While academic libraries have much to offer the data science (DS) landscape emerging at academic research institutions, they are often overlooked in terms of partnerships beyond providing space for data science activities. The editors conducted a broad environmental scan of over 60 institutions, collecting information from publicly available online sources to identify trends and establish familiarity with baseline services offered to support campus DS efforts. Although some academic libraries are collaborating in specific ways at a small subset of institutions, based on the environmental scan, it was clear how much untapped potential there is for developing partnerships. The authors also conducted a series of interviews with library counterparts at six exemplar institutions to gain insight in how these institutions are building connections between library staff and data science efforts across campus. As Library and Information Science roles continue to evolve to be more data-centric and interdisciplinary and research using a variety of data types continues to proliferate, it is imperative to further explore the dynamics between libraries and the data science ecosystems in which they are a part. This book provides both a foundational base of knowledge around data science and explore numerous ways academicians can reskill their staff, engage in the research enterprise, contribute to curriculum development, and help build a stronger ecosystem where libraries are part and parcel of data science. This book is a valuable resource for academic library institutions who are currently engaged or are formulating their strategy for engaging in data science. From Schools of Library & Information Science to library systems, this book will address how to reskill information professionals, integrate information science expertise in digital humanities, engage in curriculum design/integration, and will highlight international efforts in the evolving area of data science. Library and Information Science (LIS) schools can use this book as a text in helping students understand how the evolving area of data science intersects with LIS and how libraries which are central to the teaching and research mission of academic institutions, afford numerous opportunities for graduates and practitioners to research, work with, and partner on data science initiatives.

In recent years the library community has seen a renewed interest in library architecture and design. This is due to the change of focus from content and collection development to how libraries engage with their users in a digital age. This means that librarians, architects, politicians and patrons must develop new visions, concepts and ideas for the design and building of libraries. This book brings together a number of articles based on presentations from the IFLA World Congress 2009: historical view of the development of children's libraries over the last century, a look at how children use new media, libraries of the future, innovative design projects for children's libraries from around the world. current theme historical view and new projects

Data and its technologies now play a large and growing role in humanities research and teaching. This book addresses the needs of humanities scholars who seek deeper expertise in the area of data modeling and representation. The authors, all experts in digital humanities, offer a clear explanation of key technical principles, a grounded discussion of case studies, and an exploration of important theoretical concerns. The book opens with an orientation, giving the reader a history of data modeling in the humanities and a grounding in the technical concepts necessary to understand and engage with the second part of the book. The second part of the book is a wide-ranging exploration of topics central for a deeper understanding of data modeling in digital humanities. Chapters cover data modeling standards and the role they play in shaping digital humanities practice, traditional forms of modeling in the humanities and how they have been transformed by digital approaches, ontologies which seek to anchor meaning in digital humanities resources, and how data models inhabit the other analytical tools used in digital humanities research. It concludes with a glossary chapter that explains specific terms and concepts for data modeling in the digital humanities context. This book is a unique and invaluable resource for teaching and practising data modeling in a digital humanities context.

The promotion of library services in European countries requires co-ordinated use of new technologies and co-operation. To implement this the European Commission has devised a plan of action for libraries. This plan and questions relating to the use of new technologies in libraries were presented at this European conference. In all, some 42 papers covered such topics as new technologies and data collecting for preservation, networking between publishers, distributors and libraries, data and access, co-operative library systems and more. To give a world perspective, a video-conference enabled ten European, American and Japanese librarians to exchange their views and experience on the impact of new technologies on libraries in their countries - these discussions are also included.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the information profession. The series IFLA Publications deals with many of the means through which libraries, information centres, and information professionals worldwide can formulate their goals, exert their influence as a group, protect their interests, and find solutions to global problems.

