Gain access to the latest and most savvy research techniques for academic librarians with this robust guidebook written by industry leaders involved in setting national standards for the Institute of Research Design for Librarianship. Staying on top of professional trends in academic library research can help turn any librarian into an expert researcher. This practitioner's guide arms librarians with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively conduct research to enhance professional practice and perform successful inquiries. It discusses current practices of academic librarians; details the process of successfully planning, implementing, and publishing a study; and provides professional and personal development to improve research competency. Written by professionals at the upper echelon of their field, Enhancing Library and Information Research Skills comprises seven chapters that break down the research process and focus on individual steps in performing effective research. The book teaches academic librarians how to develop a research question based on a practical problem, determine the scope and objectives of a study, and select proper research design and methods. Readers will also understand how to identify resources to support the study, set a timeline for data collection and data analysis, write a dissertation, and identify the proper venue for publication/presentation. Features the latest research practices of academic librarians-including current trends and patterns Provides the resources, knowledge, and skills to successfully conduct research, improve professional practice, and enhance careers Engages professionals in a sustained learning process to improve their research proficiency and impact Includes practical information for preparing posters and presentations for conference presentations

Now you're a manager. Maybe you sought the position and interviewed for it, or maybe you were appointed to fill a need. Perhaps your long-term goal is upper-level library management, or maybe you're happy where you are and aren't sure how you'd like your career to progress. Whatever the case, this guide will provide you with quick, easy-to-implement tips and strategies for tackling the most common issues encountered by mid-level managers in an academic library. With ten chapters covering everything from building teams to creating a respectful workplace to managing university politics, Now You're a Manager provides lists, exercises, and techniques for assembling and managing an effective, happy team. Many of us were never taught how to be managers before we began managing. This book is designed to meet the specific needs of new mid-level managers in academic libraries, and can be used for individual use and group discussion, and by librarians and paraprofessionals who manage teams and departments.

This book explains how and why to get an international library job, what to expect when you arrive in your host country, and how to overcome challenges in your new home. For those who possess an ALA-accredited degree, there are opportunities to work in library settings around the world—and many of these attractive career options do not require non-English language skills or an EEC/Commonwealth citizenship. This guide to library work in countries outside the United States and Canada explains the benefits of taking on a library position in an international setting, how to find such a job, what to expect in working in a library outside of North America, and what strategies to employ to be successful and happy living and working in your host country. This guide answers all the questions that a librarian considering a position abroad would have, and it also covers subjects and concerns that might not be as obvious. Based on the direct experiences of the authors as well as anecdotal accounts from other librarians who have worked around the world, the book informs readers about common cultural differences with the application and interview process; explains how workplaces and working assumptions can be different from American expectations; profiles the different procedures, collection scope, curricular support, and intellectual freedom policies of libraries outside the United States and Canada; and describes the unique experience of moving to another country and living as an expat.

Two authors with more than 40 years of combined library experience tap into their wealth of knowledge about discovery and user experience, sharing proven methods for setting up, promoting, and teaching their own discovery systems. Discovery systems are the new one-stop search model for libraries, but simply implementing the software doesn't ensure that it will meet your users' search needs. This book looks at how discovery systems are actually used by examining the findings of several user experience (UX) studies, providing data and observations that will inform your decisions about selecting, implementing, and enhancing this software. This book provides library practitioners who choose, administer, and interact with discovery systems with insight for establishing or fine-tuning a discovery system. You will understand how the use and effectiveness of the top discovery systems compare to more traditional databases and web resources, get insight into the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the best-selling discovery systems, and examine the UX research findings of the authors on student response and faculty response. You'll also learn about key configuration options that help or hinder search success with these systems and affect content selection, linking software setup, and interlibrary loan processes. The book concludes with recommended best practices for promoting discovery systems, including web design, placement on the library's website, getting coworkers on board, and PR ideas.

