Library Programs and Services: The Fundamentals

by G. Edward Evans, Margaret Zarnosky Saponaro, Carol Sinwell

Supplying essential, foundational reading for students of library public services as well as an up-to-date overview for practitioners who wish to refresh their knowledge or acquaint themselves with a new area of responsibility, this book's broad and solid coverage will benefit anyone concerned with developing or maintaining the public face of the library. A revision and expansion of Libraries Unlimited's "Introduction to Library Public Services: Seventh Edition," this edition has new chapters covering such topics as e-resources, collections, print and other media, and facilities and funding. Additionally, every chapter has been substantially updated and reorganized to better reflect the role of technology in library services today.

The book begins with background information on public services in libraries and an analysis of the library's public service philosophy. Then, the authors delve into staffing and assessment of services, moving logically to major functional areas of public services--reference, instruction, document delivery, circulation and reserves, collections, programming, safety and security issues, and facilities and funding. Real-life anecdotes from public, academic, and school libraries illustrate principles and concepts throughout the book. For each topic, the authors detail its role and philosophy, and offer key points to remember, references, and lists for further reading.

516 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2015

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite a 2015 publication (which is why the rating would have been a 3.5), the book has 490 pages of EVERY service the public library offers (programs, technology, staffing, storytime, marketing, displays, collection, genealogy, online resources, outreach, teens, kids, families, seniors, space usage) EVERYTHING.
I am 99% sure that this is a required book for MLIS students...

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is long overdue for an update.

[Heather]

I didn't read the chapters that weren't required reading for my class but between all the other related articles I've read through the semester, I'd say I've read the book. Got 5/5 on all but two of the end of chapter review questions - yay.