Get informed answers to your questions and concerns about integrating the materials in your library's collection Library collections have always included materials in many formats handling a mix of material types is an accepted part of library work. And in recent years, the very concept of collection has been significantly redefined by the addition of electronic resources. But are print and digital materials really merged in library collections or are they treated and maintained as separate entities? Integrating Print and Digital Resources in Library Collections examines a variety of collection management issues, combining practical theory, research findings, how-to articles, and opinion pieces to encourage efforts in establishing fully integrated and accessible collections. While achieving a truly integrated collection can be difficult, the failure to do so can lead to duplication of access, effort, and expense.Integrating Print and Digital Resources in Library Collections can help guide you through the difficult aspects of keeping your collection up-to-date, including the Big Deal and consortial purchasing, shifting the emphasis from purchasing print to procuring online resources for library reference work, analyzing use patterns of electronic versus hard copy resources, serials workflow studies, and review projects. Integrating Print and Digital Resources in Library Collections examines: the implications of electronic resource licenses future directions of academic reference collections technologies that can help integrate electronic resources into reference collections the Big Deal the purchase of access to large aggregations of materials in electronic formats integrating electronic resources into the collections of ARL libraries a corporate library's progression to an all-digital collection how to decide what can and can't be digitized how large e-book collections affect the circulation of comparable print collections and much more Integrating Print and Digital Resources in Library Collections is an invaluable resource for librarians experts and beginners seeking to develop the best collections for their patrons.

Discover collaborative possibilities for your library beyond mere memberships in bibliographic utilities Libraries Beyond Their Institutions: Partnerships That Work illustrates the remarkable range of cooperative activities in which libraries are engaged in order to provide the best possible service. Increasingly, librarians recognize the need to link their institutions to the world around them as part of their obligation to enhance the integration of digital information, not only for students in academic settings, but also throughout all levels of society. An excellent companion and complement to Libraries Within Their Institutions: Creative Collaborations (Haworth) from the same editors, this unique book examines the variety of ways librarians work with community organizations, government agencies, professional organizations, minority communities, and city governments in their efforts to serve not just students in academic settings, but all of society. Libraries Beyond Their Institutions: Partnerships That Work reflects the growing understanding of the key role played by libraries in the development of civil society. This unique book examines the variety of possibilities for collaborations outside institutions, including the ways librarians function in a variety of other campus settings, such as writing centers, teaching excellence centers, and academic departments in support of teaching, learning, and research; partnerships with graduate school, and information resources management to preserve theses and dissertations electronically; promoting civic partnerships; initiating a campus-wide information literacy resource; and partnering with government agencies to form a data literacy program. Libraries Beyond Their Institutions: Partnerships That Work provides practical information on: collaborative training programs to develop baseline competencies in academic libraries to support data services the Chicano/Latino Network and the Community Digital Initiative developing an international presence through digital resource sharing successful models of statewide library consortia technology-based partnerships promoting K-20 information literacy collaborations between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and patent and trademark depository libraries (PTDL) the development of AgEcon Search, an alternative method of delivering research results Libraries Beyond Their Institutions: Partnerships That Work is an invaluable resource for librarians working in academic, school, special, and public settings, and for library science faculty and students.

