Library and Information Science Text Series – serie

Filling a gap in the existing library and information science literature, this book consolidates recent research and best practices to address the need for diversity and social justice in the training and education of LIS professionals.The development of cultural competency skills and social awareness benefits LIS students, their future employers, and the library profession at large—not to mention library customers and society as a whole. This textbook and comprehensive resource introduces students to the contexts and situations that promote the development of empathy and build cultural competence, examines the research in the areas of diversity and social justice in librarianship, explains how social responsibility is a foundational value of librarianship, and identifies potential employment and networking opportunities related to diversity and social justice in librarianship.A valuable book for students in graduate library and information science programs as well as LIS practitioners and researchers interested in knowing more about the topic of diversity in the profession, Information Services to Diverse Populations: Developing Culturally Competent Library Professionals addresses the political, social, economic, and technological divides among library patrons, covers transformative library services, and discusses outreach and services to diverse populations as well as how to evaluate such services, among many other topics. Appendices containing suggestions for exercises and assignments as well as lists of related library organizations and readings in related literature provide readers with additional resources.

Like earlier editions, this thoroughly updated sixth edition of the classic textbook provides readers with a basic understanding of the Library of Congress Classification system and its applications.The Library of Congress Classification system is used in academic, legal, medical, and research libraries throughout North America as well as worldwide; accordingly, catalogers and librarians in these settings all need to be able to use it. The established gold standard text for Library of Congress Classification (LCC), the sixth edition of Guide to the Library of Congress Classification updates and complements the classic textbook's coverage of cataloging in academic and research libraries.Clear and easy to understand, the text describes the reasoning behind assigning subject headings and subheadings, including use of tables; explains the principles, structure, and format of LCC; details notation, tables, assigning class numbers, and individual classes; and covers classification of special types of library materials. The last chapter of this perennially useful resource addresses the potential role of classification in libraries of the future.

Information systems are central to libraries, and managing information systems is critical to serving library communities. Both a textbook for LIS courses and a handbook for practitioners, this volume thoroughly addresses modern libraries' challenges of integrating information technology.Written by Joseph R. Matthews and Carson Block, both experts on library information systems, this book describes the evolution of library information systems, their enabling technologies, and today's dynamic IT marketplace. It explains specific technologies and related topics, including standards and standards organizations, telecommunications and networks, integrated library systems, electronic resource management systems, repositories, authentication and link verification, electronic resources, and nextgen library systems.Readers will also learn the latest about information systems management, covering technology planning, basic technology axioms, the impact of technology on library services, system selection and implementation, system usability, and general technology management. The final section considers current trends and future developments in LIS, including those related to mobile devices and apps as well as the growth of digital libraries.

This essential, single-volume textbook supplies a comprehensive introduction to library management that addresses all the functions of management, specifically within the ever-evolving modern library environment.Strategic planning. Facilities management. Leadership, ethics, communication, and motivation. Human resources and staffing. Change, library development, and innovation. Marketing. Measurement and evaluation. Fiscal responsibility and control. These are just some of the wide range of responsibilities and necessary skills of contemporary library managers—not all of which are typically covered in detail in LIS educational programs.Now updated and expanded for its ninth edition, Libraries Unlimited's Library and Information Center Management is the core management text for library information science programs. This latest text adds new information on grant writing as well as more about budgets, marketing, financial management, assessment, and evidence-based management. The authors include various real-world examples from international settings to help readers understand and conceptualize the place of the library and information center in our global world. Each chapter ends with two helpful sections that present numerous examples and opportunities to apply newly gained information: "Practice Your Skills" and "Discussion Questions."

If the heart of the library is its collection, this textbook provides the keys to the heart of your library. Alongside standards of basic principles and processes, you'll find practical guidance on everything from acquisitions to preservation.Managing collections in today's libraries is more complicated and challenging than ever. Electronic formats, new options for collaboration and sharing, and the drive to use data for evaluation purposes are just a few of the changes now driving collection management.This updated edition of a classic text addresses changes in the field and provides a thorough overview of what collection development specialists now need to know to effectively and efficiently manage processes that range from selection and assessment to sharing resources, handling challenges, weeding, and preservation. Readers will find increased coverage of technical services, intellectual freedom and censorship, and collection policy development, as well as budget development and tracking, joint purchasing, and negotiating with vendors. Updates on e-resources, user needs assessment (including data visualization), and disaster management, along with suggestions for further reading, are also included. Engagingly written and easy to understand, this is a valuable text for students preparing for careers in public, academic, school, and special libraries. It will additionally serve as a training resource and professional refresher for practitioners.

