Introducing and Managing Academic Library Automation Projects (Libraries Unlimited Library Management Collection) - Hardcover

Head, John W.; McCabe, Gerard B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313296332 ISBN 13: 9780313296338

Publisher: Libraries Unlimited, 1996

Synopsis

Though computers have become more common, many academic libraries still lack automation of any kind. With the growing importance of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic databases, automation is likely to be an important part of the future of every library. Fortunately, enough libraries have implemented automated systems so that their experiences can inform those libraries only about to engage in automation projects. This professional reference is a guide to the forecasting, planning, implementing, and monitoring necessary for the successful management of academic library automation.

While novices will benefit from this book, the volume will be of special interest to librarians presently engaged in automation projects. The authors of the book's chapters come from all types of academic libraries and offer a wide range of experience and perspectives. The volume focuses on two major areas of librarianship, public service and technical services; and contributors stress the importance of planning, teamwork, and clear objectives. Each chapter cites sources of additional information, and the volume closes with two bibliographic essays.

About this title

About the Author

JOHN W. HEAD is Associate Professor in the Library Science Department at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and has worked in public and academic libraries. A member of the American Library Association and the Pennsylvania Library Association, his interests include information retrieval, library automation, and research methods. He is the coeditor of the Insider's Guide to Library Automation (Greenwood Press, 1993).

GERARD B. McCABE is former Director of Libraries at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He is the editor of Operations Handbook for the Small Academic Library (1989) and Academic Libraries in Urban and Metropolitan Areas (1992), and coeditor of Insider's Guide to Library Automation (1993) and Academic Libraries: Their Rationale and Role in American Higher Education (1995), all published by Greenwood Press.

From the Back Cover

Though automation in libraries has become more common, many academic libraries still lack automation of any kind. This professional reference is a guide to the forecasting, planning, implementing, and monitoring necessary for the successful management of academic library automation projects. Chapters are written by expert contributors who combine their personal experiences with solid background information on the theory and practice of library automation.

Reviews

This collection of essays on the topic of library automation management, edited by the coeditors of The Insider's Guide to Library Automation (Greenwood, 1993), is divided into three sections. The five chapters in the section on Public Services describe management concerns regarding local area networks, CD-ROM networks, Campus Wide Information Systems, and electronic indexes and full-text sources. The six chapters in the Technical Services section discuss the impact of automation on cataloging, how best to cope with organizational change, and how to analyze the integrity of a database. The four chapters in the final section on Keeping Up focus on broader topics like managing an integrated library system, system migration issues, and how to deal with too little money, time, and expertise. All in all, this work offers a thorough examination of a number of automation management issues. Although the writing is a bit on the dry side, this is a useful anthology for professional reading collections.
John M. Maxymuk, Robeson Lib., Rutgers Univ., Camden, N.J.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0313296332
• ISBN 13: 9780313296338
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 200