In recent years big data initiatives, not to mention Hollywood, the video game industry and countless other popular media, have reinforced and even glamorized the public image of the archive as the ultimate repository of facts and the hope of future generations for uncovering 'what actually happened'. The reality is, however, that for all sorts of reasons the record may not have been preserved or survived in the archive. In fact, the record may never have even existed - its creation being as imagined as is its contents. And even if it does exist, it may be silent on the salient facts, or it may obfuscate, mislead or flat out lie. The Silence of the Archive is written by three expert and knowledgeable archivists and draws attention to the many limitations of archives and the inevitability of their having parameters. Silences or gaps in archives range from details of individuals' lives to records of state oppression or of intelligence operations. The book brings together ideas from a wide range of fields, including contemporary history, family history research and Shakespearian studies. It describes why these silences exist, what the impact of them is, how researchers have responded to them, and what the silence of the archive means for researchers in the digital age. It will help provide a framework and context to their activities and enable them to better evaluate archives in a post-truth society. This book includes discussion of: enforced silences expectations and when silence means silence digital preservation, authenticity and the future dealing with the silence possible solutions; challenging silence and acceptance the meaning of the silences: are things getting better or worse? user satisfaction and audience development. This book will make compelling reading for professional archivists, records managers and records creators, postgraduate and undergraduate students of history, archives, librarianship and information studies, as well as academics and other users of archives.

This book provides practical information and insights to library administrators and building plan team members at academic and public libraries who are considering or starting a library expansion or reconfiguration of existing space. Building a new library or expanding or renovating an existing building brings up a host of questions and concerns, not the least of which involves the future of the library. This book addresses those issues in light of an overarching positive vision of libraries and their evolving purposes and roles in the 21st century. This guide identifies and addresses all of the steps in the building process, including preparing the request for proposal (RFP), selecting the right architect for the job, developing a financial contingency plan, and managing stakeholders' expectations. The book presents both the perspectives and experience of library administrators and management personnel as well as the insights of accomplished library architects and designers. It provides thorough, practical, and current guidance in a process that library administrators often find daunting and "risk immersive." Reading this book is like sitting down with a knowledgeable, impartial consultant before beginning a major renovation project-a tremendous asset for library administrators as well as architectural firms. Covers all of the steps in the building process, from preparing the RFP and selecting an architect to developing a financial contingency plan and managing community and staff expectations Includes contributions from some of the most accomplished library architects and designers from across the nation Presents information of great relevance and interest to library administrators as well as to architectural firms that work with libraries

Academic librarians have long sought new ways to reach out to their users and support those users' research needs. Now, learning management system (LMS) embedded librarianship is partnering with faculty to deliver research assistance for students right in their LMS course sites. This issue of Library Technology Reports describes the LMS environment alongside the larger online resource environment of academic libraries. Topics include: options for adding digital collections and finding tools; methods for creating course-specific content; online tools for communication, collaboration, and citing sources; LMS embedded librarians trends; and the underlying principles of universal design, instructional design, accessibility, and copyright.

One of the most critical elements of achieving a successful career, interviewing with poise and tenacity, is a skill to be learned-and this practical guide leads readers through that process, step by step. In a competitive job market, all candidates need to prepare to succeed. This certainly applies to job seekers looking for professional librarian positions in public, academic, and/or special libraries-especially recent MLIS graduates and mid-career job-changers. Designed for today's competitive job market, this practical guidebook provides job applicants with practical tips and effective strategies for successful interview preparation and execution specific to seeking librarian positions. Unlike generic "how to interview" guides, this book recognizes that there is no "one-size-fits-all" interviewing method and teaches the techniques for excelling at the unique aspects of interviews for specific librarian positions such as reference librarian, electronic resources librarian, outreach librarian, youth services librarian, and adult programming librarian. The book opens with an overview of what is expected during today's librarian interview followed by descriptions by four experienced library directors of what makes an interview truly great. This guidebook includes 100 actual library interview questions to help readers best prepare for the specific position they seek and also contains a chapter that identifies mistakes all rookie librarians should avoid making. Provides a librarian-specific job-interviewing guidebook that guides candidates through the strategic and targeted interview preparation process for today's highly specific librarian positions Presents contributions from library leaders such as Rivkah Sass (Sacramento Public Library), Brett Bonfield (Collingswood Public Library), Anne Langley (Princeton Library), and John Danneker (Odegaard Undergraduate Library, University of Washington) who explain what can make or break an interview Includes a helpful job application tracking chart as well as an interview preparation checklist (for remote and in-person situations) and an interview presentation checklist