While most music lovers are familiar with the famous scores of Tchaikovsky, Delibes, and Stravinsky, many other lesser-known composers also wrote for the ballet. Several of these composers wrote almost exclusively for the ballet--and all enriched the world of dance. Minor Ballet Composers presents biographical sketches of 66 underappreciated ballet composers of the 19th and 20th centuries from around the world, along with selected stories from the ballets they helped create. While the composers'contributions to ballet music are emphasized, all aspects of their lives and works are touched upon. Plot summaries and excerpts from reviews of many of the ballets are also provided. Other topics of interest you'll find covered in Minor Ballet Composers include: Les Six: Darius Milhaud, Louis Durey, Georges Auric, Arthur Honegger, Francis Poulenc, and Germaine Tailleferre--and their relationship with Erik Satie and Jean Cocteau how politics, revolutions, and wars have affected composers and their works who studied with whom; who collaborated with whom schools, movements, and musical renaissance the importance of opera to ballet music the relationship between film scores and ballet music which books, plays, stories, and folk tales certain ballets are based upon where many of these ballets premieredMinor Ballet Composers emphasizes the importance of second-tier composers and their influence on the rich tradition of music written for the dance (though in some cases the music was appropriated for the ballet from other original designs). The gathering of these composers in a single volume in appreciation of their ballet music, with a glossary of choreographers and an index of ballet titles, makes this book a useful volume for ballet aficionados, music librarians, musicians, and others interested in dance and dance music.

Like their librarian colleagues, reference archivists mediate between the user and the source material. However, given the nature of archival materials and of their holding repositories, unique issues arise. While such matters as provenance and original order and access and security continue to be vital underpinnings of their work, a myriad of other issues comes into play as reference archivists attempt to balance the competing demands of donors, researchers, the public, and the press. From the creation and dissemination of finding aids for electronic resources to the implementation of marketing strategies to increase support and strengthen service, Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts shows you how to thrive in the changing world of archival reference. Intended to foster an appreciation of the issues both within and beyond the field of archives, Reference Services for Archives and Manuscripts reveals that today's archivist is straddling the world of the traditional with the world of the new. The book establishes its value as it guides you through new concerns such as how to: take advantage of technological developments in appraisal, accession, and preservation address copyright, privacy, and funding issues for electronic resources mount archival cataloging records on local and wide-area databases create a publicly available site on the Internet improve in-house access tools, professional abilities, and the caliber of public service address security issues and respond to theftReference Services for Archives and Manuscripts also helps you by preparing you for changes in the relationship between archivist and researcher that will inevitably occur with further changes in technology. Other vital issues discussed are improved access for unserved and underserved groups, a revision in ethical codes, and the ability of archivists to become more customer-centered.

This book contains the results of the first and only multi-institution study of interlibrary loan and document delivery customer satisfaction among academic library patrons. By examining customer perceptions and ILL/DD activities, Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction: Strategies for Redesigning Services allows library administrators and managers to better understand service needs and shows them where to best allocate resources. The volume includes current reports on workload and staffing in ILL, analysis of current ILL statistical software packages, reports of on-site software development, and suggestions for the future of ILL/DD services. As ILL and DD are the fastest growing services in academic libraries, having a tool that provides so much comparative data on service quality, efficiency, and effectiveness is crucial for librarians in search of solutions to an array of ILL/DD problems. Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction is a valuable resource for academic librarians, public and special librarians struggling with ILL/DD issues, DD providers (commercial or otherwise), and students in the field of library and information studies.Readers become immersed in the issues as this book: describes the development of local software to reduce the tedious tasks involved in request fulfillment, freeing office personnel to tackle more difficult requests analyzes how important delivery speed is to academic ILL/DD requestors and suggests when investing additional resources in improving delivery speed may be a waste of money provides comparative data on how many requests can be processed by the typical ILL office staff member debunks some long-held assumptions about delivery speed sets guidelines for efficiency and effectiveness proposes two strategies for redesigning ILL services to incorporate new developments in technology and innovative approaches toward long-standing, traditional services Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction is useful not only to administrators interested in redesigning ILL and DD, but also to other libraries interested in comparing the speed and effectiveness of their service with some positively evaluated services provided by high-volume libraries.The software review helps providers implement the best choice of software for their offices and provides in-depth discussions about the strategies needed to further develop one's own software to reduce workload. At a time when the tenets of Total Quality Management and customer satisfaction are the focus of many managers, interlibrary loan and document delivery are transforming from peripheral services to primary services in the academic library. Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction reflects the convergence of these trends and provides a great snapshot of services provided by a representative group of academic libraries.

