Download or read book Implementing an Inclusive Staffing Model for Today s Reference Services written by Julia K. Nims and published by Practical Guides for Librarians. This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reference service remains a core function of modern libraries. However, how and where we provide assistance has evolved with changing technologies and the shifting habits and preferences of our users. One way libraries can provide the on-demand, in-person assistance while managing and developing new services and resources that will benefit current and future users is to reconsider how their reference points and services are staffed and adopt a staff-based reference model. The authors, staff members at Eastern Michigan University, chose to address this by implementing an inclusive reference model in which staff and student assistants are trained to answer certain levels of reference questions while working at the reference desk and at other service points. The result was that librarians became more available to work with students who needed in-depth assistance and users were able to get simple questions answered throughout the library. Similar training for all staff and student assistants who work in the library results in better service, more accurate answers, and improved interdepartmental communication. In Implementing an Inclusive Staffing Model for Today's Reference Services, they describe step-by-step how to transition from the traditional librarian-staffed reference desk to an inclusive reference model where non-MLS personnel are equipped and empowered to answer reference questions wherever these questions might be asked. Users ask questions of staff at all service points, not just at the Reference Desk. It is vitally important that those who work at circulation, periodicals, maps, archives and other public service points be trained in how to answer certain reference questions. When this is accomplished, users who have simple questions will not have to make useless treks to the Reference Desk. Topics covered include: -Recognizing that nearly all staff answer reference questions, but few are trained to do so -documenting the necessity for a change in reference model -gaining buy-in from all interested parties-librarians, non-MLS staff, and administrators -determining the optimal staffing level -creating training materials and schedules -monitoring the quality of reference service -supervising staff -evaluating the new model using multiple methods Additionally, each chapter contains practical resources such as checklists, forms, and sample materials, and other usable features to support readers as they implement the inclusive reference model. The book describes in detail the process of transforming traditional reference into a model that transcends departmental and job title boundaries, is focused on the user, and allows librarians to better utilize their time and talents, and include non-professional staff in their reference services.

Download or read book Implementing an Inclusive Staffing Model for Today s Reference Services written by Julia K. Nims and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2013-11-26 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reference service remains a core function of modern libraries. However, how and where we provide assistance has evolved with changing technologies and the shifting habits and preferences of our users. One way libraries can provide the on-demand, in-person assistance while managing and developing new services and resources that will benefit current and future users is to reconsider how their reference points and services are staffed and adopt a staff-based reference model. The authors, staff members at Eastern Michigan University, chose to address this by implementing an inclusive reference model in which staff and student assistants are trained to answer certain levels of reference questions while working at the reference desk and at other service points. The result was that librarians became more available to work with students who needed in-depth assistance and users were able to get simple questions answered throughout the library. Similar training for all staff and student assistants who work in the library results in better service, more accurate answers, and improved interdepartmental communication. In Implementing an Inclusive Staffing Model for Today's Reference Services, they describe step-by-step how to transition from the traditional librarian-staffed reference desk to an inclusive reference model where non-MLS personnel are equipped and empowered to answer reference questions wherever these questions might be asked. Users ask questions of staff at all service points, not just at the Reference Desk. It is vitally important that those who work at circulation, periodicals, maps, archives and other public service points be trained in how to answer certain reference questions. When this is accomplished, users who have simple questions will not have to make useless treks to the Reference Desk. Topics covered include: Recognizing that nearly all staff answer reference questions, but few are trained to do so documenting the necessity for a change in reference model gaining buy-in from all interested parties—librarians, non-MLS staff, and administrators determining the optimal staffing level creating training materials and schedules monitoring the quality of reference service supervising staff evaluating the new model using multiple methods Additionally, each chapter contains practical resources such as checklists, forms, and sample materials, and other usable features to support readers as they implement the inclusive reference model. The book describes in detail the process of transforming traditional reference into a model that transcends departmental and job title boundaries, is focused on the user, and allows librarians to better utilize their time and talents, and include non-professional staff in their reference services.

