A fresh, detailed, and thoughtful examination of reference services in the context of evolving community information needs and habits, a changing technological landscape, and new search strategies. Professional practices in the field of library reference services have changed dramatically in the past decade in response to shrinking print reference collections and evolving technology, search strategies, and user needs and interests. This new guide explains all the basics of reference services, covering resource types and awareness of their appropriate uses, collection development and maintenance techniques that support reference service work, the latest online searching techniques, and best practices for service interactions through various platforms, including email, chat, text, phone, and face to face. Additionally, it addresses reference service ethics; communication and conducting reference interviews; important policies related to reference service development, provision, and maintenance; alternative reference service delivery points now in use; and professional service provider networking. Both experienced reference librarians and those new to reference service will benefit from in-depth coverage of recent changes in online reference resources and print-based resources, guidelines for authoritative evaluation of web-based resources, explanations of online catalog searching skills, and tips for reference web page construction. The book also contains an expanded section on making digitized collections accessible and relevant; information on the growing need of members of the general population for help with various federal government access programs ranging from Veterans Affairs and Social Security to health care access, income tax regulation fulfillment, and immigrant documentation; and explanations of copyright in the digital sphere of resource use and transfer. Offers librarians new to reference services an easy-to-follow, up-to-date, and complete overview of the field in practical terms Provides current information that will help librarians keep abreast of new resources, evolving patron needs and interests, and emerging best practices Serves as an accessible and affordable guide for workshops and in-service trainings

Weeding is a perennial challenge for librarians. This book will help you rise to the task by offering you basic instructions, including information on new formats and digital collections. Weeding is often difficult-who can easily decide to discard books and other materials that someone may someday want to borrow? But weeding is essential to keeping your collection healthy and relevant. Perfect for all types of libraries and for both paraprofessionals and librarians unfamiliar with modern weeding methods, this practical guide offers clear guidance that can help you cope with the sometimes-paralytic fear and distaste that can accompany a must-do task. Each of the book's chapters treats a specific concern-for example, weeding electronic collections. Practical matters related to collection maintenance through material and online resource weeding are addressed, as are policy and procedure documentation and communication planning and best practices. You'll read about weeding ethics, using vendor-provided weeding tools, and floating collections. The book also shares advice on training volunteers as weeding assistants and on communicating with library stakeholders about collection maintenance. By showing you how to make weeding a normal part of your library's routine, this book will help you provide your community with a healthier, better circulating, and more valuable collection. Covers online collection maintenance needs on all material formats (books, serials, recordings, realia) that require ongoing weeding Points to free online resources and places them in context Addresses weeding and physical emergencies, such as fires, earthquakes, and plumbing failures Discusses weeding in support of building wayfinding and boosting circulation Includes worksheets that provide documentation to use as guides in policy, procedure, and communication planning

Ever since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, public library staff throughout the country have been working hard to provide access to information about the law while educating their communities about how implementation affects them. But defining the expectations and limitations of libraries roles regarding support of the new law remains a challenge. This important guide, the first written specifically for library staff, offers best practices, advice, and examples of library responses from the first open enrolment period (October 2013-March 2014). Offering clear and explicit guidance related to the ethical and legal aspects of Affordable Care Act policy support through local library services, this resource Analyzes the nearly 20 different state-level marketplace regulatory ecosystems to find common ground, then pathfinds the quickest routes to state-level information for each state Addresses the diverse needs of public library communities in both urban and rural settings, while examining staff capacities at various libraries Encourages a pragmatic approach through the inclusion of to do lists at the end of each chapter Provides strategies and tools for building community healthcare awareness Published in advance of the second open enrolment period, this invaluable guide will encourage broader and more assured community support during this period of major policy changes to healthcare access and availability.