Despite efforts of contemporary reformers to curb the availability of dime novels, series books, and paperbacks, Pioneers, Passionate Ladies, and Private Eyes reveals how many readers used them as means of resistance and how fictional characters became models for self-empowerment. These literary genres, whose value has long been underestimated, provide fascinating insight into the formation of American popular culture and identity. Through these mass-produced, widely read books, Deadwood Dick, Old Sleuth, and Jessie James became popular heroes that fed the public's imagination for the last western frontier, detective tales, and the myth of the outlaw. Women, particularly those who were poor and endured hard lives, used the literature as means of escape from the social, economic, and cultural suppression they experienced in the nineteenth century. In addition to the insight this book provides into texts such as "The Bride of the Tomb," the Nick Carter Series, and Edward Stratemeyer's rendition of the Lizzie Borden case, readers will find interesting information about: the roles of illustrations and covers in consumer culture Bowling Green's endeavor to digitize paperback and pulp magazine covers bibliographical problems in collecting and controlling series books the effects of mass market fiction on young girls Louisa May Alcott's pseudonym and authorship of three dime novels special collections competition among publishersA collection of work presented at a symposium held by the Library of Congress, Pioneers, Passionate Ladies, and Private Eyes makes an outstanding contribution to redefining the role of popular fiction in American life.

This book contains the results of the first and only multi-institution study of interlibrary loan and document delivery customer satisfaction among academic library patrons. By examining customer perceptions and ILL/DD activities, Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction: Strategies for Redesigning Services allows library administrators and managers to better understand service needs and shows them where to best allocate resources. The volume includes current reports on workload and staffing in ILL, analysis of current ILL statistical software packages, reports of on-site software development, and suggestions for the future of ILL/DD services. As ILL and DD are the fastest growing services in academic libraries, having a tool that provides so much comparative data on service quality, efficiency, and effectiveness is crucial for librarians in search of solutions to an array of ILL/DD problems.Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction is a valuable resource for academic librarians, public and special librarians struggling with ILL/DD issues, DD providers (commercial or otherwise), and students in the field of library and information studies. Readers become immersed in the issues as this book: describes the development of local software to reduce the tedious tasks involved in request fulfillment, freeing office personnel to tackle more difficult requests analyzes how important delivery speed is to academic ILL/DD requestors and suggests when investing additional resources in improving delivery speed may be a waste of money provides comparative data on how many requests can be processed by the typical ILL office staff member debunks some long-held assumptions about delivery speed sets guidelines for efficiency and effectiveness proposes two strategies for redesigning ILL services to incorporate new developments in technology and innovative approaches toward long-standing, traditional servicesInterlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction is useful not only to administrators interested in redesigning ILL and DD, but also to other libraries interested in comparing the speed and effectiveness of their service with some positively evaluated services provided by high-volume libraries. The software review helps providers implement the best choice of software for their offices and provides in-depth discussions about the strategies needed to further develop one's own software to reduce workload. At a time when the tenets of Total Quality Management and customer satisfaction are the focus of many managers, interlibrary loan and document delivery are transforming from peripheral services to primary services in the academic library. Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Customer Satisfaction reflects the convergence of these trends and provides a great snapshot of services provided by a representative group of academic libraries.

Online Instruction: A Practical Guide for Librarians provides an overview of online instruction, teaching, and programming in all types of libraries. It features actionable steps for starting and improving online programs. Starting with the history of online instruction and moving into creating a personal pedagogy, establishing organizational policies and procedures, and tips for general programming, author Emily Mroczek features specific examples from librarians to help readers find their way in the digital world. Public librarians, school librarians, and special librarians are featured with experiences and tips that can be modified and applied to any library setting. Ideas exist to help librarians learn from successes and mistakes and establish an engaged and productive online learning community. Mroczek identifies the pros and cons of different options available for online instructions, tips and tricks for engaging various audiences and strategies for hybrid learning. Technical tips include pros and cons of various online platforms and streaming services, an in-depth look at Zoom and a guide to evaluate and recommend specific digital resources in categories from content curation to games to calendars and scheduling. Guidelines for navigating copyright law and staying up-to-date with accessibility standards serve as an educational starting point for librarians, managers, and program designers. As technology, online instruction, and librarianship continue to evolve, this book will help librarians navigate the ever-changing functions and offer better instruction for their communities.

