Sunday 29 March 2009

Ruth Rikowski's 6th News Update


Sixth News Update

RUTH RIKOWSKI



This Sixth News Update consists of a number of profiles of different people and organisations that I have connected with in one way or another.

The first four people are all people that I commissioned to write a book for Chandos Publishing. Following on from this, they then became involved (at my invitation) in some of the other work and projects that I am involved with. Paul, Toni and Kingsley all became Advisory members of the Editorial Board of Information for Social Change, at: http://www.libr.org/isc/. ISC is an organisation that challenges the dominant paradigms of library and information work, but I will write more about ISC in a future News Update. Furthermore, Kingsley was the previous webmaster for ISC, and Paul is the current one (at times when ISC was very much in need of a webmaster!). Whilst Isaac Hunter, who likes to be known as ‘Hunt’ is now co-editing a special issue of the peer-reviewed, international e-journal, Policy Futures in Education (http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pfie), on the topic of Digital Libraries, with me.

The fifth person ‘In Focus’ is my partner, Glenn Rikowski. His main field is in regard to developing Marxist educational theory.

Finally, there is a focus on ‘Digo PC’ which is the company that designed our website, The Flow of Ideas’ for us, which we are very pleased with.


1. Focus on Toni Samek

Dr. Toni Samek is Associate Professor at the School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, Canada and holds an Information Ethics Fellows at the Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Toni’s interests include critical librarianship, intercultural information ethics, global information justice, and human rights. Toni authored the 2001 book Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility in American Librarianship, 1967-1974, (McFarland). In 2003, the Kyoto University Library and Information Science Study Group published it in Japanese translation.

Toni’s new 2007 book (just out!) is Librarianship and Human Rights: A Twenty-first Century Guide with Chandos Publishing, Oxford http://www.chandospublishing.com/catalogue/record_detail.php?recordID=82


Toni chairs the Canadian Library Association's Advisory Committee on Intellectual Freedom and serves on the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee. Toni is a founding member and first convenor of the Association for Library & Information Science Education's Information Ethics Special Interest Group. She collaborates internationally on the advisory board for Information for Social Change and has published material in ISC. Most recently, Toni has been invited to join the Canadian Association of University Teacher’s Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee 2007-2008, where she welcomes the opportunity to have a librarian at the table!

For snapshots of Toni’s recent work online, please see:

1) A speech on video titled, Working the Earth: LIS Labour, Ethical Grounds, and the Hot Fields of Human Rights (click on the February 22, 2007 listing):
http://www.sois.uwm.edu/DE_Info/podcast/podcast.htm

2) On Freedom to Read Week 2007 in Canada here:
http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/article.cfm?id=8256

3) On the school library crisis here:
http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/article.cfm?id=7769


2. Focus on Kingsley Oghojafor

Kingsley Oghojafor is a graduate of mass communication and lives in Nigeria. Kingsley is a freelance writer and an author who has written several articles and books on topics such as self-publishing, development issues and I.T. He has also designed and developed a number of websites.

In particular, Kingsley’s Chandos publication is entitled
‘EBook publishing success: how anyone can write, compile and sell ebooks on the Internet’ (2005). For further information see:
http://www.chandospublishing.com/catalogue/record_detail.php?recordID=38

In regard to his work for ISC, he was the previous webmaster, has written a number of articles for ISC, and has been participating in the library workshops at the World Social Forum (WSF), at the invitation of Mikael Böök (also on ISC Editorial Board). See Kingsley’s document about the WSF:
‘Document – the role of the library in the WSF process’ (Training the Trainers Workshop, 2006), ISC issue No.24 (winter) 2006: - see
http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC24/A18-Oghojafor-WSF.pdf

The first article he published in ISC was about water privatisation.
‘The poison called water privatisation’, ISC issue No.17 (winter) 2002:
http://libr.org/isc/articles/16-Oghojafor.html

Kingsley was also one of my regular book reviewers, when I was the book reviews editor for Managing Information (the monthly ASLIB magazine).
The MI Book Reviews section can be found at: http://www.managinginformation.com/bookreviews.htm



