Fundamentals Of Children's Services / Edition 1

by Michael Sullivan

Overview

With more than one-third of library users under the age of 12, it may be said that children's services drive public libraries. Still, many administrators don't fully appreciate how integral these services are to their institutions.

Michael Sullivan, best-selling author of Connecting Boys with Books (ALA Editions, 2003), conducts a friendly tour in this comprehensive reference, covering both innovative and standard practices in children's services. From collection development and programming to homework support, reference, and readers' advisory to promoting and budgeting, children's services parallel other library services and are no less important.

Part of ALA's Fundamentals Series, this essential overview provides hands-on, proven strategies for those on the front lines, while addressing questions critical to the long-term success of children's library services, including the importance of children's services in the library, along with the hot issues and cutting-edge trends.

Those who want to become children's librarians, experienced and new children's librarians, and library administrators and trustees alike will find that this new bible of children's services sets the record straight: Children's services are the heart of the library.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780838909072
Publisher:	ALA Editions
Publication date:	08/01/2005
Series:	ALA Fundamentals Ser.
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	268
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	vii
	Preface	ix
	Introduction	1
Part I	Children's Services and the Mission of the Library	5
1	Where We Fit In	7
2	Principles of Children's Librarianship	12
3	Whom Do Children's Librarians Serve?	21
Part II	The Collection	31
4	Purposes and Components	40
5	Selection and Acquisition	51
6	Organization and Cataloging	60
7	Evaluation and Deselection/Weeding	68
Part III	Services	77
8	After-School Services	79
9	Reference	88
10	Readers' Advisory	96
11	The Internet	106
Part IV	Programming	117
12	Story Hours	122
13	Book Discussion Groups	136
14	Booktalking	141
15	Entertainment and Enrichment Programs	151
16	Summer Reading Programs	161
17	Family Programs and Family Literacy	170
Part V	Management, Administration, and Leadership	177
18	Budget and Finance	179
19	Planning	189
20	Policy and Procedures	198
21	Public Relations, Promotion, and Marketing	203
22	Professional Development	213
	Conclusion	228
	Appendixes
A	Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries	231
B	Library Bill of Rights	238
C	Code of Ethics of the American Library Association	239
	Bibliography	241
	Index	247

Editorial Reviews

This volume is "intended to be a guide for the new or future children's librarian." As such, it reads like a textbook and covers the gamut of topics that you would expect to find in such a text-collection development (purposes, selection and acquisition, organizing, cataloging, evaluation, deselection); services (after-school, reference, readers' advisory, the Internet); programming (storyhours, book-discussion groups, booktalking, summer reading clubs, family programs, family literacy); and management, administration, and leadership (budget, finance, planning, policy and procedures, public relations, promotion, marketing, professional development). Sullivan also discusses the role of children's services and the principles of children's librarianship. Topics are not covered in great depth but the content does touch on the essential elements. Insets within the chapters discuss issues such as librarian shortages and pay equity, service to boys, children and privacy, and library programs and copyright. Other insets give suggested titles for storyhours, a sample press release, and Web resources. While the book is probably redundant for practicing children's librarians, it is well suited for novices or as a guide for library directors who are not sure of the place of children's services in the public library.-Janet Hilbun, Texas Woman's University, Denton Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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