Introduction to Public Librarianship

by Kathleen de la Peña McCook, S Bossaller

Put simply, there is no text about public librarianship more rigorous or comprehensive than McCook's survey. Now, the REFORMA Lifetime Achievement Award-winning author has teamed up with noted public library scholar and advocate Bossaller to update and expand her work to incorporate the field's renewed emphasis on outcomes and transformation. This "essential tool" (Library Journal) remains the definitive handbook on this branch of the profession. It covers every aspect of the public library, from its earliest history through its current incarnation on the cutting edge of the information environment, including statistics, standards, planning, evaluations, and results; legal issues, funding, and politics; organization, administration, and staffing; all aspects of library technology, from structure and infrastructure to websites and makerspaces; adult services, youth services, and children's services; associations, state library agencies, and other professional organizations; global perspectives on public libraries; and advocacy, outreach, and human rights. Exhaustively researched and expansive in its scope, this benchmark text continues to serve both LIS students and working professionals.

Genres: Nonfiction, Library Science, Textbooks, School, Librarianship, Adult, Grad School

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jane Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read for class- it’s not particularly engaging, and I don’t really want to work in public libraries soooooooooo

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this preparing for the class I am teaching this coming semester. I have been a big fan of the book since it's first edition. I am still disappointed in the very low level of discourse relating to marketing for public libraries and almost no coverage of social media, but she has done a great job of adding more information about how technology is being further embedded in modern public libraries. Overall, she is continuing to improve the title with each new edition.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a terribly engaging read, by any measure. It touches on some important topics for prospective librarians, but it's so exceedingly dry and disjointed that the multi-page tables come as something of a relief. Poor manufacturing quality does not help.

[AltLovesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually not terrible like textbooks tend to be. I pulled a lot of interesting facts and figures out of the chapters, which was a pleasant surprise. The book also had lengthy discussions about supporting readings, which I made extensive notes about for later, and helpful links and things for websites in each chapter.

All that said, it's still a textbook at its core. The chapters read dry for the most part, and are extremely lengthy in some cases. The information is relevant to today's library world (I read the 3rd edition, published 2018), but there's a lot of "but we'll see where this trend/thing/technology/legislation goes in the future" hand waving.

[Bernadette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for those who are interested in working in a public library setting. In this book, you'll learn about all aspects of public libraries for example: how the start of public libraries began, organization, administration, staffing, planning, evaluation, adult, youth, and children services, advocacy, outreach and more.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as part of one of my courses. We mostly used the readings to spur weekly discussions on the class message board. Those usually were grounded in experiential evidence from our jobs working in libraries.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my "The Public Library" course in library school. I remember it being a pretty good introduction to the theory and philosophy behind public library services but not so much the reality.

[Amy Gideon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might be more useful if you haven't worked in a public library before.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative. Verrrrry dry.

[Michele Peoples · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, informational, and thorough!

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for one of my Library Science courses. It found it to be incredibly readable compared to my other textbooks, but also very repetitious. There were several quotes that were used more than once throughout the book and they were always presented as though it was the first time we'd seen them. I found myself repeatedly asking, "Didn't I already read this?" Overall, this was a decent book, but it was annoying that the same information was just reused repeatedly.

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt that this textbook went into too much detail at times--is it important that I know that so-and-so used charts in their presentations in 1976? No. And the author was biased at times too.

[Amy Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good information here. A good resource for public librarianship.

[Tayler K · Rating 2 out of 5]

LIS 645

Assigned: 742 pages
Ch 1-7, (8 or) 9, 10-12: 269 pages
Articles: 473 pages

Read: 720 pages
Ch 1-7, 9, 10, 12: 247 pages
Articles: 473 pages