series recently to the topic, its overall significance followed by a he never identified his country in the published by Mission Bell Media. Edited by discussion of relevant background and salient facts. story, the character of “Presidente” Victor Rodriguez of the department of Many of the essays deal with specific immigrant exhibits similarities to Manuel Estrada and Studies at State, this book groups ranging from the earlier European immi- Cabrera, who reigned from 1898-1920 attempts to “provide accessible and accurate grants like the Irish, German, and Italian to the more in Guatemala. information about leadership issues and cultural recent arrivals like the Hmong, Nigerian, Haitian, competency related to Hispanic-.” Miguel Ángel Asturias was born in and Pakistani. Of course, there are also numerous Guatemala City, Guatemala in 1899, and entries that cover a variety of subjects from border As one examines this volume it becomes obvi- died in Madrid, Spain in 1974. In be- control to nativism and family issues to racism as ous that like the other titles in the series, it is not tween he traveled extensively; studied well as entries that discuss specific court cases, law simply a how-to-manual on developing leadership abroad; worked as a journalist, novelist, enforcement concerns and demographics. As such, skills. Rather, it is a reference that focuses on playwright and poet; was elected to the specific articles cover topics as diverse as bilingual leadership issues and concerns as reflected in the Congress; served as the Guatemalan education, citizenship, the DREAM act, European Hispanic American experience. Admittedly, there ambassador to France and was awarded immigrant literature, Haitian boat people, interna- are articles on topics directly related to leadership the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1967 tional adoptions, machine politics, refugee fatigue, like those covering education for leadership, “for his vivid literary achievement, and undocumented workers. cultural diversity and leadership, and leadership deep-rooted in the national traits and in business. However, many of the articles treat Admittedly, in many ways Issues in U.S. traditions of Indian peoples of Latin broader topics that touch on leadership issues with- Immigration is a compilation. As the editors America.” Asturias’ biographical in the Hispanic American community, including acknowledge, a number of the essays have been information includes discussions on those on assimilation and acculturation, the glass drawn from other Salem Press publications the novel El Señor Presidente. The ceiling, stereotypes about Hispanic Americans, but have been updated for this new edition as critically acclaimed work was finished racial and ethnic discrimination and entrepreneurs. necessary. However, 75 of the entries are new in 1933 but it took until 1946 for it to In addition, there are articles on numerous organi- to this set as is a 100 page, 41 table section of be published and released privately in zations and institutions ranging from the Catholic immigration statistics from the Department of Mexico. He penned the work while Church to the Lambda Theta Alpha sorority to the Homeland Security. The essays are written in a living in exile in Paris. The influence Mexican American Legal Defense and Educa- style that is accessible to high school students as of the Surrealist movement, his passion tional Fund. And attesting to the diversity of the well as undergraduates while also appealing to for his country, the influence of the Hispanic American community itself, there are 16 the interested layman. The entries are concise Mayan culture, and his concerns about entries that cover a variety of national origins and and factual ranging in length according to topic life under a dictator all provided the rich cultures from Argentinian Americans to Mexican relevance. Each has a useful bibliography and “see material for this novel. Americans to . also” references while a number of black and white illustrations and photos complement the overall The articles are academic and informed by text. Access to specific subjects is provided by an recent scholarship but reader-friendly and ac- Sidebar reflection: There is a alphabetical list of contents, a subject index and a cessible offering a balance of factual description developing awareness from my goal detailed Category Index of Topics that list entries and solid analysis. As you would expect, each of reading one work from each of the under one or more of 37 categories. Value-added entry is signed and has “see also” references and Nobel Laureates in Literature. Very features include a historic timeline and the 100 a list of further readings. The volume also has a tough, often difficult, sometimes min- pages of statistics mentioned above, not to mention cumulative resource guide and an easy to use and ute, and many times intense thought a separate section called U.S. State well-designed general index. And, as in all of provoking subjects and real- Briefs that consists of entries cov- the other titles in this series, Hispanic American ities are presented to the ering the immigration history and Leadership includes the 200-page Leadership reader with such beauty current developments Glossary edited by Dr. Jeni McRay. (This supple- that sometimes a few sen- for each state as well ment has also been published separately under the tences go by before the joy as for title Leadership Glossary: Essential Terms for the of the word craft meets the City and Wash- 21st Century (2015, 978-0-9907300-0-2, $29.95.) ugliness of the subject and ington DC. Hispanic American Leadership: A Concise the reader is left with his These entries Reference Guide is a title that should appeal to both awareness and thoughts. — DJ also include a academic and larger public libraries. It provides rel- brief statisti- evant information on a topic of growing interest in a cal profile for well-designed, easy to navigate reference. It will not the state being only fit in collections on leadership studies but should discussed. continued on page 39 38 Against the Grain / December 2015 - January 2016 biblical studies over the last decade, • Music Innovators – 3 volumes (May From the Reference Desk OEBART embraces the broadest 2016, ISBN: 978-1-61925-896-9; from page 38 possible definition of ‘interpretation,’ e-ISBN: 978-1-61925-897-6, $195) one that includes a cultural-historical offers “biographies of over 350 in- also be of interest to libraries building minority perspective…” dividuals who had an innovative and and ethnic studies collections. In addition, it is influential impact on the development one of those titles that could find a place in either • The Oxford Encyclopedia of Lati- nos and Latinas in Contemporary and evolution of the modern music reference or circulating collections depending on industry… Each of these extended need. This work, as well as others in the series, Politics, Law, and Social Move- ment – 2 volumes (Oct, 2015, ISBN: biographies offers concise and in- is available electronically via Credo Reference formative top matter that includes an at http://corp.credoreference.com/. 