Interesting Reading Materials

A small lending library in the Ombuds office is available to all students, staff and faculty at Caltech. The collections ranges from books on legal matters (employment law, sexual harassment issues, and workplace rights in general) to books on stress management, communications, conflict management, negotiation, and time management.

In between you will find interesting books on job searching skills in both academia and the "real-world" workplace, books re. "how to" be an effective lecturer/teacher, begin an academic career, and deal with the issues of academic administration. Audio and videotapes round out the collection. To borrow the items listed below and any new items in our collection call us at x6990, or drop in, Room 322, Milikan Library.

Some of the titles available:

Lambert, L., Tice, S., and Featherstone, P.; University Teaching: A guide for Graduate Students; Syracuse; Syracuse University Press, 1996
"The essays in this volume constitute a rich resource. you will find practical strategies to try in your own classrooms as well as gleanings from current research o teaching and learning. More importantly perhaps, this volume makes accessible what is too often private: the thinking of a diverse group of teachers about what they do and why and about the place of teaching in the lives and responsibilities of teachers at all points in their careers." (Pg.. ix)

Some other available titles in this category:

Davidson, C. Ambrose, S.; The New Professor's Handbook, A Guide to Teaching and Research in Engineering and Science; Bolton; Anker Publishing, 1994.
"This book covers the two basic components of academic life: teaching and research. "In the first half of the book, Professors Davidson and Ambrose use the collective experience of our professions and the new developments in cognitive science to draw lessons that promote effective instruction... and it cuts through the voluminous literatures on teaching to make the process of learning how to teach more efficient. In the second part of this book, they introduce the world of research and the considerations that determine productivity and success in it. Again they provide practical advice on the everyday activities that go into research" (Pg. xi)

Another title of interest:

Heiberger, M., Vick, J.; The Academic Job Search Handbook; Philadelphia; University of Pennsylvania Press, 1992
"This book begins with an overview of academic careers and institutional structures. It then takes you step-by-step through the application process, from establishing relationships with advisors years before going on the market, to making the most of a new position. Steps discussed include positioning yourself in the market ... Each discipline also has its own customs. What is 'right' is frequently what is done in one's own field. This guide should never replace the specific conventions of your discipline" (Pg. 3)

In addition, check out:

Keller, E.F.; Reflections on Gender and Science; New Haven, Yale University Press, 1985
"Science is the name we give to a set of practices and a body of knowledge delineated by a community, not simply defined by the exigencies of logical proof and experimental verification. Similarly, masculine and feminine are categories defined by a culture, not by biological necessity. Women, men and science are created, together, out of a complex dynamic of interwoven cognitive, emotional, and social forces. The focus of these essays is on that dynamic and the ways it supports both the historic conjunction of science and masulinity, and the equally historic disjunction between science and femininity" (Pg. 4)

There are many books available in the library pertaining to Science and Gender

Silver, S.; Organized to be the Best: New Timesaving Ways to Simplify and Improve How You Work; Los Angelese; Adams-Halls Publishing, 1991
"This book is the answer for you if any of the following questions true. Are you:

See also:

Stop by the Ombuds Office library and check out the titles on hand.

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