Collaboration involves a fusion of individual talents and skills through outreach and cooperation. And it is one of the key ingredients of a vibrant, successful library that is also relevant to the community it serves. But it doesn't just happen magically, and it's a challenge to kindle those original sparks of inspiration into a sustainable effort. Written by a team of librarians and community partners who themselves learned how to collaborate successfully, this uplifting book takes a fresh look at the essentials of how to nurture the best within ourselves and our colleagues in order to create lasting partnerships that will continue to thrive. Its breezy tone encourages reflection and discovery while giving practical suggestions on how to plan for short-term gains and long-term results. Questions and points to ponder included at the end of each chapter will facilitate discussion and planning. Helping you harness creative thinking and channel it into everyday work, this book: discusses why collaboration is so important and provides numerous tips for cultivating it; examines what to do when things go wrong, including techniques for generating patience and perseverance to help produce positive results;offers new ways to plan and implement, featuring guidance on how to establish a core group; explores ways to prioritize by starting with clear goals; describes the fundamentals of engaging with fellow staff and the wider community; and highlights ideas to spark curiosity that benefit everyone. An array of appendices with worksheets, examples, suggested readings, and other tools complete this celebration of collaboration, a book that will inspire effective communication and accountability within your organization and among community allies.

Progress for the sake of progress is all too often a drain on precious time and resources. The communities and users that libraries serve are always changing; true innovation helps libraries adapt to meet their needs and aspirations both now and in the future. This stimulating collection offers numerous snapshots of innovation in action at a range of libraries, showcasing ideas and initiatives that will inspire librarians at their own institutions.

This book shows you how, even with a tight budget and limited space, you can foster "maker mentality" in your library and help patrons reap the learning benefits of making-with or without a makerspace. Just because your library is small or limited on funds doesn't mean you can't be part of the maker movement. This book explains that what is really important about the movement is not the space, but the creativity, innovation, and resilience that go along with a successful maker program. All it takes is making some important changes to a library's programs, services, and collections to facilitate the maker mentality in their patrons, and this book shows you how. The author explains what a maker is, why this movement is important, and how making fits in with educational initiatives such as STEM and STEAM as well as with library service. Her book supplies practical advice for incorporating the principles of the maker movement into library services-how to use small spaces or mobile spaces to accommodate maker programs, creating passive maker programs, providing access to making through circulating maker tools, partnering with other organizations, hosting maker faires, and more. Readers will better understand their instructional role in cultivating makers by human-centered design thinking, open source and shared learning, and implementation of an inquiry approach. Offers librarians creative ways to become involved in the exciting maker movement and encourage maker mentality among patrons Presents an approach through which any library, no matter their size or budget, can participate Speaks to all ages, experience levels, and educational levels Fills a gap in the literature by providing libraries with limited resources the means to offer maker opportunities

This book explains the concept of adding value and shows staff at libraries and other organizations why they need to take steps now to ensure they are adding new value to their communities-whether it be a local town or neighborhood, a faculty and student body, or a school. Value is at the core of every organization's purpose. Without value, organizations die. Libraries-as well as museums, archives, and galleries-have traditionally added value to their communities through their collections and services, but yesterday's collections and services are no longer enough. In order to remain sustainable, today's libraries, archives, museums, and galleries must explore new ways to add value that resonate in the lives of their customers. This unique book explains how addressing the "5 C's" of adding value-content, context, connection, collaboration, and community-enables organizations to find new ways to invigorate their services, better serve their communities, and thrive today and tomorrow. It addresses adding value in the context of other key topics, such as crowdsourcing, embedded librarianship, makerspaces, self publishing, and repurposing spaces. Filled with charts, tables, screenshots, and other visual representation, this is a useful and provocative guide that anyone interested in vesting in the successful future of libraries, archives, and museums needs to read. Helps managers and administrators create long-range plans for sustainability and growth Offers real-life models of libraries that have successfully implemented concepts of the value-added organization Fills a gap in the literature as the only book written specifically for librarians on the topic of adding value Presents important information and guidance for those who work in all types of libraries, archives, and museums as well as administrators, board members, and other stakeholders who are interested in the future of these vital community resources Includes color charts, website screenshots, and other visual representations that clarify key concepts and points

