The Tech Static

Welcome to The Tech Static! I’m glad you found your way over here, and hope that today’s reviews and links prove useful. From now on The Tech Static will publish monthly, so don’t forget to sign up for the RSS feed or email alert in the right sidebar so that you don’t miss an issue.

Note also that you can use the categories in the sidebar to narrow down your search for reviews; select by topic (e.g., Photoshop, ASP.NET) or by publisher. This feature will prove more useful as our review database grows over time.

You might also want to visit Library Journal’s last computer book prepub alert, covering titles releasing Oct.-Dec., 2008. Make use of these while you can! You can also make use of other online resources to help with both collection and professional development, such as…

Free ebooks

O’Reilly is offering a free 30-day trial (through Safari) to selected tech books for Boing Boing readers; you might find this useful if you do web design for your library. Click through here to the Boing Boing post about it, then jump from there to O’Reilly to select JavaScript: The Definitive Guide, Learning Perl, or Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML.

Also check out free online access to selected Maran Illustrated titles on XP, Vista, and Computers, as well as online guides to selected Microsoft Office topics.

NEW 11/18/08: Sitepoint is offering (for two weeks only) a free download of The Art and Science of CSS if you start following them on Twitter.

Got thoughts?

What else would you like to see covered in The Tech Static? Comment here, or email any time. Future plans include collection development articles and reviews of professional technology-related titles, as well as a greater number of reviews in each issue.

- Rachel

Sanders, William B. ASP.NET 3.5: A Beginner’s Guide. McGraw-Hill. 2009. 448p.  ISBN 978-0-07-159194-2. pap. $39.99.

Whether you’re a hobbyist or a new developer, ASP.NET 3.5: A Beginner’s Guide is a great introduction to establishing and using server-side databases to store and utilize information for web site development. While the guide does not cover all the intricacies of ASP.NET 3.5 and C# 3.0 programming, it provides detailed instructions with point-by-point screenshots that focus on accomplishing fundamental tasks such as installing and using Visual Studio 2008, communicating form data with web servers and establishing and using the seamless update of Ajax functionality. Straightforward explanations of the relationships between ASP.NET 3.5, C# 3.0, and Visual Studio 2008 are clearly defined throughout, and each of the seventeen chapters neatly lays out the key skills and concepts featured. Tools such as “Ask the Expert” and “Try This,” along with generous black-and-white screenshots and non-assuming, non-technical writing make each task-oriented lesson easy to learn. This guide is a must for medium to large public libraries and community college libraries.

Cindy Hart, Virtual Librarian, is responsible for virtual resources and services as well as coordinates gaming, multimedia and web 2.0 projects for the Virginia Beach Public Library System. She holds an M.I.S. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Miser, Brad. My iPhone, 2e. Que. Oct. 2008. 419p. ISBN 978-0-7897-3823-3. pap. $24.99.
Pogue, David. iPhone: The Missing Manual, 2e. O’Reilly. Aug. 2008. 359p. ISBN 978-0-596-52167-7. pap. $24.99.

Both of these full-color guides provide solid and clear instructions to get users up to speed on the multiple capabilities of their iPhone, either the newer iPhone 3G or the original iPhone with the free iPhone 2.0 software upgrade. Missing Manual covers using the iPhone as a phone, as an iPod, its online capabilities, and additional capabilities and add-ons (such as iTunes, the App Store, and syncing with MobileMe or ActiveSync); appendixes cover setup, accessories, and troubleshooting. Register the title online for access to free email newsletter updates. My iPhone features a two-column layout containing step-by-step instructions side-by-side with labeled screenshots, which may appeal to absolute iPhone beginners or those intimidated by the technology. Organized by task (managing contacts, emailing) rather than by broad function, this also serves as a handy quick-reference guide to accomplishing given tasks. Medium and larger public libraries should invest in guides covering the iPhone 3G; The Missing Manual will be your best bet here due to its friendly, thorough, and straightforward coverage, with My iPhone a solid second or additional choice.

Rachel Singer Gordon is editor, The Tech Static, and webmaster of LISjobs.com.