Download or read book Teaching Reference Today written by Lisa A. Ellis and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2016-06-09 with total page 371 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reference and Information Services, if it may still be referred to by this term, is an evolving outreach service in libraries. This is not only due to Google and the Internet, but also other technological advances afford users online access to a plethora of content, free and proprietary. This evolution has also caused a shift in the theories and practices (especially, core functions and values) of reference and information services as library schools seek greater alignment with practitioners and libraries on the forefront of these changes. As academics and practitioners work together to educate library students on the kinds of changes happening in reference and information services, they are rethinking their curriculum and assignments to incorporate real-world challenges adaptive to user needs. Likewise, libraries may work through their regional library consortia to plan professional development workshops or training sessions to teach new skills and methods of approach required for such changing services. Here’s a tool for library school instructors, library students, professional development instructors, and current librarians poised to change, which specifically addresses the pedagogy of reference and information services in flux. It will help answer questions such as: How may we better educate a new and current generation of reference and information service professionals, given the challenges they will likely encounter? What kinds of assignments could be devised to better promote active learning in a transformative field like reference and information services? What new approaches or theories could be applied to assist library professionals in meeting the informational needs of users?

Download or read book Library Programs and Services written by G. Edward Evans and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2015-06-30 with total page 406 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Covering every essential topic ranging from circulation and literacy instruction to reference and security, this benchmark text provides an up-to-date, broadly based view of library public service and its functions. Supplying essential, foundational reading for students of library public services as well as an up-to-date overview for practitioners who wish to refresh their knowledge or acquaint themselves with a new area of responsibility, this book's broad and solid coverage will benefit anyone concerned with developing or maintaining the public face of the library. A revision and expansion of Libraries Unlimited's Introduction to Library Public Services: Seventh Edition, this edition has new chapters covering such topics as e-resources, collections, print and other media, and facilities and funding. Additionally, every chapter has been substantially updated and reorganized to better reflect the role of technology in library services today. The book begins with background information on public services in libraries and an analysis of the library's public service philosophy. Then, the authors delve into staffing and assessment of services, moving logically to major functional areas of public services—reference, instruction, document delivery, circulation and reserves, collections, programming, safety and security issues, and facilities and funding. Real-life anecdotes from public, academic, and school libraries illustrate principles and concepts throughout the book. For each topic, the authors detail its role and philosophy, and offer key points to remember, references, and lists for further reading.

Download or read book Providing Reference Services written by John Gottfried and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2017-05-19 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing Reference Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians was written with the working librarian in mind; it focuses on specific methods and information to help foster effective, exceptional results. Topics covered include: Reference services: basic information and background Reference resources and tutorials Organizing and providing services Staffing and performance management Forming helpful partnerships (internal and external) The future of reference Readers will come away with a solid foundation in reference services. They will have the knowledge to update or restructure an existing reference program, or to create a program from the ground up. Individual chapters and subsections provide constructive tips and advice for specific reference issues. Taken as a whole, this book provides a valuable, inclusive source of information for all major aspects of reference service. Providing Reference Services is an appropriate resource for nearly all librarians in public-service positions, especially those with reference responsibilities, whether they are working reference librarians at any level of experience, reference supervisors, or administrators with oversight of reference services. The content is relevant to academic, public, school, and special libraries—any library or organization, in fact, that offers reference or research assistance.

Download or read book Library Programs and Services written by Stacey Greenwell and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2023-06-15 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ninth edition of this popular overview of the various programs and services offered by libraries offers best practice and useful tips for implementing them effectively. Building on the strong foundation of the previous editions, award-winning author G. Edward Evans returns with a new co-author, Stacey Greenwell, for this update that combines their signature style of textbook readability, informality, and sometimes humor, as well as their knack for balancing foundational topics and new trends. A new feature in this edition is the incorporation of the concept of "library social work" through "Social Work Connections" sidebars in each chapter. Anecdotes throughout the text and "Career Connections" sidebars offer practical advice and specific current examples. Greenwell and Evans have combined several chapters from the previous edition and expanded discussions of new trends while retaining and updating the fundamentals. The ninth edition is a welcome update for library and information science courses and a valuable handbook for public services librarians.

