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Are you doing the job of a librarian without the advantage of a library degree or professional experience? Do you wonder what you might have missed in formal library education, how highly trained librarians stay on top of their game, or what skills and qualities library directors look for?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this is the book for you. Pamela H. MacKellar-a 25-year library veteran who has mentored "accidental" librarians in all types of settings-covers library principles, practices, and tools of the trade. She offers tips, examples, and simple exercises to increase your understanding.
Whether you are seeking a thorough grounding in library fundamentals or simply looking for ways to serve more effectively in your current role, The Accidental Librarian is a great place to start.
Figures and Tables xiii
Foreword Karen Strege xv
Acknowledgments xvii
About the Website xix
Introduction xxi
Part I Basic Library Principles
Chapter 1 What Is a Librarian? 3
Why We Become Librarians 3
How We Become Librarians 4
Library School Education 5
Kinds of Librarians 7
What Is an Accidental Librarian? 8
Sidebar: How I Discovered That Not All Librarians Have MLS Degrees 9
Sidebar: Linda Hardy Dydo, Los Gatos (CA) Public Library 10
The Facts About Accidental Librarians 11
What Makes a Librarian? 16
Sidebar: Eileen Gilbert, Boscawen (NH) Public Library 16
What Do Librarians Do? 17
What Else Do Librarians Do? 19
Sidebar: What Do Librarians Need to Know? 21
What Skills Do Librarians Need? 21
What Are the Characteristics of Librarians? 22
Chapter 2 What Are Libraries? 27
Types of Libraries 29
Who Uses Libraries? 30
Library Standards 31
The Future of Libraries 32
Libraries as Community Centers 35
Chapter 3 The People Libraries Serve 39
Who Does Your Library Serve? 39
Your Community's Profile 41
Chapter 4 Determining the Needs of the People Libraries Serve 51
Community Needs Assessment 51
Decide What You Want to Know 52
Assessment Tools 54
Customer Satisfaction Surveys vs. Needs Assessments 58
Analyzing the Data and Sharing the Results 59
Using the Results in Library Planning 60
Sidebar: Tamara Sandia, Jemez Pueblo (NM) Community Library 60
Chapter 5 Letting Your Vision, Mission, and Plan Be Your Guides 65
Does Your Library Have a Real Vision, Mission, and Plan? 66
Common Reasons Why Libraries Don't Have a Vision, Mission, or Plan 69
The Vision Statement 70
The Mission Statement 72
Sidebar: Do You Need Both a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement? 75
The Library Plan 76
Part II Basic Library Practice
Chapter 6 Developing the Library's Collection 83
Performing a Collection Assessment or Collection Evaluation 83
Creating or Updating Your Collection Development Policy 85
Selection 87
Donations 92
Weeding 94
Preservation 98
Chapter 7 Acquiring Information for the Library 101
Automated Acquisitions 102
Steps in the Acquisitions Process 102
Sidebar: Cathy Butterfield, The Community Library, Ketchum, Idaho 110
Approval Plans 113
Electronic Products 114
Acquisitions Budgets 116
Chapter 8 Organizing the Library's Information 117
The Importance of Cataloging and Classification 117
Library Catalogs 118
Providing Access to Information 118
Cataloging 119
Classification 122
Copy Cataloging 124
Authority Control 128
Sidebar: Finding Sean Combs Using Authority Headings 129
The Price of Saving Money 130
How Is Your Library Doing? 131
Cataloging Is Not Dead 132
Chapter 9 Retrieving and Disseminating Information 137
The Library Collection 137
Knowing Your Library's Collection 137
Information Retrieval Defined 139
Online Catalogs 140
Databases and Electronic Resources 143
Determining the Best Resource 145
Making It Easy for Others to Retrieve Information 146
Disseminating Information 146
Chapter 10 Library Services 153
Customer Service 153
The Library Building 154
Online and Computer Access to Information 155
Reference Service 156
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) 159
Readers' Advisory 161
Children's Programs 163
Young Adult Services 164
Sidebar: Lita Slaggle, Baylor County (TX) Free Library 166
Adult Programs 168
Services for the Underserved 169
Sidebar: Jessica Fenster-Sparber, Passages Academy 170
Chapter 11 Library Policies 173
Purpose of Library Policies 173
The Four Tests 174
Fair and Equitable Service 175
What Is the Big Deal About Policies? 175
How Does This Happen? 177
Policies Every Library Needs 179
Tips to Get You Started 181
How to Write a Library Policy 182
Policy Changes 184
Chapter 12 Library Management Essentials 185
What a Library Manager Does 186
Sidebar: Patti Newell, Sullivan Free Library 188
Personnel 189
Communication 197
Governing Boards 200
Sidebar: Diana Lorton, Camino Nuevo Correctional Center 201
Local Government 204
Friends of the Library 205
Budgets 206
Volunteers 207
Are You a Micromanager? 211
Chapter 13 Library Marketing 213
Marketing Plan 213
Branding 214
Your Library's Public Image 215
Communicating to the People You Serve 219
Events and Themes 221
Sidebar: Seven Things You Can Do Now to Market Your Library 223
Staying Connected to the Larger Organization 223
Social Software 224
Chapter 14 Removing Barriers 225
Barrier 1: Your Library Is Disadvantaged 225
Barrier 2: Things Are Fine Just the Way They Are 226
Barrier 3: You Know All There Is to Know About Librarianship 227
Barrier 4: You Know All There Is to Know About Your Community 228
Barrier 5: Your Library Is Different 228
Removing Barriers 228
Sidebar: Martha Liebert, Martha Liebert Public Library 229
Part III Technology and the Library
Chapter 15 Public Access Computers 237
What Makes a Computer a PAC? 239
Software for PACs 240
Security, Maintenance, and Management 240
Sidebar: What Is Malware and What Can You Do About It? 243
The "Look" and Location of PACs 246
Selecting PACs 248
What PAC Support Staff Must Know 250
What PAC Users Need to Know 251
Internet Connectivity 252
Technology Planning and PACs 252
Computer Use Policies 253
Chapter 16 Automated Catalogs 255
To Automate or Not to Automate 256
Integrated Library Systems 257
Selecting Automation Software 260
Selecting a User-Friendly OPAC 264
Chapter 17 Online Reference Tools 267
Online Reference Resources 267
Electronic Reference Tools 270
Knowledgeable Reference Staff 271
How Has the Internet Changed Reference Service? 272
Chapter 18 Library 2.0 279
What Is Library 2.0? 280
What Does Library 2.0 Mean for You? 282
What Can You Do to 2.0 Your Library? 283
Library 2.0 Technology Tools 285
Library 2.0 Nontechnology Tools 291
Planning, Promoting, and Educating 291
Part IV Career Development
Chapter 19 Getting Connected and Finding Support 295
Your Own Library 295
State and Regional Library Associations 296
Library Systems and Consortia 297
Online Communities 297
National Library Associations 303
Sidebar: Evelyn Pockrass, Indianapolis (IN) Hebrew Congregation 303
Publications 306
Chapter 20 Librarian Certification 309
Public Librarian Certification 309
Sidebar: Michele Haytko, Perkiomen Valley Library 310
Library Practitioner Certificate Program 312
School Librarian Certification 312
Academic and Special Librarian Certification 313
Certified Public Library Administrator 313
Chapter 21 Continuing Education, Distance Education, and Degree Programs 315
Colleges, Universities, and Postsecondary Institutions 315
Sidebar: Felicia Cheney, Edgartown (MA) Free Public Library 316
Library Associations 316
Other Associations 317
Conferences 317
State Library Continuing Education Departments 319
Library Membership Organizations and Cooperatives 319
Free Web-Based Training and Tutorials 320
Appendix A Sample Library Policies 323
Appendix B LIS Education Resources 335
Appendix C Library Issues and Legislation 345
Recommended Reading 363
Websites 379
About the Author 395
Index 397
Overview
Are you doing the job of a librarian without the advantage of a library degree or professional experience? Do you wonder what you might have missed in formal library education, how highly trained librarians stay on top of their game, or what skills and qualities library directors look for?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this is the book for you. Pamela H. MacKellar-a 25-year library veteran who has mentored "accidental" librarians in all types of ...