Integrate the freshest research with clinical practiceOccupational therapy (OT) practitioners often lack the fundamental skills to conduct or effectively use research, illustrating a disturbing gap between the advancement of theoretical concepts and the extent to which concepts are actually applied. The Scholarship of Practice: Academic-Practice Collaborations for Promoting Occupational Therapy closes this gap by presenting a conceptual framework that integrates theory and research with clinical practice. Leaders in the field provide insightful, thought-provoking ideas and strategies to promote research and facilitate effective new concepts and theories to hands-on practitioners.The Scholarship of Practice is a model that blends education with practice, dynamically applying theoretical principles of occupational therapy learned in the classroom to their actual clinical practice. This framework is a planned, focused, practice-relevant way to educate students, build a tradition of independent scholarship, consult with community-based organizations, and contribute to best occupational therapy practice. Case studies show how partnerships and collaborative efforts can foster and apply important advances and rehabilitative strategies within communities. Examples of faculty-practitioner partnering at Duquesne University and the approach to scholarship at the University of Illinois are clearly discussed. This cutting-edge compilation of ideas and research is extensively referenced and filled with useful diagrams and tables.The Scholarship of Practice: Academic-Practice Collaborations for Promoting Occupational Therapy discusses: evidence-based scholarship participatory action research single case study designs approaches that provide scientific evidence supporting OT services how theory, models, or frames of reference are modified as a result of practice demands or expectations best practices in education continuum of care services the "New Doors Model" that provides occupation-based services--while providing new opportunities for occupational therapists the Practice-Scholar Program at Duquesne University the Concerns Report Method research on the outcomes of practice that support improved services creative fieldwork education that engages students in the scholarship of practice and more The Scholarship of Practice: Academic-Practice Collaborations for Promoting Occupational Therapy makes important, enlightening reading for occupational therapists, OT educators and scholars, and graduate students preparing for advanced roles in OT.

Cutting-edge information about providing access to research library users The ultimate goal of librarians is to provide comprehensive informational access to library users. Portals and Libraries provides an in-depth look at various libraries' challenges and the cutting-edge technology used in providing high-quality electronic access to users through portal systems. Respected authorities detail efforts to build a new kind of search and retrieval system that includes access to the Web as well as other vital collections and academic resources. The book discusses the implementation of access systems and their supporting technology, and spotlights strategies designed to encourage quality system-user feedback, increase the cooperation and diligence of staff, and more. Portals and Libraries comprehensively reviews library portals from their roots to their current state, with a look at assorted products, their implementation issues, and each one's advantages and shortcomings. The overall state of the portal system today as well as where it is heading in the future is examined in detail. The book also provides the ARL Scholars Portal Working Group Final Report from May 2002 summarizing the group's work from its inception, and includes their recommendations of key portal features and needed functions. The text includes helpful screenshots, useful descriptive figures, and extensive references. Portals and Libraries discusses: the history of library portals the MyLibrary@NCState Web portal after five years of use Portals to the World Library of Congress guide to Web resources the role integrated library systems will play in the future of portals features and services to be added to library portals for greater success portal technologiestheir structures and functioning planning portal implementation online catalogs usability testing and interface design nine key issues that will impact the future of portal development Portals and Libraries is crucial reading for library educators and students, college and research librarians in reference, library system professionals, and technical services professionals focused on applying cutting-edge technology to library services.

-A comprehensive text for students and professionals on an essential and emerging area of knowledge and skills for today's technical communication professions -Covers a growing area of focus for the field of technical communication, with relevance to digital marketing, social media publishing, and other professional fields -The first core textbook in this area designed to cover a full range of content strategy skills and practices

Make separate library services for distance learners a thing of the past Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners takes a comprehensive look at efforts by librarians and information specialists to provide distance learners with effective services that match those already available on campus. With the development of the World Wide Web and the evolution of Web-based services, reference librarians are adding a human element to the virtual library, blurring the difference between distance learners and traditional users. This unique book examines how they deal with a wide range of related topics, including standards and guidelines, copyright issues, streaming media, and chat and digital references, and presents a historical overview of how reference and instructional services have been delivered to distance usersbefore and after the creation of the Internet. Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners reveals that librarians do not make a sharp distinction between reference and instruction within the context of distance learning, and that there is no clear boundary between true distance learners and more traditional students who might use services designed for nontraditional users. Online capabilities have allowed reference librarians to approximate services advocated by published guidelines and standards, including the ACRL Distance Learning Section's Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services, to provide a framework for librarians to plan services for off-campus students. Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners provides practical information on: how librarians can keep IT simple when designing methods to access reference support why library Web sites are vital sources of communication between the distance learning student and the reference-based instructional component how to set up a university chat service, including software selection, staff training and assessment how to provide students services beyond traditional provision of resources, including advising, enrollment, and payment of fees how to create an online assistance site that incorporates online versions of traditional print handouts, FAQs, subject guides, course-specific guides, learning modules, and instructional videos in one central location how to work with faculty to create online support for students in Blackboard courses the pros and cons of using open-source software how to create an online library assistance site how to create online information literacy course to teach independent research skills to remote students how to avoid copyright infringement and how to educate library personnel about copyright law how to use Camtasia Studio, a screen capture program to create audio and video for online presentations Internet Reference Support for Distance Learners is an invaluable resource for librarians working in academic, school, special, and public settings, and for library science faculty and students.