Taking a genre approach, this overview of young adult literature shows new librarians and library science students the criteria to use for selecting quality books, including recommended titles.This third edition of Young Adult Literature in Action draws on the success of the previous two editions authored by Rosemary Chance, updating and expanding on them to meet the needs of today's librarians and library science students. It includes a new focus on diverse books, LGBTQ+ selections, the role of book formats, and the relevance of librarians serving teen populations and is an ideal resource for teaching young adult literature courses.Organized by major genre divisions, this easy-to-use book includes new information on timely topics such as audio and e-books, accessible books, and graphic novels. Each chapter includes revised and updated information on collaborative activities, featured books, special topics and programs, selected awards and celebrations, historical connections, recommended resources, issues for discussion, author comments, and assignment suggestions. Further updates include citations of exemplary young adult books and award winners, references, websites, and a bibliography.

This practitioner-oriented introduction to literature for children ages 5–12 covers the latest trends, titles, and tools for choosing the best books and materials as well as for planning fun and effective programs and activities.The third edition of Children's Literature in Action provides an activity-oriented survey of children's literature for undergraduate and graduate students seeking licensure and degrees that will lead to careers working with children in schools and public libraries. Author Sylvia M. Vardell draws on her 30 years of university teaching and extensive familiarity with the major textbooks in the area of children's literature to deliver something different: a book that focuses specifically on the perspective and needs of the librarian, with emphasis on practical action and library applications. Its contents address seven major genres: picture books, traditional tales, poetry, contemporary realistic fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and informational books. Each chapter includes practical applications for the educator who shares books with children and who develops literature-based instruction. Chapters are enriched by author comments, collaborative activities, featured books, special topics, and activities including selected awards and celebrations, historical connections, recommended resources, issues for discussion, and assignment suggestions. This new edition incorporates the 2018 AASL National School Library Standards.

This unique textbook intersects traditional library science with data science principles that readers will find useful in implementing or improving data services within their libraries.Data Science for Librarians introduces data science to students and practitioners in library services. Writing for academic, public, and school library managers; library science students; and library and information science educators, authors Yunfei Du and Hammad Rauf Khan provide a thorough overview of conceptual and practical tools for data librarian practice. Partially due to how quickly data science evolves, libraries have yet to recognize core competencies and skills required to perform the job duties of a data librarian. As society transitions from the information age into the era of big data, librarians and information professionals require new knowledge and skills to stay current and take on new job roles, such as data librarianship. Such skills as data curation, research data management, statistical analysis, business analytics, visualization, smart city data, and learning analytics are relevant in library services today and will become increasingly so in the near future. This text serves as a tool for library and information science students and educators working on data science curriculum design.

This revised and updated sixth edition of Reference and Information Services continues the book's rich tradition, covering all phases of reference and information services with less emphasis on print and more emphasis on strategies and scenarios.Reference and Information Services is the go-to textbook for MSLIS and i-School courses on reference services and related topics. It is also a helpful handbook for practitioners. Authors include LIS faculty and professionals who have relevant degrees in their areas and who have published extensively on their topics. The first half of the book provides an overview of reference services and techniques for service provision, including the reference interview, ethics, instruction, reader's advisory, and services to diverse populations including children. This part of the book establishes a foundation of knowledge on reference service and frames each topic with ethical and social justice perspectives. The second part of the book offers an overview of the information life cycle and dissemination of information, followed by an in-depth examination of information sources by type—including dictionaries, encyclopedias, indexes, and abstracts—as well as by broad subject areas including government, statistics and data, health, and legal information. This second section introduces the tools and resources that reference professionals use to provide the services described in the first half of the text.