Balter, Alison. LiveLessons Microsoft Office Access 2007. 70p. Que, July 21, 2008. 978-0789738011. pap. + DVD, $39.99.

This package contains a DVD with 83 Flash screencasts grouped into fifteen lessons, along with a short companion book. The DVD works on a Mac or a PC, and the screencasts are for Access 2007 running under Vista. This DVD presumes that the viewer has worked with previous versions of MS Access and will make no sense to someone without Access experience. The companion book has slightly different descriptions of the lessons, which may be helpful to people needing more approaches. While the content is a little dry, the collection is thorough and tries to do a point-by-point outline of changes from the previous version of Access. Balter is clear and concise, though some of the screencasts could use some editing. This is a great training tool for any workplace upgrading their version of Access; appropriate for larger public libraries.

Jessamyn West is a technologist and a librarian living in Central Vermont. Her blog is at librarian.net.

Casarez, Vince et al. Reshaping your Business with Web 2.0. McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media. Sept 2008. 259p. ISBN 978-0071600781. pap. $39.99.
Newman, Aaron C. Enterprise 2.0 Implementation. McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media. Sept 2008. 406p. ISBN 978-0071591607. pap. $49.99.

Enterprise 2.0 involves the use of social software in the business environment. As employees increasingly use social networks and collaborative tools outside the enterprise, business stakeholders are examining how these social tools fit into existing structures to increase efficiency, innovation and the bottom line. Written by Oracle experts, Reshaping your Business with Web 2.0 will serve as a blueprint for companies interested in implementing these new technologies. It contains an overview of Web 2.0 behaviors and examples, an examination of the various technologies with basic instructions on building mash-ups, and a discussion of best practices and new paradigms. Readers with a background in business methodologies will find the theoretical discussion on the technologies approachable and informative. Enterprise 2.0 Implementation is an excellent guide for business stakeholders interested in learning and using Web 2.0 technologies to foster collaboration and creativity. With jargon free language, this book is an excellent primer for the skeptic or novice. It includes a discussion of the history, details of implementation, and information for managing and securing the software in the enterprise. Both titles are recommended for corporate libraries and academic libraries that support business and computer science programs; public libraries could add where there is interest.

Maura Deedy is an Information Services Librarian at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT where she teaches basic computer skills and Web 2.0 classes, empowering the public through technology training. In her free time she enjoys urban hikes and running.

Mitchell, Scott. Sams Teach Yourself ASP.NET 3.5 in 24 Hours: Complete Starter Kit. Sams. 2008. 978-0-672-32997-5. pap. $34.99.

Written for web developers, this guide provides step-by-step instructions and numerous screen shots to illustrate the use of ASP.Net 3.5 to build data driven web applications.  The kit also includes a DVD with Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition, a development editor. The guide is a hit from the first hour, web overview and installation of ASP.NET, to the final hour, deploying ASP.NET applications via a website. Logically organized with many teaching tools, the kit offers pop-out content boxes to enrich learning: “By the way” boxes provide additional information, “Did You Know” boxes highlight information about Visual Basic programming, and “Watch Out” boxes offer solutions to potential situational pitfalls. Each hour-long lesson outlines learning objectives and uses clear, concise language to explain task oriented knowledge which builds from one lesson to the next. Sample code is displayed, explained and illustrated with screenshots, while hourly summaries, Q&As, quizzes with accompanying answers, and exercises at the end of each lesson help developers build and test their newly acquired knowledge. This guide is most useful for web developers; highly recommended for all medium to large public libraries serving populations with community college students.

Cindy Hart, Virtual Librarian, is responsible for virtual resources and services as well as coordinates gaming, multimedia and web 2.0 projects for the Virginia Beach Public Library System. She holds an M.I.S. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.

Bauer, Peter. Photoshop CS4 For Dummies. Wiley. Oct. 2008. 401p. ISBN 978-0-470-32725-8. pap. $29.99.