Download or read book Implementing Web Scale Discovery Services written by JoLinda Thompson and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2014-09-11 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Web scale discovery tools index a vast number of resources in a wide variety formats and allow users to search for content in a physical collection, print and electronic journal collections, and other resources from a single search box. Search results are displayed in a manner similar to internet searches, in a relevance-ranked list with links to online content. Implementing Web-Scale Discovery Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians is a one-stop source for librarians seeking toevaluate, purchase, and implement a web-scale discovery service. The book breaks down each phase of the project into decision points and action plans which will help move the project forward in an orderly and focused manner. After reading this guide, librarians will be able to: identify the system with the best content match for their library; conduct informative product trials; negotiate for the best pricing options; andoptimize customization of the selected systems to meet local needs. Implementing Web-Scale Discovery Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians guides librarians on configuring search boxes, integrating local content sources, and making full-text easily accessible. This text presents the information in check lists, decision trees, and quotes from early adopters, and includes information on how to customize these systems to meet each library’s specific needs.

Download or read book Children s Services Today written by Jeanette Larson and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2015-03-01 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here, one of America’s foremost experts in public library services to children cover the basics of library services for children. Jeanette Larson highlights best practices and "toolkits" that provide tools and resources to quickly implement programs and services. She includes model programs, checklists and forms, and ready-to-use examples of programs, with an emphasis on programs that are inexpensive to implement and simple to replicate. From start to finish, learn how to plan, implement, and manage public library programs and services for children, ages birth to twelve years old. Children's services are a critical part of today's library services and staff need basic background information, practical advice, and specific examples of how to perform the fundamental duties required of them. Special features of the book include: Basic information on how to implement the fundamental services and programs of library services to children Background and rationale for the provision of these services and programs Enhancements for children's programs and services that support literacy and learning Templates for successful programs Examples of inexpensive and ready-to-use programs ranging from simple to on-going and more elaborate programs Children’s Services Today: A Practical Guide for Librarians offers basic background, practical experience, and best practices necessary for the successful provision of children's services in today's public library. Whether you are a part-time children's librarian in a small, rural library, a generalist assigned to provide children's programming in a medium-sized library, or a paraprofessional working in the children's department in a large urban library, this practical guide will help you implement dynamic programs and services that meet the needs of today's children and families

Download or read book Using Google Earth in Libraries written by Eva H. Dodsworth and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2015-09-01 with total page 123 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Google Earth is a research, mapping, and cultural exploration tool that puts the whole world in your hands, then hands over the tools to let you build your own world. The uses of Google Earth in academia, in libraries, and across disciplines are endless and each year more innovate research projects are being released. Since its launch, Google Earth has had an enormous impact on the way people think, learn, and work with geographic information. With easy access to spatial and cultural information, and with customizable map features and dynamic presentation tools, Google Earth is an attractive option for anyone wishing to host projects and to share research findings through a common online interface. This easy-to-read, practical guide: Demonstrates how Google Earth has been used as a resource for research Showcases library path finders, discovery tools, and collections built with Google Earth Discusses how Google Earth can be embedded into various library services Highlights effectives uses of Google Earth in specific-discipline education, and provide step-by-step sample classroom activities Introduces Google Earth features, data, and map making capabilities Describes Google Earth-related online resources After reading this guide, librarians will be able to easily integrate Google Earth’s many facets into their services and help teachers integrate it into their classrooms. Because so many librarians are educators and subject specialists, they can customize the learning outcomes for students based on the subject being studied. This book presents a cross-disciplinary overview of how Google Earth can be used in research, in teaching and learning, and in other library services like promotion, outreach, reference and very importantly collection and resource exploration and discovery. This comprehensive guide to using Google Earth is for public, school, academic, and special libraries serving from the elementary level through adult levels. Although articles have been written about specific subjects and specific library projects, this is the first published that offer a one-stop-shop for utilizing this online product for library-related purposes. Librarians reading this book will gain the Google Earth skills required to be able to not only use it themselves, but also teach others in how to use this online technology.

