Library Science

Preparation of the future information professional depends on clear articulation of market needs by analyzing employer expectations and defining required competencies. Library and information education is being redesigned worldwide, and the developing nations need to catch up with the demands of transformation.

This book identifies the limits of the field of information science, and thus raises very real problems of the discipline in the context of people using, misusing, and abusing information. Neill provides many examples of the uses of information to illustrate how difficult it is to work with. In particular he highlights problems of information scientists using information to study information. It is Neill's contention that information use problems are, in certain instances, insoluble dilemmas, for they are grounded in human nature and can be solved only by altering that nature.

The International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science was published to widespread acclaim in 1996, and has become the major reference work in the field. This eagerly awaited new edition has been fully revised and updated to take full account of the many and radical changes which have taken place since the Encyclopedia was originally conceived. With nearly 600 entries, written by a global team of over 150 contributors, the subject matter ranges from mobile library services provided by camel and donkey transport to search engines, portals and the World Wide Web. The new edition retains the successful structure of the first with an alphabetical organization providing the basic framework of a coherent collection of connected entries. Conceptual entries explore and explicate all the major issues, theories and activities in information and library science, such as the economics of information and information management. A wholly new entry on information systems, and enhanced entries on the information professions and the information society, are key features of this new edition. Topical entries deal with more specific subjects, such as collections management and information services for ethnic minorities. New or completely revised entries include a group of entries on information law, and a collection of entries on the Internet and the World Wide Web.

This unique volume in the library field takes the methods of naturalistic research developed in anthropology and applies them to information studies and library science. The chapters provide a step-by-step description of the various aspects of naturalistic inquiry, covering the background theories, complete methodology, and practical suggestions for library applications. Clearly written in a direct and engaging style, the book is the first study of natural inquiry to be specifically directed toward librarianship.

Collection management is becoming increasingly complex due to electronic access to information, the growth of the Internet, greater reliance on document delivery and resource sharing, and changes in scholarly communication. This professional reference shows how changes in all aspects of collection management will affect future activities in this area and examines the likely value of these changes in the next century. Chapters are written by leading practitioners and academics from around the world, and the volume concludes with a bibliographical essay.

In the decade ahead, libraries will have to do more with less. Serials management, in particular, will require a greater degree of adaptability and flexibility. This professional reference overviews the most significant emerging issues concerning serials management in academic libraries and provides practical advice to aid librarians in responding to a changing environment. Among the issues discussed are the debate of access versus ownership, the electronic dissemination of text and document delivery, standards for electronic data transfer, and approaches to cataloging. The volume offers practical solutions to the problems facing librarians, and it stresses the increasing role of automation in effective serials management.

Business information is in strong demand by a wide range of library patrons. Academic librarians must meet the needs of undergraduates, graduates, and faculty who require information about businesses for their coursework and research; school librarians must deal with sophisticated financial questions from students in a variety of classes; public librarians must provide investors and job seekers with information about financial trends, prospective employers, and particular industries; and special librarians must provide their users with immediate and current data about clients, competitors, and markets. This professional management guide offers valuable, practical advice to all types of librarians new to providing business information to a wide range of clients wth differing needs.

A theoretical look at the selection, acquisition, preservation, and use of video and other evolving moving image media in libraries, as well as a practical working guide for librarians and educators involved in providing access to these media in a broad range of institutions and settings.

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.

As prices of traditional library materials increase, and space to house them shrinks, savvy school library media specialists are creating cyber libraries, or school libraries on the Internet. These libraries offer students and their parents 24-hour access and are invaluable for providing up-to-date information in a way traditional materials cannot. This guide outlines the steps library media specialists can take to create a cyber library, provide content and policies for use, and maintain it for maximum efficiency.

Chapters cover the history of librarianship, national libraries, academic libraries, public libraries, school libraries, and special libraries, as well as the state of bibliographic control and services, library education, and professional organizations in India.