Photoshop remains the gold standard for graphics and photo editing; libraries should invest in updated guides to the newest CS4 version, and the full-color Photoshop CS4 for Dummies would be a great start. Targeted toward new Photoshop users or upgraders with some computer and digital imaging background, For Dummies covers everything from basic Photoshop use, to digitally enhancing images, to creating art in Photoshop, to “power Photoshop” (on more specialized features), then ends with the author’s top ten Photoshop tips and tricks. Features new in CS4 are highlighted throughout, while tips and warnings add info on best practices — and those to avoid. This straightforward and thorough guide is recommended for all medium and larger public libraries as well as academic libraries serving design programs.

Rachel Singer Gordon is editor, The Tech Static, and webmaster of LISjobs.com.

Skeet, Jon. C# In Depth. Manning Publications. 2008. 424p. ISBN 978-1933988368. pap. $44.99; PDF ebook $27.50.

Since Microsoft provides a free “Express” version, C# is in range for all programmers to explore and learn. C# in Depth is an intermediate resource for those familiar with Microsoft’s C# programming language and wishing to learn the features and changes in versions 2 and 3 of this general-purpose language. C# 3 becomes more “data-centric” (p.11), and for that reason programmers should master its structure. Skeet contrasts C# with Java, showing the progression of changes from C# 1 (2001) through C# 3 (2007). He directs particular attention to LINQ (Language Integrated Query), which is what C# 3 is all about “at its heart” (p.14). LINQ code is written in C#, but executes as SQL. Examples show differences and strengths in later versions, taking the reader up to mastery of C# 3, and for this reason the book is highly recommended in an academic or college library setting serving programming students.

Jim Brewer is a Librarian at Texas Tech University Libraries, currently teaching a course in 3D Animation, working on the integrated library system, developing policy for digital projects, and building an assessment strategy for the Library Technology Management Services, his home department.

Armstrong , Peter and Dima Berastau. Hello! Flex 4. Manning Publications. May 2009. c.300p. ISBN 1933988762.  ebook: $22.50/print $34.99/ebook + print $39.99.
Hamboeck, Berndt. Hello! XNA: Beginning Game Programming with XNA Game Studio. Manning Publications. May 2009. c.325p. ISBN 1933988886. ebook: $22.50/print $34.99/ebook + print $39.99.
Holsclaw, Greg. c.300p. Hello! Drupal. Manning Publications. April 2009. ISBN 1933988983. ebook: $22.50/print $34.99/ebook + print $39.99.
Reiss, Bill and Dave Campbell. Hello! Silverlight 2. Manning Publications. March 2009. c.250p. ISBN 1933988533. ebook: $22.50/print $34.99/ebook + print $39.99.

Manning Publications’ books are intended for technology professionals: practical, hands-on, and geared toward those who have to hit the ground running with a new project, platform, or tool. These four titles are part of Manning’s Early Access Program (MEAP), which allows subscribers access to the content almost as soon as it’s written (and, sometimes quite obviously, before it’s edited), with a copy of the finished and edited book upon completion; the final books will be available this spring and finished copies were not seen by this reviewer.

These Hello titles get developers started with particular technologies: Flex, a framework for writing browser-independent Flash applications; XNA, a toolset for creating Xbox and PC games; Drupal, a content management and site creation system; and Silverlight, Microsoft’s Web application development environment. The books are similarly structured, walking the user through download and installation of the necessary tools and an introduction to the technology, and providing step-by-step guides through the creation of simple applications or sites. All four assume some background in these topics already; as previously mentioned, the intended audience is technology professionals, chiefly in a web application development context. As such, they are best for intermediate-to-advanced level programmers, since some previous knowledge is assumed. Some titles, particularly the XNA book, are jargon-heavy to the point that they seem to assume previous familiarity with the technology.

All four of these titles are best suited to libraries that cater to technology professionals, which may include corporate libraries as well as academic libraries supporting programs in web development and web technologies. Manning publications are not infrequently acquired by larger public library systems, and this is recommended in cases where a technology may be adopted outside a small core audience. That said, the audience for these books in particular is fairly specialized.