This thorough treatment of collection development for school library educators, students, and practicing school librarians provides quick access to information.This seventh edition of The Collection Program in Schools is updated in several key areas. It provides an overview of key education trends affecting school library collections, such as digital textbooks, instructional improvement systems, STEM priorities, and open education resource (OER) use and reuse. Topics of discussion include the new AASL standards as they relate to the collection; the idea of crowd sourcing in collection development; and current trends in the school library profession, such as Future Ready Libraries and new standards from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.Each chapter has been updated and revised with new material, and particular emphasis is placed on disaster preparedness and response as they pertain to policies, circulation, preservation, and moving or closing a collection. This edition also includes updates to review of curation and community analysis principles as they affect the development of the library collection.

The seventh edition of this frequently adopted textbook features new or expanded sections on social justice research, data analysis software, scholarly identity research, social networking, data science, and data visualization, among other topics. It continues to include discipline experts' voices.The revised seventh edition of this popular text provides instruction and guidance for professionals and students in library and information science who want to conduct research and publish findings, as well as for practicing professionals who want a broad overview of the current literature.Providing a broad introduction to research design, the authors include principles, data collection techniques, and analyses of quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as advantages and limitations of each method and updated bibliographies. Chapters cover the scientific method, sampling, validity, reliability, and ethical concerns along with quantitative and qualitative methods. LIS students and professionals will consult this text not only for instruction on conducting research but also for guidance in critically reading and evaluating research publications, proposals, and reports.As in the previous edition, discipline experts provide advice, tips, and strategies for completing research projects, dissertations, and theses; writing grants; overcoming writer's block; collaborating with colleagues; and working with outside consultants. Journal and book editors discuss how to publish and identify best practices and understudied topics, as well as what they look for in submissions.

Organizing information is at the heart of the information professions, and the fifth edition of The Organization of Information is a key resource for anyone seeking up-to-date guidance.For millennia, information organization has been central to the functioning of libraries and other information institutions. The fifth edition of The Organization of Information provides a timely, detailed introduction to organizing in a variety of information contexts, including library cataloging, archival description, indexing, museum registration, metadata creation for digital collections, organizing on the web, linked data, and the development of the Semantic Web. Examining how and why information professionals organize information in contemporary libraries, archives, museums, and in a variety of online settings, expert Daniel N. Joudrey addresses the types of retrieval tools used throughout information organizations, the functionality of information systems, and the role and effect of technology on information organization. A discussion of encoding follows, explaining the basics of the MARC format, several XML schemas, and the developing BIBFRAME standard. A section on the principles and functionality of metadata covers metadata types, metadata characteristics, and tools used to manage metadata projects. A timely new chapter on conceptual models and frameworks articulates the visions behind the Library Reference Model (LRM), Records-in-Contexts (RiC), and the Semantic Web, including a discussion of RDF as its underlying structural model. Finally, the latter portion of the book describes practices related to the creation of descriptive metadata. Providing a thorough overview of the field’s major issues, challenges, and standards, The Organization of Information is an essential resource for students in library and information science programs as well as for established professionals who want to refresh their knowledge of the latest developments in the field.

Organizing information is at the heart of the information professions, and the fifth edition of The Organization of Information is a key resource for anyone seeking up-to-date guidance.For millennia, information organization has been central to the functioning of libraries and other information institutions. The fifth edition of The Organization of Information provides a timely, detailed introduction to organizing in a variety of information contexts, including library cataloging, archival description, indexing, museum registration, metadata creation for digital collections, organizing on the web, linked data, and the development of the Semantic Web. Examining how and why information professionals organize information in contemporary libraries, archives, museums, and in a variety of online settings, expert Daniel N. Joudrey addresses the types of retrieval tools used throughout information organizations, the functionality of information systems, and the role and effect of technology on information organization. A discussion of encoding follows, explaining the basics of the MARC format, several XML schemas, and the developing BIBFRAME standard. A section on the principles and functionality of metadata covers metadata types, metadata characteristics, and tools used to manage metadata projects. A timely new chapter on conceptual models and frameworks articulates the visions behind the Library Reference Model (LRM), Records-in-Contexts (RiC), and the Semantic Web, including a discussion of RDF as its underlying structural model. Finally, the latter portion of the book describes practices related to the creation of descriptive metadata. Providing a thorough overview of the field’s major issues, challenges, and standards, The Organization of Information is an essential resource for students in library and information science programs as well as for established professionals who want to refresh their knowledge of the latest developments in the field.

