Libraries, Community, and Technology [Paperback]

Andy Barnett (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786413794 | ISBN-13: 978-0786413799 | Publication Date: October 1, 2002

A number of people, including politicians, techies, and even librarians themselves, are convinced that if libraries are not obsolete now, it is only a matter of time until they are, thanks to the Internet. Many, though, are optimistic about the future of libraries and their continuing role in shaping a community’s cultural life. Libraries have changed, but the important things about them have not.

This book is a collection of 15 essays written by the author. All of the essays consider the relationships between libraries, the communities they serve, and the technology that has become such a significant part of them. Among the topics explored are the public library and its social mission, librarians and their core values, the concept of the killer application as it pertains to librarianship, balancing competing claims on resources, why the author became a librarian, why libraries should not be re-engineered, re-imagined or otherwise changed, how technology is being used to help libraries stay local, digitizing on a budget for public libraries, why the Internet will not replace public libraries, e-books, the end of cataloging, how library technology strikes back, new competencies for library trustees, and how librarians weed books, deciding which ones should be kept and which are just taking up space.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This book, a collection of 15 essays about public libraries and topics related to them, opens with essays devoted to three main forces that wield considerable influence over libraries: their historical social mission, professional values, and "killer applications"--services or application programs that libraries provide, such as reference services, children's services, reader's advisory, word processing, and Internet access. Other topics discussed in subsequent essays include the reasons the author became a librarian, technology, digitization, the Internet, e-books, cataloging, competencies for library trustees, and weeding. The work concludes with a brief, annotated recommended reading list and index. Overall, the text is highly readable and accessible. Some readers make take issue with some of the content, but the ideas themselves are consistently thought-provoking and compelling and are likely to leave few readers indifferent. A valuable resource for all public libraries and large academic libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Andy Barnett is the assistant director of McMillan Memorial Library in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786413794
• ISBN-13: 978-0786413799
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,541,840 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Library Journal, Feb. 2003, Vol. 128 Issue 2, p125,, March 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Libraries, Community, and Technology (Paperback)

In these 15 essays, Barnett (assistant director, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids) takes a provocative look at the relationships among libraries, their communities, and the technology that has become so prevalent today. Among the ideas he discusses are how business management principles can work well in a not-for-profit setting; "give them (patrons) want they want" is a primary responsibility of a public library; and technology is in and of itself an end rather than a means. Arguing that while many changes have occurred and will continue to occur in public libraries, the institution's fundamental role remains the same--to help shape a community's cultural life by serving as an educational resource--Barnett asserts it is that commitment that those who choose this form of public service need to reaffirm. "There is no other career that so combines and supports core American values such as self-improvement, equality of opportunity, rugged individualism, the building of community, and the importance of an educated citizenry.... Librarianship is not a job or a career path, but a vocation, a road to be followed for the good of others." For your own well-being and that of your library, read this book!