Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services: Paths for the Future and Case Studies

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Explores the future of technical services through a number of interesting surveys and research essays If there is one area of the modern-day library that has undergone radical redesign and reorganization not just once but many times in the last thirty years, it would be technical services. Shrinking budgets, new electronic formats, the internet, and technological innovations have drastically changed the size, workflows, personnel, and job duties of library technical services departments and their staff. For many technical services departments, the challenges are numerous: finding and hiring qualified cataloguers, dealing with a wide range of print and electronic formats that have grown exponentially every decade, reorganizing workflows on an almost yearly basis due to staff reductions and working through the quality vs. quantity issues, and trying to find answers for organizing and describing information in its many emanations, are only a few of the challenges. In part one, this book explores the future of technical services through a number of interesting surveys and research essays, combined with insightful opinion pieces. Part two contains a number of fascinating case studies, the majority from academic library technical services, which focus on redesign and reorganization efforts in library technical services departments to meet and deal with the challenges of reduced staff, increased work, new electronic formats, metadata, quality vs. quantity of work, professional vs. support staff assignments, as well as a myriad of other options. The editor, Brad Eden, has been involved in technical services for over twenty years, and this book will provide food for thought, as well as practical lessons and experiences, to anyone involved in the day-to-day supervision, management, and future of a library technical services department. Explores the future of library technical services Contains fascinating case studies

Reviews

"Brad Eden has pulled together a rich compilation that extensively covers the topic of restructuring technical services....Taken as a whole, the book collects in one place an impressive body of experience, insight, evidence, and practical guidance on technical services redesign, staffing challenges, work-flows, and issues of quality, as well as lessons learned about initiating and leading change. Of immediate use to library leaders who are considering change in technical services are the numerous models for reorganization offered by authors....[a]n excellent sourcebook for ideas, examples, and key references to the library literature."-Library Resources & Technical Services
"It is a well-bounded soft cover publication, with an excellent index, including author names. Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services is excellent value for money, and is highly recommended to all library technical services staff members, management, and LIS educators."-The Electronic Library
Beginning with a comprehensive review of the literature, the essays examine definitions of technical services, discuss staffing trends, and consider the role of the cataloger in the 21st century.-American Libraries
Brad Eden has pulled together a rich compilation that extensively covers the topic of restructuring technical services....Taken as a whole, the book collects in one place an impressive body of experience, insight, evidence, and practical guidance on technical services redesign, staffing challenges, work-flows, and issues of quality, as well as lessons learned about initiating and leading change. Of immediate use to library leaders who are considering change in technical services are the numerous models for reorganization offered by authors....[a]n excellent sourcebook for ideas, examples, and key references to the library literature.-Library Resources & Technical Services
In a time when many libraries are faced with shrinking budgets, reduced staffing, and the need to offer access to an ever-increasing array of information resources, techinical services professionals must examine their existing methodologies and practices and look for innovative ways to accomplish their goals. They will find Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services of great assistance in this process, since what emerges from the papers in this volume is not only an insightful look at why we are where we are today, but a fascinating glimpse of what our future can be.-The Serials Librarian
It is a well-bounded soft cover publication, with an excellent index, including author names. Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services is excellent value for money, and is highly recommended to all library technical services staff members, management, and LIS educators.-The Electronic Library
Reorganizing and redesigning technical services departments is a hot topic....This edited collection provides an in-depth examination of these issues and others that are affecting technical services, including retirements and personnel turnover, a disconnect between the needs of libraries and the number of qualified catalogers completing library school, changing roles of support staff, and the outsourcing of cataloging.-portal: Reviews
This book would be most useful as a reference source addressing specific topics or types of organizations.-Technical Services Quarterly
"Reorganizing and redesigning technical services departments is a hot topic....This edited collection provides an in-depth examination of these issues and others that are affecting technical services, including retirements and personnel turnover, a disconnect between the needs of libraries and the number of qualified catalogers completing library school, changing roles of support staff, and the outsourcing of cataloging."-portal: Reviews
"Beginning with a comprehensive review of the literature, the essays examine definitions of technical services, discuss staffing trends, and consider the role of the cataloger in the 21st century."-American Libraries
"In a time when many libraries are faced with shrinking budgets, reduced staffing, and the need to offer access to an ever-increasing array of information resources, techinical services professionals must examine their existing methodologies and practices and look for innovative ways to accomplish their goals. They will find Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services of great assistance in this process, since what emerges from the papers in this volume is not only an insightful look at why we are where we are today, but a fascinating glimpse of what our future can be."-The Serials Librarian
"This book provides both theoretical and practical information that will aid technical services librarians in adapting to the changes necessary in order for their departments to continue to exist in the 21st century. Recommended to all technical services librarians (academic and public) and LIS educators."-Library Journal
"This book would be most useful as a reference source addressing specific topics or types of organizations."-Technical Services Quarterly

Author Bio

BRADFORD LEE EDEN is Head of Web and Digitization Services for the University Libraries at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has a Masters and Ph.D. in Medieval Musicology.