Hybrid Intelligent Systems for Information Retrieval covers three areas along with the introduction to Intelligent IR, i.e., Optimal Information Retrieval Using Evolutionary Approaches, Semantic Search for Web Information Retrieval, and Natural Language Processing for Information Retrieval. * Talks about the design, implementation, and performance issues of the hybrid intelligent information retrieval system in one book * Gives a clear insight into challenges and issues in designing a hybrid information retrieval system * Includes case studies on structured and unstructured data for hybrid intelligent information retrieval * Provides research directions for the design and development of intelligent search engines This book is aimed primarily at graduates and researchers in the information retrieval domain.

Discover how your library and its patrons can benefit from internal partnerships, collaborations, and interactions Libraries Within Their Institutions: Creative Collaborations examines the ways librarians work within their own universities, municipalities, or government units to form partnerships that ensure the best possible service to their patrons. An excellent companion and complement to Libraries Beyond Their Institutions: Partnerships That Work (Haworth) from the same editors, this unique professional resource looks at the associations between libraries and faculty members, city governments, information technology departments, and research institutes. The book provides first-hand perspectives, assessments, and case studies from information professionals at several major universities, including Kent State, the University of Washington, Virginia Tech, and Purdue University. Libraries Within Their Institutions: Creative Collaborations demonstrates the need for interaction and cooperation between libraries and non-library organizations on campus and off.This unique book examines the elements of effective collaborations for libraries, including partnerships with campus teaching centers; helping faculty design their courses to enhance instruction; long-term perspectives in library-faculty cooperation; the creation of collaboratories, collaborative facilities based in libraries; and the development of campus-wide fluency in all areas of information technology and literacy.Libraries Within Their Institutions: Creative Collaborations provides practical information on: campus-wide committees that promote a general education information literacy requirement integrating ACRL core competencies for information literacy into course content using an Assessment Cycle to document the library's contributions toward students' success and institutional outcomes partnerships that have shaped the ARL Statistics and Measurement Program using information commons, and teaching and learning centers to develop collaborative services digital preservation of electronic theses and dissertations (ETD) team-taught courses in scientific writing joint-use libraries collaboration in collection management drawing teaching faculty into collaborative relationships collaborating with teaching faculty to help students learn lifelong research skillsLibraries Within Their Institutions: Creative Collaborations is an invaluable resource for librarians working in academic, school, special, and public settings, and for library science faculty and students.

Learn to better control costs for print and digital resources from recognized leaders in library administration Academic libraries have been using electronic resources for several years, yet library administrators still find that the evolution from print to digital takes meticulous planning. Collection Management and Strategic Access to Digital Resources is a collection of eight presentations from the 2004 University of Oklahoma Libraries Conference focusing on the ways academic research libraries can successfully make the transition from print materials to electronic resources. Respected authorities offer effective strategies to efficiently coordinate the use of digital materials in the contemporary research library. As acquisition budgets tighten and fresh emphasis is placed upon finding strategies to afford needed resources, library administrators find it increasingly difficult to meet the challenge of providing information to today's students and scholars. Collection Management and Strategic Access to Digital Resources focuses on innovative, practical solutions to difficult problems facing librarians and library administrators today and in the coming decade.The book is carefully referenced and includes tables and charts to clearly explain data.Collection Management and Strategic Access to Digital Resources presents and thoroughly discusses: the impact of digital resources on libraries, research, and learning in history and science open access of research results beyond the print journal regime Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and electronic journal subscriptions an introduction to Ithaka a not-for-profit organization that acts as an incubator for electronic projects and research for libraries evaluations and innovative alternatives of the rules and beliefs of electronic resource collection the historical and contextual considerations that have made collections cooperation difficult to achieve and a global resources network initiative that may answer the challenge transforming scholarship's role by offering access to the raw material of research offering new opportunities for access to a greater range of information the responsibilities of research libraries in a rapidly evolving digital world Collection Management and Strategic Access to Digital Resources is essential reading for senior library administrators in public, special, and academic libraries, as well as acquisitions, reference, collection development, and systems librarians.