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.

The seventh edition of this frequently adopted textbook features new or expanded sections on social justice research, data analysis software, scholarly identity research, social networking, data science, and data visualization, among other topics. It continues to include discipline experts' voices.The revised seventh edition of this popular text provides instruction and guidance for professionals and students in library and information science who want to conduct research and publish findings, as well as for practicing professionals who want a broad overview of the current literature.Providing a broad introduction to research design, the authors include principles, data collection techniques, and analyses of quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as advantages and limitations of each method and updated bibliographies. Chapters cover the scientific method, sampling, validity, reliability, and ethical concerns along with quantitative and qualitative methods. LIS students and professionals will consult this text not only for instruction on conducting research but also for guidance in critically reading and evaluating research publications, proposals, and reports.As in the previous edition, discipline experts provide advice, tips, and strategies for completing research projects, dissertations, and theses; writing grants; overcoming writer's block; collaborating with colleagues; and working with outside consultants. Journal and book editors discuss how to publish and identify best practices and understudied topics, as well as what they look for in submissions.

This thorough treatment of collection development for school library educators, students, and practicing school librarians provides quick access to information.This seventh edition of The Collection Program in Schools is updated in several key areas. It provides an overview of key education trends affecting school library collections, such as digital textbooks, instructional improvement systems, STEM priorities, and open education resource (OER) use and reuse. Topics of discussion include the new AASL standards as they relate to the collection; the idea of crowd sourcing in collection development; and current trends in the school library profession, such as Future Ready Libraries and new standards from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.Each chapter has been updated and revised with new material, and particular emphasis is placed on disaster preparedness and response as they pertain to policies, circulation, preservation, and moving or closing a collection. This edition also includes updates to review of curation and community analysis principles as they affect the development of the library collection.

The seventh edition of this comprehensive school library management text expands upon the role of the school librarian, especially in the ever-growing digital realm, and highlights the importance of school librarian leadership and outreach.In an era of budget cuts, reduced staffing, and a global pandemic, it's more important than ever for new LIS professionals and established school librarians and administrators to demonstrate the value of school libraries to decision makers.This revised and updated edition of a classic text adds two well-known authors to help lead readers through the many essential management tasks and skills required to administer the successful school library program. It emphasizes the importance of the school librarian in providing digital access to information for teachers and students, describes how facilities are being modified to accommodate new resources and programming, and offers new ways to use AASL standards to evaluate programs.All chapters are updated, and the text addresses such timely subjects as providing information resources when students, teachers, and librarians are interacting online. A new chapter highlights the importance of the school librarian's leadership in schools, districts, and communities. This invaluable textbook teaches practical skills for school library management and offers inspiration and guidance for growing LIS careers.

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.

The seventh edition of this comprehensive school library management text expands upon the role of the school librarian, especially in the ever-growing digital realm, and highlights the importance of school librarian leadership and outreach.In an era of budget cuts, reduced staffing, and a global pandemic, it's more important than ever for new LIS professionals and established school librarians and administrators to demonstrate the value of school libraries to decision makers.This revised and updated edition of a classic text adds two well-known authors to help lead readers through the many essential management tasks and skills required to administer the successful school library program. It emphasizes the importance of the school librarian in providing digital access to information for teachers and students, describes how facilities are being modified to accommodate new resources and programming, and offers new ways to use AASL standards to evaluate programs.All chapters are updated, and the text addresses such timely subjects as providing information resources when students, teachers, and librarians are interacting online. A new chapter highlights the importance of the school librarian's leadership in schools, districts, and communities. This invaluable textbook teaches practical skills for school library management and offers inspiration and guidance for growing LIS careers.