9780199744619, $395) is edited by Suzanne Oboler and Deena J. introductory summary of the person’s González and “provides a compre- significance; birth and death dates Extra Servings hensive source of information on the and places; and specialty fields. Bi- diverse historical and contemporary ographies represent a strong, global, SAGE has published some recent titles cross-gender focus, and each biogra- including: experiences of Latinos and Latinas in the … addresses the phy offers a sidebar focusing on the • The SAGE Encyclopedia of Econom- significant ways in which the Latino group(s)/achievement(s) for which the ics and Society – 4 volumes (Dec. and Latina populations have shaped subject is best known…” 2015, ISBN: 9781452226439, $650) the political, legal, and social institu- ABC-CLIO has a couple of new titles as is edited by Frederick F. Wherry tions of the United States, with new well including: and “explicitly approaches economics and updated scholarship on political • Asian American Religious Cultures through varied disciplinary lenses. movements and organizations, import- (Sept. 2015, ISBN: 978-1-59884-330- Although there are encyclopedias of ant legal cases, minority-rights laws, 9, $189; eISBN: 978-1-59884-331-6, covering economics (especially clas- and immigration legislation…” call for pricing) edited by Jonathan H. sic economic theory and history), the Salem Press has a few new titles in the works: X. Lee, et al. “examines the diversity SAGE Encyclopedia of Economics of the Asian American and Pacific and Society emphasizes the contem- • Great Lives in American History: Islander spiritual experience… The porary world, contemporary issues, American Women – 3 volumes coverage includes not only traditional and society…” (March 2016, ISBN: 978-1-61925- eastern belief systems and traditions • The SAGE Encyclopedia of Phar- 944-7; e-ISBN: 978-1-61925-945-4, such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and macology and Society (Dec. 2015, $395) “This new addition to the Great Hinduism as well as Micronesian and ISBN: 9781483350004, $585) is Lives from History series features over Polynesian religious traditions in the edited by Sarah E. Boslaugh and 700 essays on women from the seven- United States, but also the culture and “explores the social and policy sides teenth through the early twenty-first religious rituals of Asian American of the pharmaceutical industry and its centuries. Many individuals included Christians…” pervasive influence in society. While in this multi-volume set have never • American Indian Culture: From many technical STM works explore been covered in this series before, Counting Coup to Wampum (Sept. the chemistry and biology of pharma- notable for their work in such fields 2015, ISBN: 978-1-4408-2873-7, cology and an equally large number of as politics, civil rights, literature, edu- $189; eISBN 978-1-4408-2874-4, clinically oriented works focus on use cation, journalism, science, business, call for pricing) edited by Bruce E. of illegal drugs, substance abuse, and and sports…” Johansen “provides a comprehensive treatment, there is virtually nothing on • Principles of Chemistry (March 2016, historical and demographic overview the immensely huge business (“Big ISBN: 978-1-61925-501-2; e-ISBN: of American Indians along with more Pharma”) of creating, selling, consum- 978-1-61925-502-9, $165) “provides than 100 cross-referenced entries on ing, and regulating legal drugs…” students and researchers with an American Indian culture, exploring Oxford University Press has also published easy-to-understand introduction to everything from arts, literature, music, two new titles: the fundamentals of chemistry, from and dance to food, family, housing, • The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible elements and molecules to chemical and spirituality… Examples of top- and the Arts – 2 volumes (Nov. 2015, reactions and properties of matter… ics covered include icons of Native ISBN: 9780199846511, $395) edited This new resource introduces students culture, such as pow wows, Indian by Timothy Beal is “an in-depth, and researchers to the fundamentals dancing, and tipi dwellings; Native comprehensive reference work that of chemistry. Entries are written art forms such as pottery, rock art, covers the cultural history of biblical in easy-to-understand language, so sandpainting, silverwork, tattooing, texts, themes, characters, images, readers can use these entries as a and totem poles; foods such as corn, and the Bible itself in the literary, solid starting off point to develop a frybread, and wild rice; and Native visual, and musical arts. Appearing in thorough understanding of this often Americans in popular culture…” response to the shifting landscape of time confusing subject matter…”

Rumors freedoms and their privacy with the operational needs support for the principles, on the NISO Website. This of systems providers. The twelve principles cov- project was generously supported by a grant from the from page 32 ered in the document address the following topics: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Shared Privacy Responsibilities; Transparency http://bit.ly/niso_patron_privacy Just saw on liblicense that The National Infor- and Facilitating Privacy Awareness; Security; www.niso.org/topics/tl/privacy mation Standards Organization (NISO) has pub- Data Collection and Use; Anonymization; Options Ann Okerson’s popular panel in Charleston lished a set of consensus principles for the library, and Informed Consent; Sharing Data with Oth- 2015 — The Long Arm of The Law — focused content-provider and software-provider communities ers; Notification of Privacy Policies and Practices; on the topic of Privacy and consisted of Gary Price (http://bit.ly/niso_patron_privacy) to address privacy Supporting Anonymous Use; Access to One’s (topic: Ignorance is No Excuse), Bill Hannay (topic: issues related to the use of library and library-related Own User Data; and Continuous Improvement Privacy: A Legal Overview), Lisa Macklin (Librar- systems. This set of principles developed over the and Accountability. Organizations and individuals ies within the Higher Education Privacy Framework). past eight months focuses on balancing the expec- are encouraged to provide public comments on the Once again a fascinating panel! tations library users have regarding their intellectual NISO Privacy Principles, as well as to register their continued on page 56 Against the Grain / December 2015 - January 2016 39