Managing Change in Academic Libraries helps academic librarians plan, implement, and manage changes to the fundamental structure of their organizations. It shows readers that in academic libraries the two driving forces behind most change are economics and technology. Declines in funding for education and in the purchasing power of libraries have made it impossible to maintain the status quo, let alone realize growth, in traditional information services and collection development. Add to this downward trend in library economics, the explosion of new information technology and its potential for radically altering communications and knowledge management, and one has the ingredients for some amazing changes in libraries.To help manage these many changes, chapters in Managing Change in Academic Libraries approach change with a mixture of radical and rational ideas. Readers learn academic librarians'views on dealing with change as they read about: an environmental scan which identifies both internal and external forces that are increasing the amount and scope of change in academic libraries technological change and its impact in academic libraries the academic library director 's role as an agent of change how two large library systems managed to change in some very fundamental ways when faced with serious economic and political challenges difficult personnel issues faced by academic libraries as they move into new organizational structures and adopt new management styles the future of traditional reference services in light of rapid developments in computing and networking how to change bibliographic control to better serve the changing expectations and needs of user communities conducting a restructuring study and recommendations for organizational change in a large research library systemEach chapter shows academic librarians how they can respond imaginatively and nimbly to economic, political, and technological change that envelopes their professional work life. Academic librarians will refer to Managing Change in Academic Libraries again and again as a survival tool as they meet with challenging and unpredictable changes.

In this book, Dieter Fensel and his qualified team lay the foundation for understanding the Semantic Web Services infrastructure, aimed at eliminating human intervention and thus allowing for seamless integration of information systems. They focus on the currently most advanced SWS infrastructure, namely SESA and related work such as the Web Services Execution Environment (WSMX) activities and the Semantic Execution Environment (OASIS SEE TC) standardization effort.

The Economics of Access Versus Ownership offers library professionals a model economic analysis of providing access to journal articles through interlibrary loan as compared to library subscriptions to the journals. This model enables library directors to do an economic analysis of interlibrary loan and collection development in their own libraries and to then make cost-efficient decisions about the use of these services.This practical book s analysis and conclusions are based on 1994/95 academic year research conducted by the State University of New York libraries at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook. The research determined the costs and benefits of high-priced, low-use scholarly journals, focusing on journals in the mathematics and sciences that historically have high prices, low levels of use, and increasing rates of price escalation. The libraries'financial costs of access by interlibrary loan versus journal subscriptions was calculated and, using this information, a set of decision rules was established. Library directors and interlibrary loan/collection development heads can use this set of decision rules to determine, based on the level of use and subscription price, whether they should provide access to journal articles via interlibrary loan or journal subscriptions.The research findings presented in The Economics of Access Versus Ownership are significant to library professionals as journal subscription prices escalate and commercial document delivery services, consortium agreements, and interlibrary loan hardware and software proliferate. Contributors explore important factors necessary to understanding the economics of access. They encourage readers to consider the following when choosing between journal subscriptions and interlibrary loan: financial costs fixed and marginal costs decision rules which determine the most economically efficient method of access the use of a library consortium and joint collection development within the consortium as an economically efficient method of access added benefits of a library consortiumInformation found in The Economics of Access Versus Ownership makes it a useful guide for university and college library directors, interlibrary loan department heads, and collection development heads trying to choose the most economically sound, both for their libraries and their patrons, form of access to journal articles.

This is the first book to examine standards specifically as they apply to cataloging and classification, while at the same time considering the field of library science as a whole. The developments in standards detailed in Cataloging and Classification Standards and Rules portend great time savings in the cataloging process for those catalogers willing to advocate the necessary programming to their systems officer or bibliographic utility.Standards in the library and information science community underlie and impact the work of librarians and information specialists on a daily basis, yet, remain inconspicuous to even the most knowledgeable in the field. Cataloging and Classification Standards and Rules reviews the state of a full range of formal and informal standards and rules utilized in cataloging and classification. It also provides historical perspective, commentary, assessment of significance, and anticipation of future developments and evaluates the connections and interrelationships that exist among the various standards.Chapters in Cataloging and Classification Standards and Rules are written by professionals who have been key figures in the development of standards and have accessed primary source material for the preparation of their articles. They address these: what exactly constitutes a standard how something becomes a standard how standards undergo change evaluation of and commentary on the effectiveness of current standards the latest information on several standards currently in development, testing, or implementation what the future may holdCataloging and Classification Standards and Rules is a valuable reference book for both beginning and experienced professional librarians. As managers and consumers of bibliographic information, it is crucial that librarians understand the nature and status of a variety of formal and informal standards. This book will assist them in this task. Library school students specializing in cataloging and classification will also find this book an indispensable guide as they prepare themselves for employment in the field.

Library Automation and OPAC 2.0: Information Access and Services in the 2.0 Landscape brings library automation back to the forefront of cutting-edge research. In today's age of Web 2.0 and social networking, libraries are entering the new Library 2.0 era, and this reference will present current and future librarians with the necessary new library automation research they will need to keep their institutions up-to-date in today's constantly changing technological environment.