Society's drive for technology that is faster and more efficient in processing and disseminating information is fueling changes--especially in academia. As the Internet becomes an important source for research, it challenges the library's role as the major information resource on campus. In order for libraries to respond to this challenge they must become agile in their adaptation of new technologies to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of their users. This book discusses innovative and aggressive methods libraries can implement to become more agile. The seven chapters are written by library administrators who discuss their own experiences and cover topics including management, technology, services, users' needs and marketing the library.

This book tells the story of how information evolved since the mid-nineteenth century. It argues that information increased in quantity, became more specialized by discipline (e.g., mathematics, science, political science), and more organized. Information increased in volume due to a series of innovations, such as the electrification of communications and the development of computers, but also due to the organization of facts and knowledge by discipline, making it easier to manage and access. I do this by looking at what major disciplines have done to shape the nature of modern information, devoting chapters to the most obvious ones. I argue that understanding how some features of information evolved is useful for those who work in subjects that deal with their very construct and application, such as computer scientists and those exploring social media and, most recently, history. The book continues my more than twenty years of studying how information became a central feature of modern society, building on prior books I have written, most notably as a sequel to All the Facts: A History of Information in the United States since 1870 (OUP, 2016) and Building Blocks of Society: History, Information Ecosystems, and Infrastructures (R&L, 2021).

Now that ICT has become ubiquitous and many technology related activities are sourced from outside companies, information management??'s identity has become the subject of much debate. Moreover, the interrelatedness of business, society and ICT adds to the management of information systems the need to understand what the true value of information is for managers, politicians, employees, customers, business partners and society at large. Hence, the focus of information management is shifting away from the management of ICT and sophisticated data production to superior information use. Setting the scene for tomorrow, this first volume in the new book series Perspectives on Information Management provides a highly needed vocabulary to discuss information management??'s present state and the need to develop a new identity that better fits current times. It presents an integrative framework for information management, it puts information management in an historical context, it critically examines the assumptions underlying information management, and delves deeply into four current and core issues in the field: ICT, strategy and identity; ICT (out)sourcing; customer oriented innovation; and designing information and organizations. Featuring seminal contributions to these topics from leading authorities in the field, this volume is targeted at information practitioners, academic researchers and higher education teachers.
* Written by leading international scholars and industry experts
* Presents cutting edge innovative research material on information management
* Covers past, present and future trends and critically examines the assumptions underlying information management

Advice from the expertson collecting and managing the digital resources that are an increasingly vital part of librarianship! Managing Digital Resources in Libraries is a practical guide to managing library materials in digital formats. Working librarians share their expertise in the acquisition and management of digital resources, addressing questions of licensing, funding, and providing access. The contributors also examine innovative projects and systems, such as the integration of PDA-accessible resources into a library collection and the development of all-digital libraries. You'll also find supplementary reading lists and bibliographies of additional resources, including relevant Web sites. Addressing the challenges of and barriers to the preservation and dissemination of electronic information, Managing Digital Resources in Libraries explores vital questions, such as: How are librarians coping with digital resources? How do they compare and select titles and formats to purchase? How do they allocate limited fundsto lease or to purchase high-priced electronic titles? Does consortium membership provide the answer to funding problems, or does it force librarians to pay for content their users neither want nor need? Is MARC still an appropriate format for cataloging? How can librarians make themselves familiar with the multitude of available resources? Managing Digital Resources in Libraries will update your working knowledge of: online resources open archivestheir uses and their history the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the First Sale Doctrine, and the Fair Use Doctrineand their implications for librarians e-journal cataloging and e-journal management software electronic collection development and management personal digital assistants digital licensing agreements electronic searching systems, including ELIN@, Electronic Journal Finder, Pirate Source, OPAC, and cold fusion databases