Genevieve Williams is Undergraduate Research Librarian at Pacific Lutheran University and collection developer for computer science and engineering.

Bruns, Axel. Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond: From Production to Produsage. Peter Lang Publishing, Incorporated. 2008. c.432p. ISBN 978-0-8204-8866-0. pap. $34.95.

In a textbook suitable for undergraduates with an interest in digital media, Axel Bruns addresses a panoply of Web 2.0 applications and communities. The book’s contribution to the body of Web 2.0 scholarship is Bruns’s theoretical framework that describes the relationship among producer, consumer, and digital content. His framework, which he calls produsage, collapses the role of producer and user into a seamless act of “collaborative and continuous building and extending of content in pursuit of further improvement.” Bruns’s framework is explicated by an examination of the shift from industrial age production to information age produsage in the context of the major exemplars of Web 2.0: Blogs, Wikipedia, and folksonomies. He also devotes chapters to open source communities and virtual worlds. This is a well-researched volume, and the chapter endnotes provide a bibliography to this terrain that more than justifies adding the volume to an academic library’s collection.

Douglas R. Dechow, PhD, MSLIS, is an Instruction Librarian at Chapman University in Orange, CA.

Brundage, Barbara. Photoshop Elements 7: The Missing Manual. O’Reilly. Sept. 2008. 575p. ISBN 978-0-596-52133-2. pap. $44.99.

Adobe’s affordable consumer-level graphics and photo editing software, Photoshop Elements, remains highly popular; consider adding guides to the current version. The full-color Missing Manual walks readers through using Elements from finding your way around, to selections and layers, to image retouching, to image sharing. Throughout, it covers new features in v.7 (currently Windows-only), including free online photosharing, remote access, and backups at Photoshop.com, in-program tutorials, new tools such as Smart Brush, Scene Cleaner, and new Touch Up tools, and new special effects. Useful for both upgraders and new Elements users, this thorough and eminently readable guide is highly recommended for medium and larger public libraries.

Rachel Singer Gordon is editor, The Tech Static, and webmaster of LISjobs.com.

The MaintainIT Project is pleased to announce the latest Cookbook: Joy of Computing - Planning for Success.

This free online resource brings together the most current ideas and best practices for planning, building, and managing your library’s computer technology. Librarians around the country have contributed their knowledge on topics ranging from security solutions and strategic maintenance practices to community building experiences involving Web 2.0 tools and vital partnerships. And best of all, like all of the other MaintainIT materials, it is FREE.

Some great topics worth checking out:

• sample technology plans
• guidelines for collaborating with key stakeholders such as funders, IT departments, and vendors,
• in depth strategies that can help you save money, make the right decisions, document necessary information and test your equipment,
• important insight into daily management, from remote desktop software and help desk management, to extending the life of your computers and step by step troubleshooting guides,
• basic practices for ensuring your library’s network security, including use of firewalls, bandwidth management, security policies, how to monitor performance and choose an ISP, AND
• examples of Web 2.0 in action in libraries!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to all three Cookbooks. These resources reflect the impressive work you all do, and we’re so pleased to share them with everyone. Visit this blog post to see all of the MaintainIT is also offering a lot of free webinars focused on public access computing and the new Cookbook. See the topics and register at: http://www.maintainitproject.org/events.

Stephanie Gerding is Library Consultant, Author, and MaintainIT Contributor.

The September 2008 computer book review blog survey garnered some interesting responses — here, some discussion of what you said you’d like to see. (If you have additional comments or topics you’d like to see covered, please comment here!)