3. Focus on Paul Catherall

Paul Catherall is currently employed as a 'Web Developer' at NEWI (North East Wales Institute of Higher Education, Wrexham) having played a key role in developing the use of e-learning within NEWI. For a few years, Paul has contributed to the Information for Social Change e-journal, and assisted at various times with technical aspects of the ISC Web-site, ISC related events, journal articles, reviews and editorial contributions. He is the current ISC webmaster and is also on the Advisory Editorial Board of Information for Social Change. Paul also participates as a committee member of the Career Development Group Wales, assisting in developing courses run in Wales to promote the personal development of library and information workers. Paul is also undertaking research in the area of 'distributed learning' for a doctoral programme of study with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). Other interests include Web Accessibility and ethical issues for general public service provision. Paul has formerly worked as a Further Education tutor, in Primary Education and in an academic library. He is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, UK (CILIP), an Associate Practitioner of the Higher Education Academy and holds an MA with distinction in Library and Information Management (from Liverpool John Moores University). Publications by Paul include a stand-alone book Delivering E-Learning for Information Services in Higher Education (Chandos Publishing: Oxford 2005). See: http://www.chandospublishing.com/catalogue/record_detail.php?recordID=48 – and an illustrated poetry anthology, see: http://poetry.draigweb.co.uk/
Further details of Paul's publications, research and other interests may be found at: http://draigweb.co.uk/elearning




4. Focus on Isaac Hunter Dunlap

Isaac Hunter Dunlap (or Hunt as he likes to be known) is Associate Professor and Coordinator of Information Systems at Western Illinois University Libraries. An experienced web developer, he has created numerous websites, content management systems, online databases and digital collections over the last decade. He frequently writes and speaks at state and national forums on database driven web development, accessibility, Open Source software, library digitization initiatives and related areas.

Hunt encourages the creative use of Open Source software (e.g., MySQL and PHP) to address information management challenges. His new book, Open Source Database Driven Web Development: A Guide for Information Professionals (Chandos Publishing: Oxford), (http://www.chandospublishing.com/catalogue/record_detail.php?recordID=98), (http://databasedrivenweb.net), provides both context and practical techniques for developing, managing and disseminating digital content. He is currently overseeing the development of a new library digitization center, as additional staff and resources are being directed to expand WIU’s Digital Library initiative. With Ruth Rikowski, Hunt is co-editing a special issue of Policy Futures in Education http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pfie/, entitled ‘Digital Libraries’, scheduled for release in early 2008.

Hunt is actively involved in several professional organizations including the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries (IACRL). He serves on the IACRL Executive Committee and is Chair of the Publications Committee.

Hunt’s published articles include:

Dunlap, Isaac Hunter. 2006. How Database-Driven Web Sites Enhance Accessibility. Library Hi Tech News (23:8): 34-38.Dunlap, Isaac Hunter. 2006. Developing Web Database Applications.(Atlanta: Georgia Institute of Technology).http://smartech.gatech.edu/dspace/handle/1853/10173
Dunlap, Isaac Hunter. 2005. Open Source Digital Image Management. Computers in Libraries (25:4):6-8, 46-8.http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/apr05/dunlap.shtml



Note:
I wish the Chandos authors included in this News Update all the very best with their books. Also, I would personally like to thank those that have joined the Advisory Editorial Board of Information for Social Change, that have been referred to in this Update, for all the hard work they have done for ISC. I am sure that all the ISC EB would want to join me in thanking them. They have all been a tremendous asset to ISC.


5. Focus on Glenn Rikowski

Dr. Glenn Rikowski is a Senior Lecturer in Education Studies in the School of Education at the University of Northampton. He was previously a Senior Research Fellow in Lifelong Learning at the University of Central England (1999-2001) and a Research Fellow in Post-Compulsory Education & Training at the University of Birmingham. Glenn’s interests include Marxist educational theory, the business takeover of schools in England, theories of social time and transhumanism. His publications include: The Battle in Seattle: Its Significance for Education (2001, Tufnell Press: London), Marxism Against Postmodernism in Educational Theory (2002, Lexington Books, Maryland, USA) – co-edited with Dave Hill, Peter McLaren and Mike Cole – which won an American Educational Studies Association Critics’ Choice Award for 2004, and many articles (mainly on educational issues) in journals such as British Journal of Sociology of Education, British Journal of Educational Studies, Journal of Education and Work, Mediactive: Ideas Knowledge Culture, Cultural Logic, Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies and Policy Futures in Education. Glenn edited the summer 2006 edition of Information for Social Change on the theme of ‘Education for Social Change’, see: http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC23/ISC%2023%20full%20issue.pdf which included an article by him entitled Education and the Politics of Human Resistance. This article, along with other key online papers and articles by Glenn can be accessed from the following links:


