"By far the best book on corporate and institutional governance." —Nicholas Katzenbach, former attorney general of the United States In his new foreword to The Board Book, former Mellon Foundation and Princeton University president William G. Bowen brings his immense experience to bear on the most pressing questions facing boards of directors and trustees today: seeking collaborative relationships and placing a renewed emphasis on sustainable initiatives. The strategies Bowen relates throughout the book foster the collegiality and sense of purpose—more important in today’s turbulent times than ever before—that are integral to any effective board.

"The author's guidance is backed up by research and hundreds of interviews - information that everyone in business can use: senior executives get the tools to create and sustain effective boards; management gets a clear understanding of good corporate governance; directors get essential information on how to optimize their roles; employees get an accurate reading on the health of their company; and investors get a critical benchmark for evaluating a company."--BOOK JACKET.

2009 Notable Education Book, American School Board Journal The Essential School Board Book highlights effective practices that are common to high-functioning boards around the country—boards that are working successfully with their superintendents and communities to improve teaching and learning. Amid today’s heightened attention on student achievement, school boards find their responsibilities intensified and transformed. In this age of accountability, all school boards need to consider how best to maintain a focus on student achievement and promote it through district and school policies. In a highly readable and accessible fashion, the book summarizes research linking school board practices to student achievement. It features stories of sixteen diverse boards around the country—elected and appointed; rural, urban, and suburban—and the policies and procedures they have employed to enhance student achievement. Also included is a resource section for those investigating successful school board policies and practices in more depth.

Jazz up your scrapbooks with fabrics and findings, or create your own beautifully altered books.

Discover new approaches for extending children's library services beyond the library building and learn how to utilize technology to bring learning to children wherever they may be. The ways in which we communicate, learn, and interact have changed drastically in the last decade, and this worldwide revolution applies to the youngest members of society as well. Today's books and learning materials are being presented and used in new and different ways. From the toddler's first boardbooks to the young teen's conversations on Facebook, children are interacting with print and media rather than passively listening or viewing. Libraries can contribute to this interactive world by inviting children to take an active role in their library collection and library service experiences. This book examines the impact of new technologies on children's experiences of books and libraries, and demonstrates how librarians can adapt to new technologies and integrate library services into the lives of today's children. From Boardbook to Facebook: Children's Services in an Interactive Age draws on current research to illuminate how children's use of media has changed in recent years and suggests ways in which new technologies can be integrated into library services now and in the future.

An essential guide to good governance for board leaders at all levels of experience and expertise This third edition of the bestselling book for nonprofit board members and professionals offers a thoroughly revised and updated resource that answers the most-commonly asked question on board governance. The book covers such topics as board structure and process, board member recruitment and orientation, board-staff relations, and financial management. This new edition includes updated information on topics that have recently increased in importance including new Form 990; dealing with the financial crisis, risk management, and mergers. Shows executives and board members how to be more effective, meet difficult situations head-on, and deal with commonplace challenges with confidence Topics include information on the viability of for-profit ventures, board retreats, board diversity, fundraising, financial oversight, strategic thinking, and the use of technology From Boardsource the premier resource for practical information, tools, best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide Offers insight gained from the BoardSource Governance Index Survey, hundreds of board self-assessments, and questions and challenges heard by BoardSource from thousands of nonprofit leaders.

“The ideal time to begin sharing books with children is during babyhood, even with children as young as six weeks.” —Starting Out Right National Research Council All parents hope to give their children the best possible start in life. Many of them know it’s a good idea to read to their children at a very young age, not with the goal of teaching their kids to read, but with the joy of having special time together looking at pictures and playing with words. Carefully chosen books that introduce children to the pleasures of language, simple story structure, and wonderful artwork are the foundation for a future love of books. Great Books for Babies and Toddlers is the first book of its kind—a guide to the best age appropriate children’s books available. Compiled by Kathleen Odean, former Chair of the Newbery Award Committee, Great Books for Babies and Toddlers provides lively annotations for more than five hundred books, divided into two helpful categories: Nursery Rhymes, Fingerplays, and Songs; and Picture-Story Books for the Very Young. With story selections ranging from such classics of children’s literature as Goodnight Moon and Where’s Spot? to excellent new books like How Does a Dinosaur Say Good Night? and Buzz!, Great Books for Babies and Toddlers will be more than a cherished guide for parents—it will also be a child’s first step in the lifelong adventure of reading.

Collage and altered art pull together elements from a wide variety of crafts to create one-of-a-kind pieces that truly reflect your individual style. This photo-intensive guide walks you through all the latest techniques, from aging paper and photos to working with image transfers, rubber stamps, fabrics, and more. Plus, you'll learn how to source inexpensive materials—as well as found objects around your home—to make everything from handmade journals and artist trading cards to decorative boxes, jewelry, and wall art. Concise two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review Each skill or technique is defined and described Detailed color photos demonstrate each step Step-by-step instructions accompany each photo Helpful tips provide additional guidance

'The Art of Bookbinding' by Joseph W. Zaehnsdorf is a classic guide to the ancient craft of binding books. Originally written for amateurs, it quickly became a favorite among professional bookbinders for its detailed instructions and diagrams. In this updated edition, Zaehnsdorf shares his extensive knowledge of the subject, including the history of bookbinding from the earliest times to the present day. The book covers everything from folding and sewing to leatherworking and gilding, providing step-by-step instructions for each stage of the process. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced binder, 'The Art of Bookbinding' is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in this beautiful and timeless art form.

Equipping Space Cadets: Primary Science Fiction for Young Children argues for the benefits and potential of “primary science fiction,” or science fiction for children under twelve years old. Science fiction for children is often disregarded due to common misconceptions of childhood. When children are culturally portrayed as natural and simple, they seem like a poor audience for the complex scientific questions brought up by the best science fiction. The books and the children who read them tell another story. Using three empirical studies and over 350 children’s books including If I Had a Robot Dog, Bugs in Space, and Commander Toad in Space, Equipping Space Cadets presents interdisciplinary evidence that science fiction and children are compatible after all. Primary science fiction literature includes many high-quality books that cleverly utilize the features of children’s literature formats in order to fit large science fiction questions into small packages. In the best of these books, authors make science fiction questions accessible and relevant to children of various reading levels and from diverse backgrounds and identities. Equipping Space Cadets does not stop with literary analysis, but also presents the voices of real children and practitioners. The book features three studies: a survey of teachers and librarians, quantitative analysis of lending records from school libraries across the United States, and coded read-aloud sessions with elementary school students. The results reveal how children are interested in and capable of reading science fiction, but it is the adults, including the most well-intentioned librarians and teachers, who hinder children's engagement with the genre due to their own preconceptions about the genre and children.