New recognition within society of previously unserved populations has created the need for librarians to also recognize these groups and to find ways to serve them equally. Reference Services for the Unserved provides information, guidance, and inspiration to library professionals in their work with previously unserved populations so that these persons may be absorbed into the larger, served population groups. It helps librarians adjust to making accommodations for these new user groups, recognizing that many people in these populations have very specific needs and bring with them some specific limitations in their abilities to take advantage of existing library services. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has transformed the lives of disabled and challenged people by mainstreaming disabled children in public schools, moving mentally and developmentally disabled people into community-based residences and workshops, providing services to disabled college students, and enhancing workplace accommodations. At the same time, the ADA has presented new challenges for the library community. Reference Services for the Unserved guides library professionals in meeting these new challenges by bringing together research and descriptions of several successful attempts to meet the information needs of previously unserved populations. In guiding library professionals and administrators in effectively serving currently unserved populations, authors in Reference Services for the Unserved tell readers how to: approach services for patrons with mental illness--examines issues of behavior "inappropriate in the situation" and ways for librarians to understand this behavior in order to carry out their professional objectives of providing access to information, improving quality of life, and meeting the legal mandates of the ADA. address the needs of disabled students in the academic library--recognizes that the information needs of disabled students are not different from those of traditional students; the differences are in means of access, overcoming barriers to access, and the need for adaptive technologies and techniques. meet the information needs of battered women--suggests ways library professionals can better assist individual battered women, social service providers, and public policy or decision-makers. integrate technology into the library setting--focuses on people with severe and persistent mental illness (the improvement of access to information sources on behalf of people with cognitive disorders whose ability to process text-based information is impaired) and reports on the use of computer-aided instruction (CAI) and multimedia technology to meet their information needs. develop or upgrade services to patrons with special needs--a bibliography of useful material for guidance.Combined with strong administrative support, the information in Reference Services for the Unserved provides a strong foundation for making positive and effective changes to better accommodate disabled and challenged patrons. Library professionals and administrators and students of library and information sciences will find it a necessary guide in their attempts to provide effective and quality services to all patrons.

Postcards, individually and collectively, contain a great deal of information that can be of real value to students and researchers. Postcards in the Library gives compelling reasons why libraries should take a far more active and serious interest in establishing and maintaining postcard collections and in encouraging the use of these collections. It explains the nature and accessibility of existing postcard collections; techniques for acquiring, arranging, preserving, and handling collections; and ways to make researchers and patrons aware of these collections.Postcards in the Library asserts that, in most cases, existing postcard collections are a vastly underutilized scholarly resource. Editor Norman D. Stevens urges librarians to help change this since postcards, as items for mass consumption and often with no apparent conscious literary or social purpose, are a true reflection of the society in which they were produced. Stevens claims that messages written on postcards may also reveal a great deal about individual and/or societal attitudes and ideas.Chapters in Postcards in the Library are written by librarians who manage postcard collections, postcard collectors, and researchers. Some of the authors have undertaken major research projects that demonstrate the ways in which postcards can be used in research, and that have begun to establish a standard methodology for the analysis of postcards. They write about: major postcard collections, including the Institute of Deltiology and the Curt Teich Postcard Archives the use of postcards for scholarly research postcard conservation and preservation, arrangement and organization, and importance and value Postcards in the Library describes the postcard collections in a variety of libraries of different kinds and sizes and indicates very real ways in which the effective use of postcard collections can result in and contribute to substantive, scholarly publications. It also offers advice and suggestions on the myriad issues that libraries face in handling these ephemeral fragments of popular culture.Special collections librarians, postcard collectors, postcard dealers, and historical societies will find the information in Postcards in the Library refreshing and practical. Libraries with established postcard collections or those thinking about developing postcard collections will use it as a valuable planning tool and start-to-finish guide.

