This clear and concise manual will help librarians understand licenses so that they can become better reviewers, drafters, and negotiators. Libraries purchase or subscribe to countless resources that are governed by licenses-both digital products and physical objects like rare books or equipment. Many librarians, however, lack the legal expertise to comprehend and assess the clauses found in licenses. Authors Corey Halaychik and Blake Reagan have reviewed and edited thousands of contracts and use the lessons they've learned to help librarians sort through the often archaic and confusing language found in licenses. Library Licensing is a key reference for anyone responsible for reviewing, editing, negotiating, and agreeing to licenses that govern library resources. It contains essential information that will allow the reader to not only understand the language used in contracts but also to replace confusing and redundant language with clear and concise alternatives. Organized with ease of use in mind, chapters are written for quick and easy consultation and application. In-depth coverage of terms used in library contracts Clear and concise definitions of common contract language Guidance on how to make contract language less confusing Step-by-step tips for reviewing, editing, and negotiating contract language

All librarians and library and information science scholars can benefit from learning more about intellectual freedom. This book relies on research and practical real-world scenarios to conceptualize and contextualize it. Practicing Intellectual Freedom in Libraries is helpful for a wide range of people, from those only starting to learn about intellectual freedom to those more well-versed in the subject. For novices, it offers a solid introduction to intellectual freedom, grounded theoretically and empirically; for more experienced scholars and librarians, it provides a uniquely comprehensive analysis of intellectual freedom. Intellectual freedom is important for librarians because it is a foundation of the profession and is truly central to librarianship in the United States. Situating intellectual freedom within freedom of speech theories, this book explains the legal and theoretical foundations for contemporary understandings of intellectual freedom within library science. Additionally, it depicts the importance of community to implementing intellectual freedom and exemplifies this importance in a discussion of actual library practices. Real-world scenarios provide a timely look at intellectual freedom in context, discussing Internet filtering, collection development and weeding, meeting rooms and exhibit spaces, programming, and fake news and misinformation. Learn to apply intellectual freedom to your librarianship Develop a deeper understanding of the legal and theoretical bases for intellectual freedom in the United States Understand the theoretical and empirical foundations of intellectual freedom Grasp how an institution's community affects the interpretation and application of intellectual freedom

If you want to provide an information service that truly fulfils your users' needs, this book is essential reading. Analysing and assessing the information needs of clients is key to the provision of effective service and appropriate collections in both face-to-face and virtual library services. The importance of information needs analysis is widely recognized by information professionals, but currently there is little substantive, detailed work in the professional literature devoted to this important topic. This new book is designed to fill that gap, by supporting practitioners in developing an information needs analysis strategy, and offering the necessary professional skills and techniques to do so. It will offer guidance to team leaders and senior managers in all areas of library work, especially those involved in collection management, service provision and web development, and is equally applicable to the needs of academic, public, government, commercial and other more specialized library and information services. The text adopts a hands-on, jargon-free approach, and includes relevant examples, case studies, reader activities and sources of further reading. Key areas covered include: what is information needs analysis? how is needs analysis conducted? what are the varieties of needs analysis? how are analyses evaluated and reported? Readership: The book will be essential reading for library and information practitioners, team leaders and senior managers. It will also be a core text on course reading lists in departments of library and information studies.

Every library needs to have a disaster management plan in place before disaster strikes. This short but thorough manual makes preparing for disaster less intimidating. All library staff, from library volunteers to library directors and branch managers, have a role to play in preparing for and recovering from disaster. Written by an expert in preservation services, Crash Course in Disaster Preparedness contains all of the information library professionals need to prepare for an emergency, should one arise. Carmen Cowick identifies common terminology; teaches readers how to conduct risk assessment, how to write a disaster plan, and how to design emergency procedures; and introduces readers to the basic principles of salvaging. Throughout, Cowick shows readers how to prioritize library collections during a fire, flood, power outage, and other natural and human-caused disasters so as to maximize preservation of library materials. Provides ways for all library staff, administrators, and volunteers to help in the case of an emergency Covers a topic that, while often ignored, is critical to the health of any library Raises awareness of the importance of disaster planning

Instead of using expensive off-the-shelf surveys or relying on a poorly worded survey, read Making Surveys Work for Your Library and design your own that collect actionable data. Library listservs and websites are littered with examples of surveys that are too long, freighted with complex language, and generally poorly designed. The survey, however, is a widely used tool that has great potential if designed well. Libraries can implement surveys for a variety of purposes, including planning, program evaluation, collection development, and space design. Making Surveys Work for Your Library: Guidance, Instructions, and Examples offers librarians a contemporary and practical approach to creating surveys that answer authentic questions about library users. Miller and Hinnant have experience designing, deploying, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data from large-scale, web-based user surveys of library patrons as well as smaller survey instruments targeted to special populations. Here, they offer library professionals a guide to developing-and examples of-concise surveys that gather the data they need to make evidence-based decisions, define the scope of future research, and understand their patrons. Create practical surveys you can use immediately in your professional work Design effective survey questions that will give you the information you need Develop a survey with a clear objective Model your surveys on sample surveys and questions