Learn how to stay ahead of the game when budgets and staff are cutMedical Library Downsizing: Administrative, Professional, and Personal Strategies for Coping with Change explores corporate downsizing and other company-wide events as they relate to medical librarians in their organization. This training manual is designed to help librarians prepare for a new era where shrinking budgets, inflated journal costs, and the increasing demand for new and expensive services now put salaries and jobs at risk. While focused on health care issues, this book will appeal to a general library audience and can be used in a graduate course in library administration, corporate librarianship, or hospital librarianship.Medical Library Downsizing investigates the BCEs (Bad Corporate Events) that can negatively affect a librarian, including: an across-the-board budget cut a downsizing a restructuring (also called a re-organization or re-engineering) a buyout a merger a consolidation With Medical Library Downsizing, you will learn how to prepare for the possibility of a BCE, what signs to look for that a BCE is about to take place, and how to weather the storm. The book provides the typical patterns for a downsizing, budget cut, merger, or pension buyout--teaching you step-by-step to make the most out of each possible scenario. This unique guide uses sardonic wit and entertaining examples to bring home each lesson, making Medical Library Downsizing a vital asset to librarians in any field.Medical Library Downsizing will help you deal with: consultants who recommend downsizing and outsourcing staff communications
planning your survival--and your escape route presentations to help you keep your jobimplementing change re-training staff and more

Explore the issues that are changing user/librarian interactions in today's evolving electronic libraries This book examines the rapid advances in technology and scientific discovery that have changed the way sci/tech library users seek informationchanges which have also necessitated increasingly high levels of skill in information technology and advanced subject knowledge from librarians. From negotiating the intricacies of working with e-journals to simplifying the data collection process, anyone involved in allocating library resources or prioritizing research agendas will find relevant, useful information here, as will those involved in library education. Emerging Issues in the Electronic Environment: Challenges for Librarians and Researchers in the Sciences begins with Scientific Communication: New Roles and New Players, a detailed examination of the evolution of the information-seeking behavior of scientists, from the days of print-based resources to today's electronic media. Next, you'll find techniques designed to maximize the ability of scientists to make lucky connections in their electronic search for information in Too Important to be Left to Chance: Serendipity and the Digital Library. Four chapters in Emerging Issues in the Electronic Environment bring you up-to-date information on various aspects of working with e-journals: For Better or Worse: The Joys and Woes of E-Journals, investigates the impact of electronic-only journal holdings on collection development decisions and the accompanying issues of archiving, economics, content, and research use Scan It and They Will Come . . . But Will They Cite It? provides citation data on the usefulness and impact of retrospective digitization projects for journal contents The Use of Online Supplementary Material in High-Impact Scientific Journals raises vital questions as to whether the print or electronic article should be regarded as the primary archival resource Challenges and Opportunities for Bibliometrics in the Electronic Environment: The Case of the Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science investigates how issues of access, copyright, and fair use, as well as differences among online file formats may impact bibliometric analysis Two chapters in Emerging Issues in the Electronic Environment are designed to help simplify the data collection process. Information Overload: Keeping Current Without Being Overwhelmed will show you how to identify needed sources by using current awareness services and e-mail filtering technologies The Impact of Electronic Bibliographic Databases and Electronic Journal Articles on the Scholar's Information Seeking Behavior and Personal Collection of Reprints reviews organizational methods for managing large collections of electronic articles. In addition, this forward-thinking book contains four chapters that point out possible avenues for increased librarian-facilitated service to users: Biology Databases for the New Life Sciences discusses the new sequence, microarray, and protein structure databases, the emergence of bioinformatics, and the opportunities available to librarians in this developing area Map and Spatial Data Acquisitions in the Electronic Age shows how the traditionally complicated and time-consuming process of acquiring cartographic information can be simplified by efficient use of the Internet Webinar Technology: Applications in Libraries reviews the operation, application, and features of Webinars and compares this technology with Web tutorials, virtual reference, and courseware management systems, videoconferencing, and Webcasting Preserving Digital Librari