Laying the Foundation: Digital Humanities in Academic Libraries examines the library's role in the development, implementation, and instruction of successful digital humanities projects. It pays special attention to the critical role of librarians in building sustainable programs. It also examines how libraries can support the use of digital scholarship tools and techniques in undergraduate education. Academic libraries are nexuses of research and technology; as such, they provide fertile ground for cultivating and curating digital scholarship. However, adding digital humanities to library service models requires a clear understanding of the resources and skills required. Integrating digital scholarship into existing models calls for a reimagining of the roles of libraries and librarians. In many cases, these reimagined roles call for expanded responsibilities, often in the areas of collaborative instruction and digital asset management, and in turn these expanded responsibilities can strain already stretched resources. Laying the Foundation provides practical solutions to the challenges of successfully incorporating digital humanities programs into existing library services. Collectively, its authors argue that librarians are critical resources for teaching digital humanities to undergraduate students and that libraries are essential for publishing, preserving, and making accessible digital scholarship.

Mobile technology has changed the way we interact with one another and our communities. With the proliferation of mobile devices and the constant availability of information access, it is more important than ever for libraries to meet users on their phones and tablets. But not all mobile library approaches are created equal, and in this LITA guide Tidal clarifies the mobile web landscape, helping librarians and library developers create mobile websites and applications from a user-centered perspective. Whether they have previous experience conducting mobile web usability tests, or are new to the concept of user-centered design, readers will find: A survey of mobile devices, with an analysis of their commonalities and differences, plus discussions on hardware and the concept of mobile context Information on mobile apps, websites, and hybrids, enabling libraries to make informed decisions on what's best for their users and institutions Nuts-and-bolts guidance on text editors, HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), web browsers, and other skills and tools necessary for mobile web development An overview of usability and what the concept means with regard to the library experience Tips for conducting usability testing and research, from planning to execution and analysis Sample scripts for recruiting testing volunteers and gathering feedback, a boilerplate consent form, and a bibliography of additional resources With Tidal's valuable guidance, libraries can harness mobile technologies to meet the needs and expectations of library resource users.

Quickly following what many expected to be a wholesale revolution in library practices, institutional repositories encountered unforeseen problems and a surprising lack of impact. Clunky or cumbersome interfaces, lack of perceived value and use by scholars, fear of copyright infringement, and the like tended to dampen excitement and adoption. This collection of essays, arranged in five thematic sections, is intended to take the pulse of institutional repositories-to see how they have matured and what can be expected from them, as well as introduce what may be the future role of the institutional repository. Making Institutional Repositories Work takes novices as well as seasoned practitioners through the practical and conceptual steps necessary to develop a functioning institutional repository, customized to the needs and culture of the home institution. The first section covers all aspects of system platforms, including hosted and open-source options, big data capabilities and integration, and issues related to discoverability. The second section addresses policy issues, from the basics to open-source and deposit mandates. The third section focuses on recruiting and even creating content. Authors in this section will address the ways that different disciplines tend to have different motivations for deposit, as well as the various ways that institutional repositories can serve as publishing platforms. The fourth section covers assessment and success measures for all involved-librarians, deans, and administrators. The theory and practice of traditional metrics, alt metrics, and peer review receive chapter-length treatment. The fifth section provides case studies that include a boots-on-the-ground perspective of issues raised in the first four sections. By noting trends and potentialities, this final section, authored by Executive Director of SPARC Heather Joseph, makes future predictions and helps managers position institutional repositories to be responsive change and even shape the evolution of scholarly communication.

Whether in person or electronically, users come to the public library from outside the library realm. And that's exactly where genuinely transformational ideas lie. In this book Doucett mines new territory by exploring how successful organizations ""outside the stacks"" conduct their business. By analyzing what several private-sector organizations and their leaders are doing outstandingly well, she quickly hones in on transformational concepts that are ready for application in public libraries, offering more than a hundred innovative ideas that can be put into practice to improve customer service and day-to-day library operations. Canvassing the worlds of advertising, online commerce, fundraising, retailing, and more, Doucett profiles such successful professionals as Margaret Atwell, Kickstarter Chris Wilson, L.L. Bean Brian Kevin and Ginny Wright, Down East Magazine Kate Chaney Chappell, Tom's of Maine Walter Briggs, Briggs Advertising An exciting survey of creativity in action, Doucett's book will encourage public library directors, managers, trustees, and staff to cross-pollinate their own expertise with innovative ideas from outside the stacks.