Download or read book Implementing and Assessing Use Driven Acquisitions written by Steven Carrico and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2016-03-08 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This enlightening new book in the Practical Guides for Librarians series presents the practicalities of developing, implementing, and evaluating use-driven acquisition (UDA) in academic and special libraries, from the multi-dimensional perspectives of collections, acquisitions, and e-resources. Now that UDA is a proven method of collection management being utilized by an array of libraries around the globe, the need for a straightforward, uncomplicated guidebook is more essential than ever. This book is both a reference source and a guide for current and future librarians. In addition to chapters highlighting e-book, print, and article-level UDA plans, the book will also include considerations for budgeting, interlibrary loan, consortia UDA, ongoing management and assessment strategies, and stimulating future trends. Of special interest are project management cycles detailing each phase and steps of implementing UDA plans, and relevant case studies involving librarians and vendors who have established UDA plans in libraries of various types and sizes. This book provides a practical methodology for setting up use-driven acquisitions plans to acquire access to print and e-books for users in academic and special libraries. Every chapter covers important collection development and budgeting objectives of the library, and proposes methods to assess cost and usage of the content received to determine effectiveness and potential modifications to UDA plans. Practical features that can be used in day-to-day operations include: • Project management lifecycle with phases and steps for successful implementation • Sample reports and executive summaries for administrators • Marketing and branding strategies • Step-by-step checklists • Assessment tools and examples • Multiple case studies of various types of libraries, including budgets and current UDA policies • Evaluative survey questions • Interview transcripts • Glossary of terms and acronym explanations

Download or read book Implementing the Information Literacy Framework written by Dave Harmeyer and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2018-03-05 with total page 277 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Implementing the Information Literacy Framework: A Practical Guide for Librarians is written with three types of people in mind: librarians, classroom educators, and students. This book and its website address the implementation of the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Framework of Information Literacy in Higher Education. One of the few books written jointly by an academic librarian and a classroom faculty member, Implementing the Information Literacy Framework packs dozens of how-to ideas and strategies into ten chapters specifically intended for librarians and classroom instructors. If you have been waiting for a no-nonsense, carefully explained, yet practical source for implementing the Framework, this book is for you, your colleagues, and your students, all in the context of a discipline-specific, equal collaboration between the library liaison and classroom educator. Implementing the Information Literacy Framework gives you the tools and strategies to put into practice a host of Framework-based information literacy experiences for students and faculty, creating a campus culture that understands and integrates information literacy into its educational mission.

Download or read book Using iPhones iPads and iPods written by Matthew Connolly and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2014-10-28 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Apple Inc. has sold more than 500 million iPhones, iPads, and iPodTouches. Library patrons are increasingly coming to libraries with the expectation that their Apple devices will work flawlessly with library services—or that they can find an iPad to use at the library if they don’t have one of their own. Libraries and librarians today are expected to be adept with the latest technology and to be able to apply it to popular use as well as scholarly research. Using iPhones and iPads: A Practical Guide for Librarians offers library professionals a clear path to Apple readiness. The authors, a librarian and a software developer at a prominent research library, combine their experience in library public services and mobile technology to provide easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions to help you get up to speed on: Ensuring that your library website and online resources are iDevice-friendly Creating a custom app for your library and making it available in iTunes Starting an iPad lending program Using iDevices for librarianship and library work Assessing and advertising iDevice programs Acquiring, configuring, and deploying iDevices to users Recommended apps that can help you and your users Whether you work at a large academic institution or a small public library, this book will show you how to become iDevice-literate quickly and easily.

Download or read book Teen Services Today written by Sara K. Joiner and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2016-08-04 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two authors with more than 20 years of combined experience share their practical experience serving teens in public libraries. Teen Services Today highlights best practices, including resources and references, to quickly implement programs and services to young adults. Although teen services covers ages 12 to 18, a world of developmental changes and interest levels exist within those six short years. Teens offer a range of opportunities for public libraries, not simply as patrons, but also as advocates and volunteers. Special features of the book include: Basic information on the fundamental services and programs for teens Reasons for providing services to teens Examples of successful teen programs, complete with lists of needed supplies and potential costs, that can generally be performed by one or two staff members Checklists and forms Teen Services Today: A Practical Guide for Librarians gives all library staff the tools they need to work with teens. Whether you are the teen librarian, the clerk who’s been assigned to ‘do something’ about teens or the branch manager who sees an underserved population, this book will provide you with the building blocks to create successful relationships with the teens who use your library.