The perfect guide to jumpstart an information brokerage firm Here is an instructive guide for any librarian planning to start an information brokerage, whether as an entrepreneur or as a member of a document delivery group in a library. The methods used by successful firms and librarians are gathered together in this helpful book. Information Brokers: Case Studies of Successful Ventures identifies specific skills and relevant characteristics required to establish a successful information brokerage firm, and provides a descriptive model to assist you in running an information brokerage firm as a viable business venture.This guide is full of information gleaned from questionnaires sent to successful information brokerages throughout the United States and from in-depth interviews conducted with the principals of six of these firms. During the interviews, these individuals were questioned about many relevant issues of the field including: establishment of the business company history what specifically made each business a success general concepts concerning information brokering pertinent literature that helped them, and can help youLibrarians looking for a career change or who find their jobs in jeopardy as a result of budget cuts may want to look into the field of information brokerage. With Information Brokers: Case Studies of Successful Ventures, you can discover if the information brokerage field is for you

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the information profession. The series IFLA Publications deals with many of the means through which libraries, information centres, and information professionals worldwide can formulate their goals, exert their influence as a group, protect their interests, and find solutions to global problems.

Gain an in-depth understanding of changes in technical services that have taken place over a quarter century and look at future trends and changes that may occur. Technical Services Management surveys and analyzes technical services in libraries from 1965 to 1990, a formative period and one of great change in library operations. The book also identifies trends that continue to impact technical services operations in libraries today. Readers gain a comprehensive knowledge of where the field has been and where it is now to help them plan and prepare more effectively for the future.Most chapters are historical, combined with a firm grasp of the present and a glimpse or more at the future. They are grouped to reflect the various aspects of technical services. Trends in technical services are considered in chapters on the development of technical services literature and the major changes in technical services in school libraries. Chapters on the major subdivisions within technical services--acquisitions and collection development, cataloging, and preservation--trace changes in library operations and the impact of automation. Issues in catalog design are explored in chapters on the emergence of online public access catalogs, bibliographic utilities, and approaches to authority control. Efforts to improve subject access are addressed through chapters on subject cataloging, the Dewey Decimal Classification, and indexing in the U.S. and Great Britain. To keep pace with changes in technical services, changes in professional education and development are needed as documented in chapters on cataloging education, continuing education in technical services, and the role of professional organizations. The final chapter outlines new challenges in the future and new roles for librarians in an electronic environment.Effective planning for the future includes learning about the past. Technical Services Management, 1965--1990 is a vital resource for library historians, library educators, technical services librarians, and graduate students in library and information science who need to know "how things were" in order to see more clearly "how things will be."

Here is unique volume offering practical advice on weeding and maintaining reference collections. It covers different types of libraries--academic, corporate, public--and problems, and librarians describe in detail methods and criteria used by their libraries in weeding their reference collections. Dr. Pierce has organized the topics of her book into relevant chapters. These chapters, bound to appeal to a variety of needs, address and discuss the problems and management of growing reference collections. As many librarians find weeding reference books a difficult task, most reference departments suffer from a lack of space as a result. Collection growth reduces shelf and seating space, and both books and people are lost in the clutter. In reading this essential book, reference supervisors will come to understand the importance of allowing reference area growth combined with effective weeding to promote an attractive and well-stocked reference area. Heads of reference will find Weeding and Maintenance of Reference Collections full of useful information, from the specific criteria and detailed methods contributed by several librarians who have found success in weeding their reference collections, to the practical hints on planning and evaluating collection contents and organization. Students and faculty of library schools and information studies will gain insight into successful management of increasing amounts of reference material as the Information Age gathers momentum into the 1990s.

This useful book helps reference librarians understand the information seeking needs and behaviors of the diverse groups of people in the communities they serve. With the increasing diversity of the American population, librarians striving to plan and deliver excellent reference services must enhance their understanding of how best to assist many types of individuals and groups, from children to the elderly. Library Users and Reference Services provides much-needed help in this area, delivering strategies and methods to aid readers in their quest for increasingly effective service for all members of the communities in which they work. Library Users and Reference Services is divided into four sections of chapters which cover a broad range of topics to assist readers in planning and delivering appropriate services. Section One explores customer service, economics of information, and marketing as key concepts useful in studying information needs of specific groups in the population. Section Two focuses on scholars and students in three broad academic disciplines: science, humanities, and social sciences.Section Three covers groups with special characteristics such as age, economic standing, gender, or profession. Section Four discusses evaluation and provides guidance in the use of the most widely accepted measures for assessing reference effectiveness. The book's final chapter explores redesigning reference services for the future, providing a glimpse of how such services may change. Library Users and Reference Services is a practical guide to help readers understand the many issues related to serving diverse populations in a community. Reference librarians and graduate library school students and faculty will learn more effective ways to help a heterogeneous public with the help of this new book.