Most respondents work at public libraries, and 56% at smaller public libraries. 74% of you said a computer book review blog would be useful; 25% said “maybe.” In addition to book reviews, respondents would like to see:

• Collection development advice (89%)
• Prepublication alerts on new titles (71%)
• Computer-related DVD reviews (59%)
• Announcements of new software releases (51%)
• Press releases from publishers (26%)

Respondents especially wanted reviews of guides to the basics; most comments emphasized the need for more information on introductory guides to applications and commonly-used Internet resources. Comments along these lines included:

• “Most useful for library - beginner’s guides, comprehensive (as opposed to very specific) guides, very popular software products (not too much demand for specialized software), programming languages, web applications and design, ebay/facebook/myspace etc.”
• “Basics for computers, operating systems, Internet, searching, 2.0, software, programming; some advanced guides too, but the intro guides are what get used the most by our patrons.”
• “Anything basic….we don’t have a lot of call for the advanced programming and networking materials. Web design is also big. Reviews on anything would be helpful. Also, even a list of the good publishers or series.”
• “Beginner stuff! I don’t have much use for programmer’s books right now, and there don’t seem to be enough for my newbie patrons who need help with a new computer. Also - there are evidently not enough eBay books in the world. More books on eBay (and related, popular, on-line stuff) would be helpful. Reviews of magazines and web sites would be helpful, too!”
• “Reviews that that take into consideration that I am a very small library, with a limited budget and that I am not an expert on technical material.”
• “For the most part, simple how-to guides (For Dummies, etc.). Many of our patrons do not have a lot of computer savvy.”
• “We mostly buy for beginners or home users, especially seniors. We do have some demand for books on coding and coding languages, but I it is easier to find reviews from a professional perspective for titles geared toward the professional than for titles geared toward home users.”
• “Most of my patrons are still (!) beginner and intermediate computer users. I need books to ease them into the computer age. Anything to make software use easier. Thanks!”

A number of people did mention the need for more information on technology titles geared toward info pros themselves, saying:

• “Our computer titles don’t circulate heavily, so I’m most interested in titles that the library can use itself to manage its IT resources, build skills, etc.”
• “ More advanced material for staff training (recent example: “The Accidental Technology Trainer”).
• “Computer books for librarians rather than just for in libraries :)”

A third group mentioned the need for information on materials geared toward more intermediate and advanced users, especially programming titles:

• “Also books aimed at another level of expertise are in demand-programing, system management and design.”
• “Certification tests, basic software apps and programming languages.”
• “New applications of technology, such as mashups, AJAX, Google App Engine; new series of books, like the “Create, Modify, Reuse” books; O’Reilly “in a nutshell” books vs. their “pocket reference” books; online reference, such as Safari, vs. hard copies.”

Beyond reviews, respondents answered an open-ended question about what types of information would be useful. Common concerns included the need for more information about how and when to weed computer titles, as well as information on “good” series, comparative reviews of multiple books on the same subject, and information on the level of user given books and series are aimed at:

• “Core collection, when to weed, list of current systems (windows vista, Office 7?, C## no change since ?, etc)”
• “Reviews of series in general (ie Visually, Missing Manual etc), definitely would love collection development considerations (ie weeding suggestions, tips on selection etc).”
• “Recommendations on the actual quality of the book, especially in relation to other publishers’ offerings; maybe reviews of books by topic, e.g., comparative review of books on Python.”
• “It would be great to know if the book is geared toward the newbee “I never touched a computer person”, Average computer user “I know enough about computers to get me in trouble”, Above Average User “I am fairly comfortable around computer” and Computer Professional aka Computer Geek “I excel at computers”"
• “Contrasting approaches of different series like Peachpit versus “In a Nutshell” versus “Visual Guide” would be handy. Comparative reviews would be most helpful. Example, pick a topic like HTML and review multiple books on that topic.”
• “Advice about when to weed, when such books are obsolete.”

Respondents were generally quite positive about this venture, saying:

• “I would LOVE a blog like this!”
• “My only comment is to please have a blog! I am sorry to hear that your column is being cut. I subscribe to the RSS feed and rely on your reviews to do the majority of our computer book purchasing.”
• “I should think this would be a most useful tool. The best of the least expensive.”
• “Just that I love the idea of this blog. It is almost impossible to find reviews of computer books in library-related review journals and I always feel like I’m flying blind. I don’t know what I would do for advice if I didn’t have techies as friends.”

Thanks, everyone, for your comments — again, don’t be shy about adding your $.02 here, and watch for more polls in the future!