Covering principles, practical guidelines, and best practices for establishing and operating a successful library volunteer program in any type of library, this is a must-have resource for the 21st-century librarian. In these tough economic times, librarians must maximize the potential of their volunteer programs. This innovative guide not only provides readers with the practical information they need to recruit, manage, and retain effective volunteers, but also demonstrates how to create a dynamic volunteer program-one that offers purposeful work and emphasizes rewards rather than rules and forms. Illustrated by best practices, this book also offers practical guidelines for evaluating the success of a volunteer program-in terms of the library's benefit, and in terms of the experience from the volunteer's point of view. Demonstrates how to succeed with volunteers by providing purposeful work, interactive supervision, and effective training, and by emphasizing fun and rewards rather than forms and rules Provides practical guidelines for successfully recruiting, managing, and retaining volunteers Speaks to the needs of all types of libraries affected by reduced budgets and staff cuts

Concise, informative, and well-indexed, this book helps readers get the "big picture" as well as the considerable number of details involved in managing the finances for a library. For all libraries, money is critical to decision-making about technology, staffing, and collections. As a result, informed budgeting is critically important for any library to succeed. This book explains library finance in a practical, engaging way, using examples of real situations in different types of libraries to teach key points. Written by authors with years of experience in budgeting and financial planning within a variety of library settings and in teaching library management or fundraising at the university level, Crash Course in Library Budgeting and Finance makes it painless to learn how to properly manage money in any library environment. The book addresses the entire process of financial planning, from a general, conceptual overview of library budgeting to the details of generating and spending income, and describes best practices for implementing financial controls. Subjects covered include building construction and capital projects, fund raising, capital campaigns, moving to fee-based services, extending and developing earned income, financial best practices, and assessment and evaluation. The authors also make recommendations regarding when and how to share relevant financial information throughout the organization and with constituents throughout the book. Provides completely updated information through engaging, clear explanations of details on licensing, contracts, and maintaining technology and electronic resources Supplies helpful guidance for all levels of library staff-not just upper management Offers numerous real-world budgeting and finance examples from practicing librarians Presents information relevant to library administrators in all types of libraries, staff who work with budgets, library finance and budget officers, library board or governance officers, and library foundation managers and grant writers

Providing guidelines for designing collections and services that best serve 21st-century needs in school and public libraries, this book helps librarians to understand today's children and the ways they interact with information and recreational materials. Managing Children's Services in Libraries, Fourth Edition is designed to give students and new library workers the skills they need to succeed as well as get experienced librarians up to speed on the new developments in technology, publishing, and education. The book takes a broad view of all aspects of library work with children, addressing the dramatic and ongoing changes in school and pubic libraries. This latest edition of a popular, proven resource focuses on practical ways to organize library services to children and the adults who care for them, and on expanding services from the building level to the greater community. Sections focus specifically on collections, planning services, managing personnel and budgets, and working with other community agencies. The book is written to serve as a textbook for courses in services to children and young adults, and is appropriate for short workshops and in-service training for library staff. Administrators and department heads will find it a useful tool for designing and updating library services.