Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Academic Librarianship Today

Intended for use by both librarians and students in LIS programs, Academic Librarianship Today is the most current, comprehensive overview of the field available today. Key features include: ·Each chapter was commissioned specifically for this new book, and the authors are highly regarded academic librarians or library school faculty- or both ·Cutting-edge topics such as open access, copyright, digital curation and preservation, emerging technologies, new roles for academic librarians, cooperative collection development and resource sharing, and patron-driven acquisitions are explored in depth ·Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions for discussion and carefully constructed assignments that faculty can assign or adapt for their courses The book begins with Gilman's introduction, an overview that briefly synthesizes the contents of the contributors' chapters by highlighting major themes. The main part of the book is organized into three parts: The Academic Library Landscape Today, Academic Librarians and Services Today, and Changing Priorities, New Directions. Review Todd Gilman has put together a first-rate book on the issues facing academic libraries and librarians today. Moreover, he has selected a genuine who's-who of thinkers and practitioners, each of whom is uniquely able to provide a critical perspective on the fifteen topics included in the book. While some collections of essays are uneven, this volume provides consistently excellent pieces on difficult and complex matters. Each essay is concise, but it is by no means cursory.... The scope of inclusion--from state and federal influences all the way to the roles of institutional general counsels and alumni affairs--is extremely difficult to locate elsewhere.... There are two additional aspects of the book--very positive aspects--that need to be mentioned. Each essay includes either extensive notes or bibliographies; these are extremely useful for practicing professionals and for teachers and students. The other aspect is the inclusion in each essay of activity questions and assignments. It is this aspect that lends the book most readily to instructional use, giving potential students prompts according to which they can ponder seriously the meaning and implications of the topics presented. In short, Gilman has done a real service in putting together a uniformly excellent volume. First, all academic libraries should acquire the book for professional development purposes. Second, academic programs should give serious consideration to using this book in instruction. As collections of essays go, this book is exceptional.--College & Research Libraries Academic libraries are increasingly seen as a hub for faculty and student engagement across curricular and co-curricular programs, and a catalyst for innovation across the academic enterprise. Thriving at the center of a swiftly changing higher education experience requires academic librarians to be prepared to take advantage of a host of opportunities to demonstrate the impact of their work on teaching, learning, and scholarship, and this requires a broader introduction to the academic enterprise as part of LIS education and a commitment to continued learning about its future directions. Gilman and his co-authors provide one of the best introductions currently available to the array of challenges and opportunities that academic librarians must embrace as they plan their careers and their continuing professional education in this environment of transformational change.--Scott Walter, university librarian, DePaul University, and adjunct member of the faculty of the San Jose State University School of Information and the Dominican University Graduate School of Library and Information Science About the Author Todd Gilman taught literature and writing at the University of Toronto, Boston University, and MIT before embarking on a career in academic librarianship. Since 2001 he has served as L