Outsourcing is a global phenomenon that has enjoyed rapid growth over recent years, evidenced by the proliferation of outsourcing service providers in all areas of business. The concept centres on businesses and organizations divesting themselves of essential, but non-core, business activities and, properly managed, outsourcing can realize considerable cost and other benefits for both the service provider and the outsourcing client.

The content of this book is a distillation of the outsourcing process, is derived from detailed and wide-ranging research in the subject, but contextualised to cater for the records management environment.

Outsourcing is not necessarily the way ahead for every organization or business. The process of determining whether the concept is feasible, cost-effective and beneficial is complex and should not be entered into lightly. The price of failure is high and, for that reason, any outsourcing initiative demands robust project management skills, strong support at board level and the unremitting support and commitment of every executive, departmental head and senior manager in the company.

Much has been written about the concepts of outsourcing. Research has revealed numerous books, journal articles and case studies attesting to its merits but there is little to nothing available that is specific to a records management facility.

This title will prove invaluable for any librarian or information professional with a practical or academic interest in outsourcing, or for any students in the field of library science.

This guide introduces elementary and secondary school librarians to the wealth of information available from the US government and affordable to librarians on a budget. Federal government documents on history, government and politics, art, health, criminal justice and science are routinely available, at prices ranging from "free" to $10. The formats vary, and include monographs, posters, charts, maps, software, and multimedia. The manual includes samples of government selection tools, discusses commercial vendors of government documents, and review sourcees for new documents. Appendices list the GPO Book Stores and Federal Depository Libraries.

Is your library getting every dollar's-worth out of that thousand-dollar database? Should you resubscribe to that pricey e-journal? Are your indexes serving your users? Collection development and acquisitions librarians are facing new tough questions. Unfortunately - until now - these were tough and, for many, unanswerable questions. and value in the digital age. Learn how to effectively use the electronic data captured from various network activities to manage library collections, budgets, and services. Using e-metric, the authors identify expensive and underused digital resources, visualize virtual patron behavior patterns, and construct new collection development strategies. Real-world examples demonstrate how to develop a locally-established library e-metric system and apply it with vendor usage statistics to critical collection management and financial decisions. Practical tips and detailed analysis illustrate the important application of e-metrics to help you better serve your users and run an effective library.

A unique combination of biography and critical analysis, covering major writers from outside the United States and their significant works in fiction, drama, poetry, and nonfiction. A companion to the award-winning Critical Survey of American Literature, this comprehensive, six-volume set profiles major authors of fiction, drama, poetry, and essays, each with sections on biography, general analysis, and analysis of the author's most important works-novels, short stories, poems, and works of nonfiction. The completely updated edition covers 400 writers at the heart of literary studies, and now, volumes will be arranged by world region. This edition includes new coverage of contemporary authors from around the globe. Among the new authors profiled in this set are such well-known authors as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Aravind Adiga, Reinaldo Arenas, J.G. Ballard, Alberto Fuguet, Marlon James, Yann Martel, Patrick Modiano, Orhan Pamuk, Will Self and Jorge Volpi. The literary scope of this reference work is remarkable. Plus, many original essays have been revised. The Biography, Analysis, and Summary sections are updated to include recent developments, and essays have newly updated bibliographies to provide readers with the latest information on the author's works and sources for further consultation. All essays include Discussion Topics, provocative questions that will prompt classroom debates on the writer's body of work, specific works, or life as it relates to his or her literature. Aimed at students, teachers, and members of reading groups, they can be used as paper topics or conversation points. In addition, phonetic pronunciation is provided for an author's foreign-language or unusual last name, and a Pronunciation Key appears at the beginning of all six volumes. Five helpful features can be found at the end of each volume: a Glossary; a Category List that groups authors by genre, country, gender, and ethnic identity; an Author Index that lists all authors covered in the set along with their works; a Title Index of all works covered in the set; and a Geographical List which groups the authors by country.

