Bücher der Reihe Crash Course

Video games aren't just for kids anymore. This book will describe the "why" and "how" to start or expand a video gaming program in the library, including some specific examples of how to target adult and female gamer patrons.

For practitioners, this text provides an easy-to-understand approach to strategic planning and execution. The general recipe for achieving an intended outcome is equal parts of the following: clear vision and mission, a practical strategic plan, daily activities linked to the mission, and unified commitment to the plan.

Learn about the world of today's teens and how to communicate with this very important segment of your library's audience. The essential elements of building teen collection and reader's advisory services are presented with ideas for creating a teen friendly library.

This book helps libraries identify and implement new ways to serve their physically or mentally disabled patients. Authors Ann Roberts and Dr. Richard Smith work at the state level with persons with disabilities.

Being short on resources is now "e;the new normal"e; for libraries-and having too little money and too few staff members always brings library staff to the same predicament: not enough time. While it is not possible to create more time, by making use of the right time management tools and techniques, it IS possible to make huge improvements in your productivity-and as side benefits, a decrease in job stress and frustration and a greater sense of work satisfaction.This book shows how to apply powerful time management strategies so you can get more done, deliver the best service possible to your patrons, and enjoy being in an environment that fosters greater creativity and workplace satisfaction. Topics include time tracking, task management, identifying goals and priorities, beating the obstacles of procrastination and perfectionism as well as distractions and interruptions, and staying on top of time management when collaborating. Quotes and stories from individuals who work in libraries illustrate key points and concepts throughout the book. The final chapter explains how to set a personal plan for time management-using the awareness of your own patterns, obstacles, and goals, and the experience you have gained with various time management techniques and tools-to create your own unique time management strategy and make time management an ongoing, long-term priority.

A library can be a tremendous resource for teens-one that helps them to learn about themselves and the world they live in. But teenagers are intrinsically different from children and from adults, and these critical developmental differences affect the ways they interact with others, both in the world at large and in the library. Serving teens effectively in the library requires a basic understanding of who teens are and the developmental tasks they face-factors that affect all aspects of library service, from the specific programs and services we offer to the ways that staff provide assistance to the teen who is seeking help at a library service desk.This book enables library workers to better understand adolescent development, which allows them to provide a positive library experience for teens. Readers will learn how to supply excellent library services with and for teens, including in the areas of collection development, readers' advisory, reference and homework help, programming, and advocacy. The book identifies the best ways to have positive interactions with teens in the library based on their mental development and details best practices for teen services. The concluding section discusses advocating for teens, with emphasis on their right to privacy and equal access to materials and services.

Professional practices in the field of library reference services have changed dramatically in the past decade in response to shrinking print reference collections and evolving technology, search strategies, and user needs and interests. This new guide explains all the basics of reference services, covering resource types and awareness of their appropriate uses, collection development and maintenance techniques that support reference service work, the latest online searching techniques, and best practices for service interactions through various platforms, including email, chat, text, phone, and face to face. Additionally, it addresses reference service ethics; communication and conducting reference interviews; important policies related to reference service development, provision, and maintenance; alternative reference service delivery points now in use; and professional service provider networking.Both experienced reference librarians and those new to reference service will benefit from in-depth coverage of recent changes in online reference resources and print-based resources, guidelines for authoritative evaluation of web-based resources, explanations of online catalog searching skills, and tips for reference web page construction. The book also contains an expanded section on making digitized collections accessible and relevant; information on the growing need of members of the general population for help with various federal government access programs ranging from Veterans Affairs and Social Security to health care access, income tax regulation fulfillment, and immigrant documentation; and explanations of copyright in the digital sphere of resource use and transfer.

For all libraries, money is critical to decision-making about technology, staffing, and collections. As a result, informed budgeting is critically important for any library to succeed. This book explains library finance in a practical, engaging way, using examples of real situations in different types of libraries to teach key points. Written by authors with years of experience in budgeting and financial planning within a variety of library settings and in teaching library management or fundraising at the university level, Crash Course in Library Budgeting and Finance makes it painless to learn how to properly manage money in any library environment.The book addresses the entire process of financial planning, from a general, conceptual overview of library budgeting to the details of generating and spending income, and describes best practices for implementing financial controls. Subjects covered include building construction and capital projects, fund raising, capital campaigns, moving to fee-based services, extending and developing earned income, financial best practices, and assessment and evaluation. The authors also make recommendations regarding when and how to share relevant financial information throughout the organization and with constituents throughout the book.

Family literacy programs can be remarkably effective in helping families who struggle in various areas of literacy or supporting their children's academic needs.Crash Course in Family Literacy Programs provides an introduction and an overview of this critical subject, defining what literacy, family literacy, and family literacy events are, and covering critical topics such as sources of funding, conclusions of recent research, and bilingual family literacy. The first half of the book is focused on laying out background information about family literacy, while the remainder provides practical how-to information for public and school libraries to develop their own family literacy programming. The book shows perspectives of public librarians, school principals, children's book store owners, and school personnel who have successfully implemented a family literacy program. Planning sheets and lesson templates are included, making it easy to develop a family literacy program.

This introduction will help plan for attracting this rapidly growing Spanish-speaking population into the library and library services, a major challenge to librarians in small public libraries who have no Spanish-speaking staff.Providing services to Spanish speakers is both an honor and a challenge. Before public institutions venture into reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community, they need to become familiar with their cultural competency so that their decisions and initiatives are not at risk.