Written as a textbook for LIS students taking reference courses, this fully updated and revised seventh edition of Reference and Information Services: An Introduction also serves as a helpful handbook for practitioners to refamiliarize themselves with particular types and formats of sources and to refresh their knowledge on specific service topics.The first section grounds the rest of the textbook with an overview of the foundations of reference and an introduction to the theories, values, and standards that guide reference service. The second section provides an overview of reference services and techniques for service provision, establishing a foundation of knowledge on reference service and extending ethical and social justice perspectives. The third part offers an overview of the information life cycle and dissemination of information, followed by an in-depth examination of information sources by type as well as by broad subject areas. Finally, the concluding section guides the reader through the process of developing and maintaining their own vision of reference practice.This textbook is essential reading for all preservice and working librarians, particularly those concerned with ethical and social justice perspectives on reference work.

Written as a textbook for LIS students taking reference courses, this fully updated and revised seventh edition of Reference and Information Services: An Introduction also serves as a helpful handbook for practitioners to refamiliarize themselves with particular types and formats of sources and to refresh their knowledge on specific service topics.The first section grounds the rest of the textbook with an overview of the foundations of reference and an introduction to the theories, values, and standards that guide reference service. The second section provides an overview of reference services and techniques for service provision, establishing a foundation of knowledge on reference service and extending ethical and social justice perspectives. The third part offers an overview of the information life cycle and dissemination of information, followed by an in-depth examination of information sources by type as well as by broad subject areas. Finally, the concluding section guides the reader through the process of developing and maintaining their own vision of reference practice.This textbook is essential reading for all preservice and working librarians, particularly those concerned with ethical and social justice perspectives on reference work.

Intended to introduce readers to the breadth of information sources in the fields of science and technology as well as to their applications, this book offers in-depth coverage and a clear presentation of the structure of the literature. It covers all types of reference materials-from abstracts, dictionaries, and indexes to biographical directories, dissertations, and government documents. Descriptive and evaluative annotations define the scope of each work, its intended audience, and its special features. Critical comments allow users to compare sources and make choices between similar titles. Two major changes have been made in this edition. First, the range of publications has been updated to cover newer material. Second, myriad electronic-especially WWW-sites have been added. In general, works published before 1991 are not included, making this a current and selective guide. Valuable as a textbook and a guide to the literature, this book is also useful for collection development.

Designed for those with little or no prior experience in economics, Kingma's popular and highly acclaimed text clearly presents the fundamentals that users need to develop basic skills for simple cost-benefit analyses of goods and services. It provides students, librarians, and information professionals with a useful introduction to economics and cost-benefit analysis, and it helps them make better financial and management decisions. The book covers cost analysis of information goods and services, benefit analysis, information as a public good, information externalities, intellectual property and monopolies, uncertainty and risk, pricing information, opportunity costs, access versus ownership, and the economics of the Internet and digital libraries. Kingma's clear explanations of economic terms and models are illustrated with examples from library services and information markets-interlibrary loan, reference services, digitization projects, book and journal publishing, newspapers, photocopying services, computer software, and more. In this edition, new research and current examples of economic principles have been incorporated, and there is a new chapter on Internet economics and digital libraries.

Three mavens of the cataloging world tackle the topic of metadata, explaining fundamental concepts and their accompanying rationales, as well as exploring current developments and future innovations in the library world. Part One examines the characteristics of multiple metadata schema, the creation of metadata for both monographic and continuous electronic resources, and its integration into local catalogs and databases. Part Two explores metadata's effect on current developments in online reference, choice of metadata schema, archiving, and digital preservation, and professional education, as well as future innovations yet unborn. A must-read for sophisticated information specialists, as well as for those who aspire to similar heights of intellectual worldliness.We believe that the community of information professionals who have organized and preserved the world's written treasures for thousands of years will not fail to continue to organize and preserve the world's digital treasures in the future, demonstrating their usual sensitivity and creativity, remembering the lessons history has taught them, and keeping in mind the interests of all their user communities, present and future, as they have always done.With these bold words, three mavens of the cataloging world tackle the topic of metadata. Undaunted by its dominance in the lexicon and collective consciousness of the library profession, they deftly anatomize the concept of data about data into discrete aspects (Metadata), then relate those aspects to a miscellany of circumstances in which librarians may increasingly find themselves (Its Impact on Libraries). Part One examines the characteristics of multiple metadata schema, the creation of metadata for both monographic and continuous electronic resources, and its integration into local catalogs and databases. Part Two explores metadata's effect on current developments in online reference, choice of metadata schema, archiving and digital preservation, and professional education, as well as future innovations yet unborn. A must-read for sophisticated information specialists, as well as those who aspire to similar heights of intellectual worldliness.