Download or read book Discovering and Using Historical Geographic Resources on the Web written by Eva H. Dodsworth and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2014-06-12 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Historical geographic material, like maps, plans, and air photos, although collected and persevered by libraries, archives, and other heritage organizations, are often hidden from the general public. They can be difficult to find, access, and use. Fortunately, these caches of cartographic gems have been recognized and valued for their significant contribution to research. As a result, many of these collections have been recently digitized and made available to the public, directly and freely, online. Acting as a comprehensive guide to online historical, cartographic and other visual resources, Discovering and Using Historical Geographic Resources on the Web provides library and archival staff, and their users, with information on how to locate, interpret, understand, and use these resources. Even for experts, this book can serve as a handy reference that summarizes the different types of maps published, providing comprehensive lists of where to access them. This book is written for all library staff members who answer reference questions and provide library instruction, and for those who are interested in digitizing their own cartographic collections. It will also attract history buffs and scholars in environmental studies, history, earth sciences, anthropology, and more.

Download or read book Collection Evaluation in Academic Libraries written by Karen C. Kohn and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2015-06-24 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Librarians have long used data to describe their collections. Traditional measures have simply been inputs and outputs: volumes acquired, processed, owned, or circulated. With the growth since the 1990s of cultures of assessment, librarians have sought statistics that are evaluative rather than simply descriptive. More recently, exponentially increasing journal prices and an economic recession have intensified the need to make careful purchasing decisions and to justify these to administrators. A methodical evaluation of a library collection can help librarians understand and meet user needs and can help communicate to administrators that the library is a good use of the institution’s money. Collection Evaluation in Academic Libraries: A Practical Guide for Librarians equips collections managers to select and implement a method or several methods of evaluating their library collections. It includes sections on four tools for evaluation: • Comparison to peer institutions • Core lists • Usage statistics from circulation and ILL • Citation analysis Chapters on each of these approaches present the advantages and disadvantages of each method, instructions on data collection and analysis—with screenshots—and suggested action steps after completing the analysis. With a unique combination of step-by-step instructions and discussions of the purpose and role of data, this book provides an unusually thorough guide to collection evaluation. It will be indispensable for collection development librarians and anyone looking to strengthen the culture of assessment within the library.

Download or read book Mobile Devices written by Ben Rawlins and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2014-12-23 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As more users expect to use their mobile devices, librarians will want and need to develop the necessary skills to reach this growing user base. Mobile Devices: A Practical Guide for Librarians will aid libraries and librarians as they go through the process of planning, developing, implementing, marketing, and evaluating mobile services. Based on research and experience using and developing for mobile devices, this guides includes information and ideas regarding: Why mobile technologies are important for libraries Developing mobile websites and applications for specific mobile platforms such as iOS and Android using existing web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript Using mobile devices for reference, library instruction, and shelf reading Marketing strategies to make users aware of mobile services Evaluating mobile services A must-read for librarians interested in mobile technologies and services, this guide with provide librarians with practical information and examples to develop and offer mobile services in their libraries.

Download or read book Integrating the Web into Everyday Library Services written by Elizabeth R. Leggett and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2015-09-28 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the world becoming increasingly more dependent upon the Internet, libraries offer an essential service by providing access to this worldwide network. To help their patrons, modern librarians must have a thorough understanding of this technology. Integrating the Web into Everyday Library Services: A Practical Guide for Librarians is a comprehensive guide to a variety of aspects of Internet use and research. The book is basic, assuming only a basic understanding of computer use and Internet research. This guide begins with: a basic explanation of the mechanics of the Internet and World Wide Web, then moves on to explore the variety of ways that a user can discover online information, how information is stored online via the cloud, and how a librarian can enhance his or her library's online presence. Later chapters explain: how to use the Internet to communicate, how to help patrons research and evaluate information, and how to protect patrons and yourself from online dangers. The final chapter is devoted to helping librarians solve basic computer problems that their patrons may encounter, including troubleshooting Internet connections.