Explore a wealth of ideas, insights, and approaches that can be used or adapted by any medical library Curricular changes in the health professions, coupled with a growing acceptance of the Internet as a tool for daily living, have contributed to a climate of change and opportunity for health sciences libraries. A Guide to Developing End User Education Programs in Medical Libraries will help graduate students in library science, entry-level medical librarians, and experienced educators to understand best practices and to build, expand, and improve medical library-sponsored educational programs. A Guide to Developing End User Education Programs in Medical Libraries is designed to aid and inform professionals who develop, teach, or evaluate end-user education programs in health sciences libraries. Eighteen case studies represent the ideas and approaches of more than fifteen private and public institutions in the United States and the Caribbean. The studies focus on effective end-user programs for medical information electives, veterinary medicine programs, health care informatics, and evidence-based medicine, plus instructional programs for teaching residents, ThinkPad-facilitated instruction, and more. The guide also examines how several medical libraries have created and expanded their end-user education programs.The contributors to A Guide to Developing End User Education Programs in Medical Libraries are health sciences librarians from teaching hospitals, medical/dental/veterinary schools, and health professions-focused universities in a dozen U.S. states and the West Indies. Each of them is involved in designing, teaching, and evaluating user education. This book will help you educate students of medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry, and veterinary medicine, plus residents and practicing health professionals. The educational objectives and approaches in the case studies include: clinical medical librarianship integrating informatics objectives into curricula developing credit and non-credit coursework distance learning using new and emerging technologies to improve instructionThe case studies in A Guide to Developing End User Education Programs in Medical Libraries follow a format similar to that of the structured abstract, including introduction, setting, educational approaches, evaluation methods, future plans, conclusion, and references. Some are illustrated with tables and figures. Several are supplemented by material in chapter-specific appendixes. Further information about specific classes, programs, or teaching philosophies is made available via Web sites featured in the book.Let this valuable guide help you--and your institution--take advantage of the opportunities available at this exciting time in the evolution of library science

Get access to the Slavic and East European research materials you need A Guide to Slavic Collections in the United States and Canada presents up-to-date information on 85 North American libraries that house Slavic and East European research materials, providing current details on recent acquisitions, developments in collection policies, and changes in contact information. Using individual entries written by each institution's librarian or archivist, you'll save valuable time and effort in your search for resources on Russia and the rest of the former Soviet Union, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics, the former Yugoslavia, the Baltic countries, Bulgaria, Albania, Hungary, Romania, and the Sorbs in Germany. This unique book includes facts and figures on special collections, finding aids, catalogs, Web access, and bibliographies for further readings. A Guide to Slavic Collections in the United States and Canada examines collections available at public libraries, governmental libraries, special collections, and university libraries. Edited by Dr. Allan Urbanic, Librarian for Slavic and East European Collections at the University of California, Berkeley, and Slavic Collection Manager at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Beth Feinberg, Slavic Catalog Librarian at the University of California, Los Angeles, the book lists current and retrospective materials collected in print, microform, and electronic formats, and includes monographs, serial publications, reference works, dissertations, and conference proceedings. Entries for A Guide to Slavic Collections in the United States and Canada include: access policy for visits general collection description special collection description online catalog archive collections size of collection percent of collection in vernacular language electronic resources and much more! A Guide to Slavic Collections in the United States and Canada is an essential, time-saving resource for librarians and academics looking for research materials.

