Idea of Order: Transforming Research Collections for 21st Century Scholarship

The Idea of Order: Transforming Research Collections for 21st Century Scholarship. Washington, D.C.: Council on Library and Information Resources, June 2010. 027.7 Idea. ISBN 978-1-932326-35-2

The Idea of Order explores the transition from an analog to a digital environment for knowledge access, preservation, and reconstitution, and the implications of this transition for managing research collections. The volume comprises three reports. The first, "Can a New Research Library be All-Digital?" by Lisa Spiro and Geneva Henry, explores the degree to which a new research library can eschew print. The second, "On the Cost of Keeping a Book," by Paul Courant and Matthew "Buzzy" Nielsen, argues that from the perspective of long-term storage, digital surrogates offer a considerable cost savings over print-based libraries. The final report, "Ghostlier Demarcations," examines how well large text databases being created by Google Books and other mass-digitization efforts meet the needs of scholars, and the larger implications of these projects for research, teaching, and publishing.

The Frugal Librarian: Thriving in Tough Economic Times

Smallwood, Carol, Ed. The Frugal Librarian: Thriving in Tough Economic Times. Chicago: ALA, 2011. 025.110973 Fruga ISBN 978-0-8389-1075-7

Fewer employees, shorter hours, diminished collection budgets, reduced programs and services all at a time of record library usage. In this book, library expert Smallwood persuasively demonstrates that the necessity of doing business differently can be positive. Presenting creative and resourceful solutions to universal concerns from dozens of librarians, representing a wide variety of institutions, this collection helps overtaxed library professionals:* Find supplementary funding sources, including grants* Save money by sharing resources, using tiered staffing for technical services, and implementing green IT* Tap into grassroots movements to save neighborhood libraries* Preserve and enhance important library functions like programming, outreach, and staff development, despite a tight budget Partnering, sharing, innovating these are the watchwords for contemporary librarians in tough economic times, and this book offers plenty of ideas that can be implemented immediately.

Sanchez, Elaine R., ed. Conversations with Catalogers in the 21st Century. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 2011. 025.3 Conve ISBN 978-1-59884-702-4

Conversations with Catalogers in the 21st Century contains four chapters addressing broad categories of issues that catalogers and metadata librarians are currently facing. Every important topic is covered, such as changing metadata practices, standards, data record structures, data platforms, and user expectations, providing both theoretical and practical information. Guidelines for dealing with present challenges are based on fundamentals from the past. Recommendations on training staff, building new information platforms of digital library resources, documenting new cataloging and metadata competencies, and establishing new workflows enable a real-world game plan for improvement.

Be a Great Boss: One Year to Success

Hakala-Ausperk, Catherine. Be a Great Boss: One Year to Success. Chicago: ALA, 2011. 023.9 Hakal. ISBN 978-0-8389-1068-9
Moving into a library management position can feel like a daunting and solitary pursuit. Graduate school courses in management are expensive and often hard to find, and even having a mentor at hand is no guarantee of a successful transition. To help library managers improve their skills and acumen, renowned speaker and trainer Hakala-Ausperk presents a handy self-study guide to the dynamic role of being a boss. Organized in 52 modules, designed to cover a year of weekly sessions but easily adaptable for any pace, this workbook :

· Covers major management topics such as success with stakeholders, staffing, customer service, planning, funding, leadership, and more
· Offers an inexpensive alternative to seminars and classroom instruction
· Requires an investment of as little as an hour per week, and is completely self-paced
· Includes challenging questions and exercises, and a Web-based template to record learning progress
Suitable for all levels of management, from first-line supervisors to library directors, this book lays out a clear path to learning the essentials of being a great boss.

How to Stay Afloat in the Academic Library Job Pool

Neely, Teresa Y., Ed. How to Stay Afloat in the Academic Library Job Pool. Chicago: ALA, 2011. 023.2 How ISBN 978-0-8389-1080-1
There's never been a more challenging time to find a position as an academic librarian, especially for those who have recently completed their library education. But whether job-hunters are jumping into the job pool for the very first time, or back in the water after a dry spell, Neely and her crack team of expert contributors have the information needed to stay afloat. Their collective wisdom will act as a lifesaver, providing:

· Practical and specific advice on how the job-search process works, including the how-tos of readingbetween the lines of a job listing and assembling a compelling application packet
· Keys to understanding the mysterious ways of search committees, and what criteria may be used todetermine successful candidates
· The nuts and bolts of undergoing a successful job interview, plus tips for negotiating when an offer is made
Job-hunters at every level of experience will find this volume the definitive resource for moving successfully into an academic career.