Am. Library Association

FRBR; a guide for the perplexed.

This guide details FRBR (functional requirements for business records), a model to help library users navigate catalogs more easily, which was developed by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Cataloging Section. Maxwell explains and illustrates the model and why it is important for information organization, and offers suggestions for databases based on the FRBR principles. Specific topics include entity-relationship database modeling, user tasks, and a comparison of current cataloging practice with what it would look like if FRBR principles were used. The book is aimed at public, academic, technical, and public services librarians, and administrators. Maxwell is a librarian for the Special Collections and Metadata Cataloging Section at the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young U. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Fundamentals of technical services management.

Intner (emeritus, Simmons) lends her expertise in the area of technical services to assist librarians and other library staff who may be asked to take on technical roles without training or guidance. Part of the American Library Association's Fundamentals series, this title addresses the roles and responsibilities of a technical services manager in the library setting. The ten chapters include a variety of topics, such as the responsibilities of the technical services manager; planning technical services policies and programs; recruiting, training, directing, and supervising staff; the impact of digital resources; interacting within and outside the library community; and interacting with vendors. The information presented is intended for all library types. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Helping homeschoolers in the library.

Furness, a children and family services librarian at the Webster Public Library, seeks to break stereotypes about homeschoolers and to educate librarians about some of the major reasons parents choose to homeschool their children. She gives librarians the information and tools they need to develop policies, programs, and services that support homeschoolers in their communities. The first half of the book explores philosophies and trends in homeschooling and places them in context, giving librarians enough knowledge to understand homeschoolers' needs, along with resources and a vocabulary that will allow them to approach homeschoolers with some confidence. The second half of the book deals specifically with building library programs and services for the homeschooling population. The book includes many profiles of homeschooled students and their parents, along with writers, thinkers, librarians, and others active in the homeschooling movement. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Strategic planning for results.

Nelson, a consultant and trainer specializing in public library planning and management, outlines the essential steps for drafting a results-driven, strategic planning process that libraries can complete over the course of four months, regardless of organizational structure or size. Reflecting on the current planning environment for public libraries, she makes the case for strategic rather than long- term planning and includes a wealth of information about understanding and managing the change process. She gives advice on assessing the change-readiness of the library, simplifying data collection, and identifying service priority options. The book includes case studies, reproducible workforms, checklists, and sample meeting agendas. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Transforming library service through information commons; case studies for the digital age.

Bailey (Providence College) and Tierney (U. of North Carolina, Charlotte) are both considered authorities on the Information Commons, a research model that strives to assemble all the data in the world into one unified resource for academic libraries. The authors use case studies to show the relative failures and successes of building the IC, how the IC has been implemented in various libraries, the budgetary and staffing concerns of the IC and how this resource actually works. Tips for implementation and training for IC applications are also offered to academic librarians who are interested in trying this new resource. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)