The New OPL Sourcebook: A Guide For Solo And Small Libraries

by Judith A. Siess

Yahoo! has a wide range of ways to find information, communicate, invest, shop, and sell, and this book provides an overview of the popular Web portal. Details on Web searching, finding and customizing news, and using and creating discussion groups are included, as well as information on using Yahoo! for communicating with e-mail and instant messaging, buying and selling goods and services, managing personal finances and investments, and personalizing with My Yahoo!. Presented to both novice and savvy users, this resource aids in utilizing additional Yahoo! content and features for quick and easy use such as travel, health, music, weather, maps, movies, photos, and games.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was updated in 2005. Hasn't been updated for 17 years. The resources section which starts in chapter 12 and goes to chapter 19 is so outdated that it's almost useless because you have to completely search all of the information all over again. The links are dead or have been updated or you just have to completely search what you want to find from scratch. Good information leading up to that point but the update 4 years after the first edition could have had a follow-up 15 years after the second edition.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for a class on special libraries in my library science Master's program. At times, Siess can be snarky and downright insulting (particularly her section on the "care and feeding of nerds," or IT people), but all in all she is serious about the profession and about how librarians must take charge and position themselves to continue to be relevant in the future.

She also includes some well-written and informative sections on basic business principles like time management, budgeting, and working as a team. It made a very readable textbook--I think even if I don't become a "one-person librarian," there were a lot of practical tips here that I could apply to any business.

[Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just became the "one person" of an OPL and picked this up hoping for some tips. While the beginning chapters were of some help, by about page 80 I realized it was no longer applicable to me as a small public library. Most of the discussion is aimed toward corporate librarians, who are alone in their library but not alone in their corporation. This plays such a significant difference I skimmed most of the end. So, if you're looking at or are a corporate librarian, this is definitely for you.

There are also a ton of resources on various topics listed in the back. However, it could use some updating.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had some great insight to a one person library. Sections on marketing and reporting to a non-librarian were most beneficial.