Based on personal experience with nearly a dozen different library assessment projects, Baird has pulled together the salient points that librarians should bear in mind when planning to assess their collections. Following a brief discussion of why assessment is important, he covers such basics as how to gather information, interpret it, and use it to further the mission of the library. Liberally sprinkled with examples from the projects he has worked on, Baird's guide will help both new and experienced librarians conceptualize the assessment strategy that best fits the mission of their collection.

Designed as a "how-to" manual, Practical Preservation and Conservation Strategies for Libraries provides librarians with practical information to help them grapple with specific preservation challenges by identifying areas of concern, optimizing the use of resources put towards preservation, and establishing goals for continual improvement over time. Straightforward and pragmatic, it helps a library to reduce immediate and long-term preservation costs, and strengthen a library's collection development goals. Topics include: *Preservation in the digital age *Establishing long-term preservation goals *Environmental conditions *Preservation needs of specific collections *Understanding use patterns for library materials *Identifying potential threats to a collection *Recognizing readily available preservation resources Almost 50 photographs, figures, checklists, and other tools make this a practical guide libraries will use on a day-to-day basis.

Designed as a "how-to" manual, Practical Preservation and Conservation Strategies for Libraries provides librarians with practical information to help them grapple with specific preservation challenges by identifying areas of concern, optimizing the use of resources put towards preservation, and establishing goals for continual improvement over time. Straightforward and pragmatic, it helps a library to reduce immediate and long-term preservation costs, and strengthen a library's collection development goals. Topics include: *Preservation in the digital age *Establishing long-term preservation goals *Environmental conditions *Preservation needs of specific collections *Understanding use patterns for library materials *Identifying potential threats to a collection *Recognizing readily available preservation resources * Almost 50 photographs, figures, checklists, and other tools make this a practical guide libraries will use on a day-to-day basis.