Learn how other libraries are using LibQUAL+ data to improve their services and programs This book focuses on the value of the 2002 LibQUAL+ survey data to help librarians provide better services for users. This unique work highlights the continued efforts of participating libraries that used this Web-based marketing instrument to assess and evaluate their service quality, resource allocations, staffing, technology, and policies. Library professionals dealing with or interested in library service quality assessment will benefit from the practical examples and graphical representations found in this vital book. With Libraries Act on Their LibQUAL+ Findings, you will gain a better understanding of how to use your LibQUAL+ data to identify opportunities to improve your services and programs, initiate further data exploration, and identify those areas of your library which need change. In times of budget reductions, the information in this book will show you how to better demonstrate to your patrons, community, and government agencies the value of the investment in library staff and resources.Enhanced with charts, graphs, tables, and figures, this text will help your library smoothly evolve with your patrons' expectations and needs. Libraries Act on Their LibQUAL+ Findings: From Data to Action covers several important topics, including: the LibQUAL+ survey instrument what it is and how it works library service quality and user perceptions of library service quality peer comparisons and benchmarking qualitative and quantitative data analysis how to read your findings strategic planning how to use your findings This resource is of national importance, presenting varying perspectives from different library contexts, such as library consortia, library types, and individual library case studies. The book also provides ideas for using LibQUAL+ to develop better library services for diverse users faculty as opposed to students or the general public rather than specialists. From identifying and reaching patrons for conducting the LibQUAL+ survey to identifying gaps between desired, perceived, and minimum expectations of services, this book will guide you in continuously meeting the needs of your community.

Compare and contrast library reference models and more consumer-oriented models! Digital versus Non-Digital Reference: Ask A Librarian Online and Offline analyzes the quality of commercial Ask A Librarian (AskA) and tutorial services and how they compare to traditional library services. Edited by Jessamyn Westproprietor of librarian.net and the hippest ex-librarian on the Web according to Wired magazinethe book looks at library models and more consumer-oriented models, examining a variety of services that range from Ask Jeeves (R) and Google Answers to your own reference desk and Web e-mail reference forms. Academic librarians and information specialists share their experiencesgood and badin starting, assessing, or ending AskA services and in working with collaborative reference tools and outsourcing reference services, and discuss the highs and lows of dealing with individual online services. Digital versus Non-Digital Reference: Ask A Librarian Online and Offline chronicles the experiences and interactions of librarians with digital reference, including case studies, how-to guides, and philosophical essays. The book's contributors discuss their concerns about using the Internet as not only a reference tool but as a reference medium that most libraries find inevitable to some degree. Topics include the political ramifications of offsite or outsourced reference, the truth behind the assertion that it's all available online, cultural and/or language barriers to text-based reference services, and patrons' experiences with reference tools, from a librarian's perspective. Digital versus Non-Digital Reference: Ask A Librarian Online and Offline addresses: policy, staffing and technology for telephone reference services e-mail reference in public libraries the University of Michigan's Internet Public Library archivists and remote users in the digital age success and failure with commercial AskA programs the history of Q and A NJ, New Jersey's virtual reference service multilingual chat reference systems the ongoing debate over the value of digital reference the case for nonintrusive reference Digital versus Non-Digital Reference: Ask A Librarian Online and Offline is an invaluable resource for practitioners and academics on the appropriate assessment, technologies, and methods for successfully creating and operating human-mediated, Internet-based information services.

Everything you need to know about serials librarianshipin one handy volume! For library science students and library professionals, Introduction to Serials Work for Library Technicians is a practical, how-to-do-it text that shows you how to perform the behind-the-scenes tasks your job requires. This primer walks you through the entire process of serials management for both larger libraries with automated serials management systems as well as small school and public libraries that must handle their serials manually. From an introduction to serials work to the latest in technology for archiving, this book will ensure that your library customers are not inconvenienced by inaccuracies or inefficient organization. Introduction to Serials Work for Library Technicians will benefit anyone who handles serials in a library since it covers all aspects of serials: acquisitions, organization, check-ins, and cataloging. This book addresses the complications that occur working with a form of publication that can include any medium from newspapers to CD-Rom and can be published as often as every day or as infrequently as once a year. Difficulties include title changes, serial merges and splits, suspensions and cessations of publication, and changes in format, and this volume will show you how to find the solutions to these situations. Here's a sample of what is explored in this book: acquisitionshow to locate, find bibliographic information on, and verify the title of a desired serial orderingtypes of orders, new subscription orders, and back-ordering receivingchecking in serials, recording holdings information, using Kardex cards, and using an automated check-in system catalogingusing holding and union lists, creating and using online catalogues, and cataloguing standards and internet serials processingshelving policies, types of shelving, and how to shelve claims, binding, and renewals Intended primarily as a textbook for students in library sciences programs, this book will also serve very well as a general reference for experienced or novice library technicians or other staff members who find themselves managing serials or automating their system. The book's complete glossary, bibliography, numerous definitions, and tables, as well as the real-life examples throughout this manual will help you navigate the challenges of record-keeping, claiming, and cataloguing serials in any library.

