What do you think?
Rate this book
Providing Materials for Library Users
Providing materials for library users is no longer a matter of merely selecting books. Advances in technology require library and information professionals to harmonize user access to print, electronic and other materials. They are faced with new choices, for example whether to put items directly into stock or to provide different levels of electronic access, and must be able to chart their way through these complex overlapping options. Library and information professionals have had to re-evaluate their policies, procedures and practices in order to adapt to a changing, more user-orientated working environment.
This important new text has grown out of a previous work – Book Selection – which was published in its fifth edition in 1991. Its fresh approach to the subject reflects the increasing complexity of providing library material in the digital age. It provides a clear, practical approach to selecting print and electronic materials, giving guidance on the best principles and procedures. Aiming to bring the reader right up-to-date with current issues, it covers in detail the important debate over holdings versus access. The significance of user needs is emphasized throughout and the text examines how they can be translated into providing access to the right materials for the right user at the right time – this is seen as the key element of library service.
Key areas covered inside include:
-Policy and provision
-Assessing users’ requirements
-Budgeting
-Evaluating print and electronic material
-Stock logistics and revision
-Stock evaluation and performance measures
-Weeding
-Holding versus access
The requirements of certain special materials are also covered in relation to these principles, including serials, audiovisual materials, foreign language materials, reading for pleasure, reference materials, children’s and out-of-print materials.
Library and information professionals from a wide range of institutions including workplace, higher and further education, schools and public libraries will find this an invaluable and state-of-the-art guide to all aspects of providing materials for library users. Extensive references to recent literature also make it an excellent introduction to the subject for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The author
David Spiller OBE MLS ALA had a public library background before embarking on 25 years of library and information work for the British Council. In the UK and over-seas. He was later Director of the Library and Information Statistics Unit at Loughborough University for three years before retiring in 1999.
This important new text has grown out of a previous work – Book Selection – which was published in its fifth edition in 1991. Its fresh approach to the subject reflects the increasing complexity of providing library material in the digital age. It provides a clear, practical approach to selecting print and electronic materials, giving guidance on the best principles and procedures. Aiming to bring the reader right up-to-date with current issues, it covers in detail the important debate over holdings versus access. The significance of user needs is emphasized throughout and the text examines how they can be translated into providing access to the right materials for the right user at the right time – this is seen as the key element of library service.
Key areas covered inside include:
-Policy and provision
-Assessing users’ requirements
-Budgeting
-Evaluating print and electronic material
-Stock logistics and revision
-Stock evaluation and performance measures
-Weeding
-Holding versus access
The requirements of certain special materials are also covered in relation to these principles, including serials, audiovisual materials, foreign language materials, reading for pleasure, reference materials, children’s and out-of-print materials.
Library and information professionals from a wide range of institutions including workplace, higher and further education, schools and public libraries will find this an invaluable and state-of-the-art guide to all aspects of providing materials for library users. Extensive references to recent literature also make it an excellent introduction to the subject for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The author
David Spiller OBE MLS ALA had a public library background before embarking on 25 years of library and information work for the British Council. In the UK and over-seas. He was later Director of the Library and Information Statistics Unit at Loughborough University for three years before retiring in 1999.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2000
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.