The new fourth edition of The Critical Survey of Drama contains over 650 new and updated essays-over 550 discuss individual dramatists and nearly 100 cover important overview topics that are critical to the study of drama as a whole. This new edition is newly arranged by World Region and essay type to further enhance its ability to help students and researchers expand their study of dramatists around the globe. This edition includes new coverage of contemporary playwrights who have recently come to be regarded as established figures in the theater-Jez Butterworth, Martin McDonough, Patrick Marber, Marshall Napier, Mark Ravenhill and N.F. Simpson-to name a few. In addition to the entirely new author profiles, many have been updated and revised to include the authors' new works and achievements, new productions, publications, honors and awards, as well as personal developments. Bibliographies have also been updated and annotated. In addition, these updated essays provide analyses of significant new works. Each dramatist essay provides such ready-reference material as birth and death dates, and a list of the author's major dramatic works (with dates of first production and publication). Each essay opens with a brief survey of the author's publications in literary forms other than drama, a summary of the writer's professional achievements and awards, an extended biographical sketch that centers on the writer's development as a dramatist, and an extensive critical analysis of the writer's major dramatic works. Following this discussion is an annotated bibliography of critical works about the author. Overview essays, which are arranged under broad subject headings in Volume 8, cover dramatic traditions in the United States, the British Isles, Europe, Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world, as well as various genres and techniques. The nearly 100 Overview Essays provide thoughtful insight into the study of African American Drama, American Regional Theater, Asian Drama, Australian Drama, Chinese Drama, Deaf Theater, Experimental Theater, Feminist Theater, French Drama Since the 1600's, Irish Drama, LGBTQ Theater, Melodrama, Musical Drama, Native American Drama, Political Theater, Southeast Asian Drama and much more. The set also contains a listing of major dramatic awards, a time line of drama history, a glossary, and bibliography. Five helpful features can be found at the end of each volume: a Glossary; a Category List that groups authors by genre, country, gender, and ethnic identity; an Author Index that lists all authors covered in the set along with their works; a Title Index of all works covered in the set; and a Geographical List which groups the authors by country.

Globally, libraries are the backbones of the institutions in which they exist, irrespective of whether they are in a developed country or a developing country. Ideally, no school should operate without one. Different types of libraries provide various kinds of information to a range of people. This collection of articles will attract the attention of education authorities, education policy makers, subject teachers, teacher librarians, academics, students, and parents. Young adults can also obtain information here concerning career or vocational guidance. This book promotes the use of libraries in students' learning and quality of education.

This new edition of "Managing Information Services" has been significantly revised and restructured to reflect the need for libraries and information services to manage the transformation necessary to become more relevant to the knowledge age's dynamic, customer-centred environment. It reflects the move from managing physical assets to exploiting knowledge, technology and innovation; new models of learning; global, mobile communication and new delivery mechanisms with a focus on relationships. Introductory sections on management and strategic influences emphasise the importance of knowledge management skills, teamworking, corporate responsibility and customer satisfaction as a driver for change. A new section on corporate governance has been added that includes managing different forms of capital, and there is expanded coverage of investment, security, risk management and business continuity. Maintaining a competitive advantage through service quality and multiple delivery channels is another theme found throughout the book. Recommended reading for students, this is also acknowledged as a comprehensive and yet sufficiently detailed reference on the key management subjects for information service managers.

This expanded text has been rewritten to better serve the verbal and written communication needs of the modern library. Many types of communication are covered including: public speaking and conducting interviews; leading group discussion; public service announcements; and writing memos, letters, and formal reports. This edition features: an expanded section on mastering individual skills; sensitivity to cultural, ethical, and linguistic issues; using voice mail and e-mail; practicing netiquette in chat groups; designing WWW pages; teleconferencing and videoconferencing; using presentation software; and teaching skills to support staff. Practical tips and skills training exercises, examples of common library situations, research facts, and reference to sources for more information round out this practical guide. This work may be of use to library staff, volunteers. information and referral counsellors, and staff trainers.

