Defining Relevancy: Managing the New Academic Library

by Janet McNeil Hurlbert (Editor)

Connection. Competition. Collaboration. These three words define management of college libraries, today and in the future. They also describe the contents of this book, which focus on planning for the multiple directions that college library managers must consider and act upon. Contributed chapters cover the challenges nearly all must face, such as understanding users, information literacy, staff alignment, and the integration of physical building and function. Some chapters contain studies and models that can be replicated at similar institutions. Others offer documentation that can be used in reports or presentations to administrators and boards. Together, they convey a plethora of good ideas for responding to customers, competitors, technologies, and stakeholders.

Genres: Nonfiction, Library Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2007

Reviews

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another one of those I would label a "must read" that will likely not be read by the people who should actually be reading it (namely library managers and higher education administrators). Like many library science books, the essays vary from very relevant to things I already knew already. Personally, this is a small occupational hazard for me: I read so many different things in the library literature that often they repeat, or I have seen them before. At any rate, there are some good thinking points in this book. I ended up jotting a few ideas I wanted to remember in my personal journal, taking notes as I read. For one of these books, when I find myself taking notes, that is a good sign of engagement. I am not sharing some of those notes because, well, let's be honest, let's just say the at times idealistic descriptions in the book do not match the harsh reality I have to work with and leave it at that. I will say the essay on keeping academic reference service is a good one and worth reading. So, I do recommend it, and I am sure a few library managers will likely pick it up. Whether their bosses pick it up, and more importantly, choose to act on some of the recommendations in the book, that is a separate story.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one for a graduate level (MLIS degree) Issues in Academic Libraries class at San Jose State. For the most part, the articles chosen by Hurlbert are still relevant today, in spite of the book being published 5 years ago. I particularly enjoyed Mitchell and Martin's essays regarding the physical space of academic libraries in both literal and symbolic senses and how the use of space has an effect on information seekers. Good one and worth reading for any MLIS student or anyone interested in academic library theory.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never been much into books comprised of case studies. Luckily, this book was well-balanced, so I just skipped over those chapters. The sections that will probably prove to be most useful to me in the future included the one on collaborating with other departments e.g. student services to expand areas of your collection (chpt.10)and to get more involved with programming for students as well as chapter 6 on rethinking information literacy and instruction.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read an advance copy of the chapter on collaboration by David P. Bunnell, and I must say this man is the most brilliant librarian in the history of the world.

[ACRL]

Read by ACRL Member of the Week Susan Campbell. Learn more about Susan on the ACRL Insider blog.