This book demonstrates how aesthetics, design elements, and visual literacy can be implemented in the library to enhance spaces, programs, services, instruction, and outreach so that your library will appeal to all users. Libraries have come to accept that they must rethink how they appeal to users, and harnessing the power of design can be a powerful means for addressing the changing needs of the community. Decker and Porter introduce "engaging design"-an umbrella term that incorporates multiple design frameworks with a focus on a three-prong approach: aesthetics, design thinking, and service design. These frameworks can be used to guide design choices that will aid in teaching and engaging current and potential library users. In the course of a lively and interesting narrative, Engaging Design introduces basic concepts of aesthetics and good design and explores examples of its successful uses in the academic, public, and special library. It provides simple steps for implementing subtle, but powerful, techniques to improve instruction, human-computer interaction, e-learning, public services spaces, wayfinding signage, and all manner of library programs, events, and services. In addition, the authors recommend easy-to-implement best practices that will help librarians to enhance library-goers' experience. Library administrators will also look to this book for assistance in best addressing the needs of the modern library user. Clearly explains how to recognize, understand, and interpret basic design techniques Teaches librarians how to attract and target their efforts towards specific groups of library users Outlines principles of good design in instruction programs, space planning and design tasks, outreach initiatives, and other library programs and activities Offers easy-to-follow steps to good design for wayfinding, instruction, and library usage

The tension between openness and transparency with the need to keep information secure and out of the hands of an enemy has been at the heart of some of the most riveting episodes in American history. This title provides primary documentation on the secrets, leaks, and scandals throughout all of America's history.

Library, information and knowledge professionals are often at the front line of managing and monitoring their organisation’s legal compliance and have roles and responsibilities in both complying with the law and taking advantage of its provisions. To do their jobs effectively, they need not only to understand the law, but also to develop the skills, confidence and organisational policy frameworks to apply the law’s principles to their context of use. They need the knowledge and skills to help them decide what is acceptable and to develop appropriate risk aware approaches when things are not clear-cut. Information Law: Compliance for librarians, information professionals and knowledge managers provides an overview of important information law issues along with tools and guidance to help readers establish a framework so that their organisation can both comply with its legal responsibilities and support a suitably risk aware environment which optimises access and use. Based on the authors’ many years in professional practice and on their proven ‘Compliance Methodology’, it will help readers understand the legal issues that are central to the information they hold or that they wish to access.

This book explains how information literacy (IL) is essential to the contemporary workplace and is fundamental to competent, ethical and evidence-based practice. In today’s information-driven workplace, information professionals must know when research evidence or relevant legal, business, personal or other information is required, how to find it, how to critique it and how to integrate it into one’s knowledge base. To fail to do so may result in defective and unethical practice which could have devastating consequences for clients or employers. There is an ethical requirement for information professionals to meet best practice standards to achieve the best outcome possible for the client. This demands highly focused and complex information searching, assessment and critiquing skills. Using a range of new perspectives, Information Literacy in the Workplace demonstrates several aspects of IL’s presence and role in the contemporary workplace, including IL’s role in assuring competent practice, its value to employers as a return on investment, and its function as an ethical safeguard in the duty and responsibilities professionals have to clients, students and employers. Chapters are contributed by a range of international experts, including Christine Bruce, Bonnie Cheuk, Annemaree Lloyd with a foreword from Jane Secker. Content covered includes: - examination of the value and impact of IL in the workplace - how IL is experienced remotely, beyond workplace boundaries - IL’s role in professional development - organizational learning and knowledge creation - developing information professional competencies - how to unlock and create value using IL in the workplace. This book will be useful for librarians and LIS students in understanding how information literacy is experienced by professions they support; academics teaching professional courses; professionals (e.g. medical, social care, legal and business based) and their employers in showing that IL is essential to best practice and key to ethical practice.