Glenn Rikowski (2006) Education and the Politics of Human Resistance, Information for Social Change, Issue No.23 (summer):
http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC23/B3%20Glenn%20Rikowski.pdf

Glenn Rikowski (2005) Distillation: Education in Karl Marx’s Social Universe, Lunchtime Seminar, School of Education, University of East London, Barking Campus, 14th February: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=Distillation

Glenn Rikowski (2004) Marx and the Education of the Future, Policy Futures in Education, Vol.2 Nos.3&4, pp.565-577: http://www.wwwords.co.uk/pdf/viewpdf.asp?j=pfie&vol=2&issue=3&year=2004&article=10_Rikowski_PFEO_2_3-4_web&id=195.93.21.133

Glenn Rikowski (2003) Schools and the GATS Enigma, Journals for Critical Education Policy Studies, Vol.1 No.1 (March): http://www.jceps.com/?pageID=article&articleID=8

You can access more of Glenn’s online papers and articles from the ‘Articles’ section of The Flow of Ideas web site, at: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles In addition, you can view titles for a number of PowerPoints Glenn has produced for various lectures which can be made available on request, at:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=pub&sub=PowerPoints%20by%20Glenn%20Rikowski

Glenn’s University of Northampton School of Education Profile can be viewed at:
http://almond.admin.nene.ac.uk:7777/portal/page?_pageid=213,6567769&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Glenn also has two blogs, the Volumizer; his AOL blog and his MySpace blog, Wavering on Ether which can be viewed at: http://blog.myspace.com/glennrikowski He has collected together links for short articles (mainly on education) regarding the Best of the Volumizer at: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=Volumizer

Glenn’s MySpace Profile can be viewed at: http://www.myspace.com/glennrikowski

From 1994-2001, Glenn was a member of the Hillcole Group of Radical Left Educators. Since 2002, with Tony Green (University of London, Institute of Education), Glenn has run the Marxism and Education: Renewing Dialogues (MERD) seminars at the Institute of Education in London. There have been nine MERD seminars to date. Brief details of the themes and speakers at the MERD seminars can be viewed at:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=events&sub=MERD



6. Focus on Digo PC

Our website, ‘The Flow of Ideas’ was designed and created by DigoPC. I would certainly recommend them to others, and ‘thank you’ DigoPC for all the work that you have done for us. Here is some information about the company, provided by DigoPC.

"DigoPC is a creative web design, photography and film making company that turns imagination into design. Using a blend of technologies and design tools to create works for clients to be proud of, DigoPC offer solutions to many marketing needs and works hard to supply useful solutions and resources for their clients."
See: http://www.digopc.co.uk/



7. Ordering Chandos Publications

Chandos books can be ordered through the usual channels, including bookshops, library suppliers, wholesalers and Amazon. Chandos publications can also be purchased through their distributor, Turpin Distribution Services Ltd.
Tel: +44 (0) 1767 604951; Fax: +44 (0)1767 601640;
Email: custserv@turpin-distribution.com
All orders are despatched by Turpin within 5 working days of receipt of an order.
For further information in regard to all this see: http://www.chandospublishing.com/chandos_book_publishing_how_to_order.php

Once again, if you are interested in writing a book for Chandos Publishing, for the Library Studies and Information Management Series, then do get in contact with me. This can include single-authored books, co-authored and multiple-authored books and edited collections. This can be preliminary ideas that you would simply like to explore further, a more clearly-defined project but one that is still being thought-through and worked on, through to a very clearly defined book proposal. All such ideas and suggestions are welcome.


Finally, thank you to all those of you that contributed material to this News Update, No.6.

31st March 2007

Best wishes
Ruth

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