The current publishing environment has experienced a drastic change in the way content is created, delivered, and acquired, particularly for libraries. With the increasing importance of digital publishing, more than half the titles published in the United States are self-published. With this growth in self-published materials, librarians, publishers, and vendors have been forced to rethink channels of production, distribution, and access as it applies to the new content. Self-Publishing and Collection Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Libraries will address multiple aspects of how public and academic libraries can deal with the increase in self-published titles. While both academic and public libraries have started to grapple with the burgeoning issues associated with self-published books, many difficulties remain. To develop effective policies and procedures, stakeholders must now tackle questions associated with the transformation of the publishing landscape. Obstacles to self-publishing include the lack of reviews, the absence of cataloging and bibliographic control, proprietary formats for e-books, and the difficulty for vendors in providing these works. General chapters will include information on reviewing sources, cataloging and bibliographic control, and vendor issues. Information addressing public libraries issues will highlight initiatives to make self-published materials available at the Los Gatos Public Library in California and the Kent District Library in Michigan. Chapters on academic library issues will address why self-published materials are important for academic institutions, especially those with comprehensive collecting interests. Several self-published authors focus on how they attempt to make their works more suitable for public libraries. Finally, the book concludes with a bibliographic essay on self-publishing. As the term "traditional publishing" begins to fade and new content producers join the conversation, librarians, publishers, and vendors will play an important role in facilitating and managing the shift.

We now catalog in a post-AACR2 world. RDA: Resource Description and Access is designed to cover all types of content and media, but communities of practice are still evolving for motion picture and video materials. This handbook clarifies the protocol for DVDs and Blu-ray discs, expanding upon established guidelines for AACR2 and integrating them into the new standard. Along the way, Higgins introduces the fundamentals of filmmaking, including its history and technical vocabulary, providing context that will help catalogers quickly find the information relevant to their bibliographic records. Organized by familiar MARC 21 fields, this comprehensive reference walks readers through such topics as Unraveling the complexity of film and the ways it is packaged and presented on optical disc, to help quickly determine the title statement and statement of responsibility Explaining the roles of the individuals and organizations involved in the creation and publication of film, and where to record them in catalog records Deciphering the technical terms and abbreviations used on DVDs and Blu-ray discs Using subject and genre headings Cataloging television and streaming media Dealing with unusual formats, such as videotape and reels of photochemical film Outlining the MARC 21 fields where AACR2 practices differed from RDA With the expert guidance contained in this book, readers will learn how to apply RDA instructions to the cataloging of every type of film and video collection, whatever the medium.

This book compiles selected articles from Library Media Connection to help school librarians and pre-service librarians learn about how to implement best practices for school library management. At a time when budget cuts threaten the role of the school librarian, dynamic learning experiences can resurrect the usefulness of the library and the role of its staff. The seventh edition of this popular book helps librarians develop engaging school library programs for greater student involvement. Comprised of important articles from Library Media Connection (LMC), School Library Management: Seventh Edition is a compilation of best practices in the field of school library management. An excellent textbook for professors teaching LIS courses, the book contains updates to standards and technologies, and features the latest initiatives guiding practices, including Standards for the 21st Century Learner and Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs. Each of the book's five sections features helpful tips from LMC and lists relevant resources for school library management. Selected articles address standards, inquiry, ethics, and information literacy. The book also includes a focus on the role of the school librarian in designing authentic assessments. An outstanding LIS textbook that addresses the latest standards, guidelines, and technologeis for the field and offers a blueprint for developing a strong school library program A comprehensive listing of resources that includes websites, blogs, videos, and books Articles written by distinguished practitioners and industry icons Suggestions for using new technologies to achieve learning outcomes A compilation of the most useful articles from Library Media Connection