After explaining the importance of diversity audits, this book offers a range of options for how to go about conducting them. Library collections serve as a reflection of their communities and the wider world, and audits are the best way to assess the inclusivity of these collections. In this practical book, Sarah Voels helps libraries meet the challenge of doing a diversity audit. The task of auditing a collection for its diversity is essential to the development of a reflective collection. Conducting a diversity audit gives library professionals a realistic and accurate assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the materials they provide their readers. Only with this information at hand can libraries work toward improvement. But what's the best way to conduct an audit? What criteria should be used? How can audits be tailored to specific communities? How much will it cost, and how much time will it take? Voels has taken away the guesswork by surveying a wide range of libraries that have performed diversity audits and sharing their successes and challenges. She suggests best practices while acknowledging that each library's specific situation will be unique. All libraries considering a diversity audit will benefit from this guide. Helps readers apply other libraries' experience with diversity audits to their own situations Shares the knowledge and experience gained during library diversity audits and highlights the lessons learned Introduces diversity audits across industries and applies them to libraries Includes an annotated list of resources to help support the development of a diverse collection

Featuring case studies and questions for further study and inquiry in each major chapter, this book introduces the key concept of intellectual freedom to those about to enter the profession, providing a concise overview of principles, ongoing and current debates, and best practices. Enshrined in the mission statement of ALA, intellectual freedom is one of the core values of the information professions. The importance of ensuring information access to all, and the historical, social, and legal foundations of this commitment, are powerfully explored in this essential primer. Designed to function as both an introductory text for LIS students as well as a complementary resource for current professionals, this book provides a cohesive, holistic perspective on intellectual freedom. Extending beyond censorship to encompass such timely and urgent topics as hate speech and social justice, from this book readers will gain an understanding of the historical and legal roots of intellectual freedom, with an in-depth examination of John Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty” and Article 19 of the U.N Declaration of Human Rights, and its central concepts and principles; the intersection of intellectual freedom, freedom of expression, and social justice; professional values, codes of ethics, ALA’s Library Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read/View Statements; pro- and anti- censorship arguments and their use in impeding and facilitating access to information; book banning and internet filtering; privacy and its relationship to information services; U.S. case law and precedents; the basics of U.S. copyright law, including fair use, and how it differs from international copyright law; and emerging global issues and their impact on future intellectual freedom.

A "New York Times" Notable Book
A "Los Angeles Times "and "Cleveland Plain Dealer" Best Book of the Year
Winner of the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award
From the bestselling author of the acclaimed "Chaos "and "Genius" comes a thoughtful and provocative exploration of the big ideas of the modern era: Information, communication, and information theory.
" "
Acclaimed science writer James Gleick presents an eye-opening vision of how our relationship to information has transformed the very nature of human consciousness. A fascinating intellectual journey through the history of communication and information, from the language of Africa's talking drums to the invention of written alphabets; from the electronic transmission of code to the origins of information theory, into the new information age and the current deluge of news, tweets, images, and blogs. Along the way, Gleick profiles key innovators, including Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, Samuel Morse, and Claude Shannon, and reveals how our understanding of information is transforming not only how we look at the world, but how we live.

A fast-growing area in fiction for the young, genre blends allow for new possibilities and ideas, stimulating children's imaginations. This helpful guide orients readers' advisory staff, educators, and collection development librarians with a hand-picked selection of hybrid genres and novels published since 2000. It's no wonder that genre blends are some of most popular books for children and teens. When you mash up two different traditional genres, it's like doubling what makes each one pleasurable on its own. This guide, the first of its kind, will help public and school librarians, teachers, and collections staff identify genre blends for readers' advisory, curriculum development, or creating core collections. Profiling more than 200 titles, inside its pages you'll learn about six of the most in-demand genre blends for young readers, including Fantasy Mysteries, Magical Realism, Steampunk, and Verse Novels; be introduced to each genre blend's most compelling novels and contemporary authors; understand both book appeal factors (such as genre and theme) and reader-appeal factors, assisting you in matching readers with the perfect book; receive guidance on finding genre blends for children who are facing difficult circumstances, such as their parents' divorce, cliques in school, lack of popularity, poor body image, or self-blame; and find what you're looking for quickly and efficiently with the help of succinct annotations and a thorough index.

Volume 7 of The Year in C-SPAN Archives Research series focuses on the relationship between democracy and the media. Using the extensive collection of the C-SPAN Video Library, chapters cover Trump political rallies, congressional references of late-night comedy, responses of African American congresswomen to COVID-19 bills, and congressional attacks on the media through floor speeches in the House of Representatives and Senate. The C-SPAN Video Library is unique because there is no other research collection that is based on video research of contemporary politics. Methodologically distinctive, much of the research uses new techniques to analyze video, text, and spoken words of political leaders. No other book examines such a wide range of topics-from immigration to climate change to race relations-using video as the basis for research.

Volume 7 of The Year in C-SPAN Archives Research series focuses on the relationship between democracy and the media. Using the extensive collection of the C-SPAN Video Library, chapters cover Trump political rallies, congressional references of late-night comedy, responses of African American congresswomen to COVID-19 bills, and congressional attacks on the media through floor speeches in the House of Representatives and Senate. The C-SPAN Video Library is unique because there is no other research collection that is based on video research of contemporary politics. Methodologically distinctive, much of the research uses new techniques to analyze video, text, and spoken words of political leaders. No other book examines such a wide range of topics-from immigration to climate change to race relations-using video as the basis for research.