Barbara Dewey and Loretta Parham join 50 other librarians, including Tracie Hall, Emma Bradford Perry, and Hannelore B Rader, to explore one of the major issues facing the profession - diversity. This innovative guide explores how librarians can ensure that their services, staff, and collections truly reflect our multicultural society. Chapters cover strategic planning; recruiting and retaining minorities; reaching out to new users; marketing to underrepresented populations; building collections for marginalized groups; overcoming the digital divide; assessment; and other important topics. The contributors provide numerous forms and documents including library diversity plans; residency and intern job descriptions; recruitment materials; programming plans and documents; and web resources. With guidance drawn from real experience in public and academic libraries, this unique guide will help to make diversity a reality in libraries.

Two authors with more than 40 years of combined backcountry experience in nearly every type of terrain worldwide attempt to create a definitive guide for outdoorspeople - a manual with appeal to all stripes of outdoor travellers.

Project work is widespread in all types of library and information units, and typical projects can involve developing a new information service, moving a library, digitizing materials or introducing a new staff-development programme. Projects may be relatively small and simple, with one or two members of staff working in the same office, or large and complex, involving people working in multi-professional teams. Complex projects sometimes involve working across different boundaries - professional, organizational, geographical - or working with new and developing ICT systems. ILS workers often carry out these projects alongside their full-time jobs, and find that they need to develop new skills and ways of working in order to manage their project successfully as well as their main work role. If you are an information professional involved in project work of any kind, whether on a managerial, practical, academic or research level, this book offers you a valuable resource. Its purpose is to act as a guide to project management within all types of library and information services. It explores tried and tested methods and techniques for managing projects, including paper-based approaches, and also the use of project management software. Each chapter is supported by examples that provide a feel for the realities of project management in today's turbulent work environments.

Running a small library - be it a public, academic, school, or special library - usually means making do with little or no staff. Nevertheless, this challenging task requires skill and expertise. Budgets must be planned and justified. Policies and procedures need development and implementation. Facilities must be maintained. Collections require constant development. Then there are tasks, such as: programming; outreach; cataloging; circulation; computers and networks; automation systems; and other services. This unique how-to, written from the perspective of the small library and its particular challenges and strains, discusses these essential topics and also includes a resource section listing furniture, automation, and book and periodical vendors; discussion groups; professional organizations; and resources for more information. Any solo librarian or manager with a small staff will find Moorman's advice invaluable.

The Funding Game presents various examples of library advocacy and cites a variety of community inputs, so that library administrators, board members, and Friends, will have better insight into possibilities for their own library's funding advantage.

As libraries cope with budget cuts and shortages, many are turning to grants as a means for funding new initiatives and sustaining services. This practical how-to manual - authored by two experts with in-depth knowledge and practical experience - outlines the grant-writing process and provides a proven step-by-step strategy for getting your grant. Chapters cover preliminary planning; defining the project; forming the writing team; choosing the best type of funder (government, foundation, corporate, and local organizations) to approach; and more. Core coverage focuses on writing and submitting the proposal including thorough explanation and examples the title sheet, cover letter, table of contents, overview, description, needs, methodology, timeline, budget, evaluation, and more. Additional sections explain how applicants should follow-up on their submission; partner with outside organizations; and implement and evaluate the project when your funding is approved. The CD-ROM includes a sample grant template that you can individualize and reproduce for your own grants, as well as model long range plans that can be modified and included in proposals. More than 15 successful grant stories from a variety of institutions and for various funding purposes are also on this invaluable CD for you to model, adapt, or incorporate into your own winning proposals.

This volume arises from a conference held in November 2008 at the Royal Society in London to mark the 275th anniversary of the establishment of the Edward Worth Library in Dr. Steevens' Hospital, Dublin. Many contributions reflect on the alchemical interaction of the sciences - in particular natural philosophy and medicine - and the printed book in the 16th and 17th centuries. Other essays elucidate the historical, intellectual, and social contexts in which this 'alchemy' occurred. The book produces a fascinating insight into the social and intellectual world of Edward Worth.