Marketing a library's programs or services takes more than sending out a flyer or posting an announcement on the website. Effective marketing is important for every library, as it can lead to a significant increase in library use-which is a major factor in budget justification. Crash Course in Marketing for Libraries: Second Edition will help you develop a strategic direction for your organization and identify methods for employing your best marketing and public relations strategies.Each chapter of this second edition has been updated and expanded, comprehensively addressing the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages of the marketing and public relations process in libraries. The rise of social media as a powerful marketing tool is discussed in particular detail. The authors cover topics such as planning, promoting through the use of the existing media or advertising, and assessing the project. The book's appendixes provide examples of marketing plans and projects as well as other helpful marketing resources.

The question "e;can you recommend a good book?"e; can be one of the most daunting you face, notwithstanding the fact that recommender tools are ubiquitous. Often, uncertainty arises because, although librarians are called on to perform such services daily, readers' advisory is a skill set in which most have no formal training. This guide will remedy that. It is built around understanding books, reading, and readers and will quickly show you how to identify reading preferences and advise patrons effectively. You'll learn about multiple RA approaches, such as genre, appeal features, and reading interests and about essential tools that can help with RA. Plus, you'll discover tips to help you keep up with this ever-changing field.There is no other professional book that covers the full spectrum of skills needed to perform the RA service that is in such great demand in libraries of all kinds. Helping readers find what they want is a sure way to serve patrons and build your library's brand. You will come away from this easy-to-understand crash course with the solid background you need to do both.

Crash Course in Library Services for Seniors provides a refreshingly positive approach to working with older adults-one that focuses on the positive effects of aging on patrons, and the many opportunities that libraries can create for themselves by offering top-notch services delivered with a concierge mindset. The book offers page after page of great programming ideas specifically for reaching out to Baby Boomers and older customers-a population that is predicted to double over the next 20 years.Organized in only six chapters, this easy-to-read book provides practical suggestions for making any library a welcoming place for older adults, covering topics such as assessment, planning, programming, services, marketing, and evaluation. This title will be invaluable to public librarians interested in expanding and improving their current programming for older adults within their community, and for those looking to create entirely new programming for seniors.

Organization of information and cataloging is often the most daunting task for library technicians and non-catalogers working in the library. New RDA cataloging rules can be baffling for even the more seasoned catalogers. Written by two authors with 20 years' combined experience in cataloging instruction, Crash Course in Basic Cataloging with RDA approaches current principles of organization of information and cataloging practices from a basic standpoint for non-catalogers. It makes a complex topic easy to understand and a complicated practice doable for those without the proper training and necessary experience.The book gives readers a basic understanding of organization of information and cataloging practice, explaining how records are created and the approaches to different formats of information in libraries, including MARC records and encoding RDA cataloging records; offering assistance in applying RDA; identifying the cataloger's tools; and providing non-technical explanations for the tasks that today's catalogers do. It contains an introduction, a bibliography/webliography, and three appendices of additional resources (Cataloging Tools, Resources for Catalogers, and Sample Catalog Records).

Weeding is often difficult-who can easily decide to discard books and other materials that someone may someday want to borrow? But weeding is essential to keeping your collection healthy and relevant. Perfect for all types of libraries and for both paraprofessionals and librarians unfamiliar with modern weeding methods, this practical guide offers clear guidance that can help you cope with the sometimes-paralytic fear and distaste that can accompany a must-do task. Each of the book's chapters treats a specific concern-for example, weeding electronic collections. Practical matters related to collection maintenance through material and online resource weeding are addressed, as are policy and procedure documentation and communication planning and best practices. You'll read about weeding ethics, using vendor-provided weeding tools, and floating collections. The book also shares advice on training volunteers as weeding assistants and on communicating with library stakeholders about collection maintenance. By showing you how to make weeding a normal part of your library's routine, this book will help you provide your community with a healthier, better circulating, and more valuable collection.

Useful for newcomers to the children's library staff as well as longtime children's librarians, the second edition of this popular handbook provides easy-to-follow instructions to make innovations in children's library materials work for you.

A basic, how-to book written primarily to prepare librarians to assist genealogy researchers, this guide can also be used by those who wish to discover and document their family histories.

This text contains a comprehensive overview of library services for preschool children that provides simple, practical tips for working with the youngest library patrons, including computer usage. Tailoring a portion of your library towards the needs of toddlers, preschoolers, and parents of infants is a complicated undertaking.

The best way to avoid the pitfalls of public library administration without experiencing them firsthand is to take direction from someone experienced in the field. Crash Course in Public Library Administration introduces librarians in rural or small urban areas to public administration as it applies to libraries.

Taking a management position in a new library or being promoted to a higher position in your library means a new approach to interpersonal relations.

What do you do when you are offered any number of gifts including but not limited to artifacts, letters, historical documents, collections of pictures, postcards, arrowheads?

People who run small, rural libraries without formal education will use this book to help them make informed decisions about the organization of their library and the information it holds.

Storytelling extras (props to puppets including costumes) and lists of grade-appropriate, time- and teller-tested stories are provided. This basic guide by experienced storytellers provides all that is needed to encourage any novice storyteller to take the plunge.

Designed for the librarian in a small public library or a quick review for those offering reference services.

Using a typical Microsoft Windows environment with cut and paste templates and examples, you will learn to understand some of the benefits and limitations of using commercially available software tools.