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Introduction to Public Librarianship
Here is the much anticipated second edition of author Kathleen de la Peña McCook's groundbreaking one-of-a-kind resource that is used in libraries and universities across the nation and definitively sets the standard for public librarianship literature. Cited as one of the top twenty researchers in library science, de la Peña McCook, a distinguished university professor and renowned public library scholar, has thoroughly revised and updated every one of the book's chapters to provide both professionals and LIS students with the most current and comprehensive introduction to public librarianship. McCook covers every aspect of the public library, from its earliest history to its current incarnation in the 21st century information environment. Following three engaging chapters on the history of public libraries, her thorough Table of Contents Readers will especially welcome the new coverage of Web 2.0 and its massive impact, as well as global perspectives on the public library, and insight into the relationship between public library services and human rights.
Exhaustively researched and expansive in its coverage, Introduction to Public Librarianship, Second Edition continues to live up to the description that appeared in Public Libraries (September/October 2007): "a fact-filled compendium of valuable information, a handbook for the working librarian, educator, and researcher."
Exhaustively researched and expansive in its coverage, Introduction to Public Librarianship, Second Edition continues to live up to the description that appeared in Public Libraries (September/October 2007): "a fact-filled compendium of valuable information, a handbook for the working librarian, educator, and researcher."
544 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 7, 2018
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.
December 16, 2013
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.
April 21, 2020
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.
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.
May 30, 2022
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.
November 21, 2017
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.
August 16, 2022
I read this textbook for my The Public Library class for my MLIS. It's a good textbook. Lots of charts and resources. Is fairly diverse in content. Some parts were awfully dry though, and others did not feel well-fleshed-out for a beginner to grasp.
April 4, 2023
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.
May 15, 2017
Might be more useful if you haven't worked in a public library before.
December 26, 2018
Very informative. Verrrrry dry.
December 4, 2020
Well-written, informational, and thorough!
September 22, 2019
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.
December 14, 2010
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.
December 5, 2013
Some good information here. A good resource for public librarianship.
December 14, 2015
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
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
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews