Full Description
This book takes a look at the future of technical services post-pandemic and at the brink of technological disruptions through a diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility lens.
Libraries have undergone a tremendous change that has been driven by multiple factors that include technological developments, and societal impacts such as declining college enrollment and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has introduced changes to how technical services professionals work and provide services. Whereas the library is often perceived by users as a building to house print books and journals, the reality is that the library encompasses both physical and virtual spaces. For many users, the library's online catalog and website are their first (and perhaps only) experience with the library. Our user community is global, and technical services work has evolved to serve users with a growing array of electronic resources, which includes e-books, databases, and e-journals. These resources differ from their print counterparts in that they cost more, require licenses and contracts that eventually need to be renegotiated and renewed, must be accessible, and require different skill sets to catalog. The virtual spaces and services libraries provide are built on the foundation provided by technical services librarians.
Assessment is an important, yet often overlooked, aspect of technical services work, and is addressed in this book. It is critical for collection development and acquisition of electronic resources. It is also an important component of the work of electronic resources librarians, who monitor usage and trends.
Developing an appropriate skill set for technical services work is essential for success. This includes knowing the standards for the work performed, awareness of emerging standards, and remaining relevant.
Contents
Preface Mary Beth Weber
Chapter 1: Collection Development: Traditional and the Future Qiana Johnson and Stephanie Rodriguez
Chapter 2: Thinking Forward: The Future of Acquisitions Kavita Mundle and Laura Sill
Chapter 3: Resource Description Sungmin Park and Autumn Faulkner
Chapter 4: State of the Area: Electronic Resources Today Elyssa M. Gould
Chapter 5- "Because it is Anomalous": Library Technical Services Assessment Reconsidered Catherine Oliver and Jessica Schomberg
Chapter 6: Timeless Skills, Evolving Roles: The Technical Services Librarian Gretchen Hoffman and Laura Sill
Chapter 7: Positioning Ourselves for Success: The Future of Technical Services Melissa DeFino
About the Editors
About the Authors
Bibliography
Index