Presents the only comprehensive treatise on the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) system, now fully updated to address LCSH in the electronic environment.This book is the only comprehensive treatise on the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) system. It offers users a complete and definitive guide to a challenging area of study. Chan presents a brief history of the system, analyzes its principles, and describes its vocabulary and subject authority control. She then discusses the application of LC subject headings to LC MARC records and outlines the Library of Congress's policies on the assignment of subject headings in general and the treatment of certain types of materials in particular. This new edition updates the text according to policies governing current practices in using LCSH, and the highlighted relevance of LCSH in the global electronic environment. Part 3, completely rewritten, includes a chapter on FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology), which is an LCSH-based controlled vocabulary for electronic resources.

This book is the only comprehensive treatise on the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) system. It offers users a complete and definitive guide to a challenging area of study. Chan presents a brief history of the system, analyzes its principles, and describes its vocabulary and subject authority control. She then discusses the application of LC subject headings to LC MARC records and outlines the Library of Congress's policies on the assignment of subject headings in general and the treatment of certain types of materials in particular. This new edition updates the text according to policies governing current practices in using LCSH, and the highlighted relevance of LCSH in the global electronic environment. Part 3, completely rewritten, includes a chapter on FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology), which is an LCSH-based controlled vocabulary for electronic resources.

An indispensable resource for anyone wanting to create, maintain, improve, understand, or use the diverse information resources within a sci-tech library.Providing cutting-edge practices and tools in library and information science as well as a historical perspective on science and technology resources, Science and Technology Resources: A Guide for Information Professionals and Researchers begins with an overview of the nature of sci-tech literature, the information-seeking behavior of scientists and engineers, and an examination of the research cycle. Each of the 12 chapters focuses on a specific format, showcasing specific examples and representative resources in current practice.This practical guide will be invaluable to librarians, information specialists, engineering and science professionals, and students interested in acquiring a practical knowledge of science and technology resources. The comprehensive subject bibliographies provide a sci-tech library administrator with the resources to develop and maintain an effective science, technology, and engineering collection.

An indispensable resource for anyone wanting to create, maintain, improve, understand, or use the diverse information resources within a sci-tech library.Providing cutting-edge practices and tools in library and information science as well as a historical perspective on science and technology resources, Science and Technology Resources: A Guide for Information Professionals and Researchers begins with an overview of the nature of sci-tech literature, the information-seeking behavior of scientists and engineers, and an examination of the research cycle. Each of the 12 chapters focuses on a specific format, showcasing specific examples and representative resources in current practice.This practical guide will be invaluable to librarians, information specialists, engineering and science professionals, and students interested in acquiring a practical knowledge of science and technology resources. The comprehensive subject bibliographies provide a sci-tech library administrator with the resources to develop and maintain an effective science, technology, and engineering collection.

This book helps readers explore how public librarians have reinvented the ways they bring people and information together to meet 21st-century challenges.Public Libraries in the 21st Century provides an up-to-date picture of what the public library is today, what the public librarian needs to know, and how to apply that knowledge. The book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the social, political, economic, cultural, and technological influences that determine the role of the public library in our society. It also looks at ways in which that role continues to change to meet new challenges, while always keeping true to the mission of bringing people and information together.Beginning in the latter half of the 20th century, the library reinvented and repositioned itself to be a force for people and their interaction with information. To illuminate that process, the book outlines the history and purpose of the public library. Issues of leadership, planning, decision making, organizing, and staffing are discussed, as is the impact of technology on how the library is managed and how it serves the community.