Keep up-to-date with the latest in innovative electronic information services! The Changing Landscape for Electronic Resources: Content, Access, Delivery, and Legal Issues focuses on the effects and challenges of providing electronic resources for libraries. The authors are librarians and other professionals with practical experience in current issues and developing trends. With this book, you will learn about technical, legal, and resource sharing developments that will contribute to the future distribution of global information in libraries. This book shows how libraries using electronic resources can reduce costs and save transaction time for large and small public libraries as well as academic libraries. It also reveals recent initiatives related to open source software and core standards for resource sharing and interlibrary loal, such as the Bath profile and the NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol (NCIP). Special features of this timely book include figures, diagrams, references, and Web sites. This book contains the wisdom and experience of professionals applying electronic resources to: interlibrary loan systems copyright and licensing open source software international data standards scholarly publishing The Changing Landscape for Electronic Resources will help you avoid many of the potential pitfalls of managing electronic content in the evolving modern library. This book will help you prepare for a future in which electronic access improves the range, speed, and quantity of cost-effective information services for patrons and resource-sharing partners.

Strategies and tools to help you plan, build, and maintain your library collection Selecting Materials for Library Collections takes you step-by-step through the process of planning, building, and maintaining a quality library collection. This up-to-date guide addresses the interests and concerns of academic and public libraries with expert advice on budgets, policies, and planning. The book examines print, non-print, and Internet selection resources, including the OCLC WorldCat Database and ACQNET-L. You'll find valuable information you can apply right away to help you keep any collection relevant and up-to-date Selecting Materials for Library Collections provides the tools you need to keep your library collection current. Seasoned experts share their thoughts on how to analyze your users' expectations and then provide them with the materials they need. The contributors also examine the selection aids that they use in their own acquisitions work and then look at how to achieve a balanced collection that efficiently serves their clients' needs. Supplementary reading lists and extensive bibliographies provide you with additional resources. Selecting Materials for Library Collections presents the latest information on: using print, non-print, and Internet selection resources such as OCLC WorldCat database and ACQNET-L initial collection assessment and decision making collection tool evaluations acquiring international core titles the New Thought movement approval plans set-up, maintenance, and evaluation the newest technology for media selection specialized library collections in music, art, business, economics, health, sports, leisure, and more

Connect patrons with the information they seek with these promising electronic tools! Improved Access to Information: Portals, Content Selection, and Digital Information focuses on how you can improve access to information using electronic reference resources. This book features nine of America's leading library administrators who give their perspectives, observations, and stipulations on how to meet the research needs of patrons in a digital age. This timely resource is relevant to senior library administrators in the process of developing electronic tools and services. Improved Access to Information addresses the current library issue of how to utilize scarce resources to provide an ever-increasing amount of electronic information to an ever-expanding user base. The use of portals and their advantages are discussed in detail and from the different perspectives of information providers and users. Several authors offer instructive graphs, tables, and other illustrations to emphasize their findings. In Improved Access to Information, you'll learn more about: the variety of groups that libraries serve cooperative collection development the balance of print and electronic resources the evolvement of collection development in libraries to the concept of knowledge development the implementation of portals in research libraries the factors influencing the selection of electronic resources digitizing unique collections for preservation and improved access The product of the 2003 University of Oklahoma Libraries annual conference, Improved Access to Information offers library administrators new approaches for overcoming the proliferation of electronic information and making it readily available to users. This book will help you provide essential research services to your users and secure your patron base.