Professional Development for PUBLIC Librarians 2025
ABC-CLIO, including the Libraries Unlimited imprint, joined the Bloomsbury family in 2022. In 2024, Rowman & Littlefield also joined Bloomsbury, uniting our Library and Information Science lists. Under our new name of Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, we are delighted to continue our mission to elevate librarian expertise through publishing innovative and empowering professional development materials.
Anticipating and meeting your evolving professional needs remains at the heart of everything we do. Our new book Collection Management Basics, Eighth Edition (p. 4) offers practical, up-to-date strategies for building inclusive and responsive collections in today’s changing landscape. Streaming Video Collection Development and Management (p. 6) provides librarians with expert guidance on selecting and licensing digital content, helping ensure access across diverse user groups. Read Me a Tree, Rhyme Me a Bee (p. 9) supports children’s librarians with creative, nature-based storytime plans that nurture literacy and curiosity. We hope that these books, along with the full suite of highly acclaimed titles we publish, equip you with the knowledge and skills to further enhance your librarian practice.
We appreciate all of your efforts to cultivate inclusive and welcoming reading spaces for all patrons and provide the wider community with expertise, leadership, and inspiration in challenging times. You’re empowering readers to seek, find, and understand information that broadens their horizons and build the skills needed for lifelong learning. Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited stands beside you and shares your passion for supporting the readers of today—and tomorrow.
BOOKS FOR YOUR PATRONS
We are proud to support librarians in the quest to foster independent critical thinking and the awareness and exploration of complex issues. Award-winning introductory reference books, originally commissioned by ABC-CLIO/Greenwood, have now joined Bloomsbury Academic’s esteemed reference portfolio. These books equip readers with unbiased, accessible, and trustworthy knowledge. To learn more, visit bloomsbury.com/ABC-CLIO-books.
Bloomsbury is home to adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction as well as academic and educational print and online resources. Learn more about our full suite of books at bloomsbury.com.
We also publish digital databases that cover core topics in social studies, combining standards-aligned content with built-in tools for lesson planning, instruction, and student research. To learn more, visit abc-clio.com
This catalog contains a selection of our recent publishing. To view our full suite of materials, please visit bloomsbury.com/BLU
Please note that while we try our best to ensure that prices, publication dates, and other details are correct on going to press, they are subject to change without notice.
Collection Development and Management
Collection Management Basics
Eighth Edition
Margaret Zarnosky Saponaro, John Novak, & G. Edward Evans
Managing collections in today’s environment is a challenging process. This eighth edition of the classic text on collection management covers all aspects of the management cycle from selection through deselection and preservation. The text also includes discussions of intellectual freedom, legal issues in collection development, and collaborative collection development. Timely topics such as diversity, open access, AI, digital preservation, local history, creation spaces, and “libraries of things” bring this comprehensive overview up to date. Engagingly written and easy to understand, chapters rely on feedback from experts working in the field and include many sidebars with practical examples and resources. Designed primarily for students in LIS programs, the text is also a valuable resource for all library workers responsible for collection management.
❝Whether you are a new librarian or an experienced one starting over with a new collection, this latest edition remains a foundational tool.
–American Libraries (of the seventh edition)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Margaret Zarnosky Saponaro, MLS, is Director of Collection Development Strategies at the University of Maryland Libraries (UMD), USA. John Novak, MLIS, serves as Associate Dean for Technical Services and Budget at Fairfield University, USA. G. Edward Evans, PhD, is a retired award-winning author and Fulbright Scholar.
How has the rise of digital content, AI, and open access reshaped the way libraries think about their collections?
“While there is still a place for print or other traditional formats (magazines, DVDs, etc.) in all library types, over the last five to ten years, the proliferation and availability of digital content, including ‘born digital’ resources, has grown exponentially. Digital content places greater strain on library budgets, since they cost four to six times more than print/analog equivalents. Open access/transformative agreements, seen most commonly in academic settings that must support research efforts, are becoming more and more an issue for libraries to consider, and entering into such agreements takes careful thought and consideration, as such agreements often come with a significant price tag. To combat this, public libraries in particular have lobbied for bills and government support that cap pricing and provide reasonable pricing on e-books. AI is a topic that is only starting to show impact on collections activities, whether it is through integrated AI services starting to appear within licensed resources or through commercial services whose data ingestion methods raise potential copyright issues.”
How can librarians make collection decisions that reflect both community needs and long-term sustainability?
“Assessing and understanding user needs (covered in the text) is the foundation for any collection management program. Libraries either do this through direct methods, like surveys and focus groups, or indirect methods, like analyzing demographic data, circulation statistics, and usage trends. Librarians also use this data to self-advocate. By demonstrating to administrators and the public that collection decisions are based on data and community input, librarians can justify expenditures, highlight the library’s impact, and show that libraries are responsive to community needs.”
US September 2025 | UK September 2025
256 pages
PB 9798216186120 | $49.95 | £36.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Collection Development and Management
The Children’s Literature Selection Handbook, K–8
Christie Kaaland
Beginning with an introduction to standard literary fiction genres, including a discussion of literature trends and children’s reading interests and needs, this book includes chapters on fiction, biography, folk literature, picture books, informational texts, poetry, and graphic novels. A focus on book series, a deep discussion of graphic novels, the inclusion of global literature and review sources for selection, and information on publishers and the publishing industry set this timely book apart from others in the field. It’s the perfect companion to the vast wealth of children’s literature future teachers and school librarians will read during their studies and careers.
❝Kaaland draws us into the magical and transformative power of children’s literature with this thought-provoking, practical, and, yes, joyous handbook for K–8 educators. Kaaland invites us to explore the amazingly diverse genres and formats of children’s books and inspires us with her recommended lists of titles that children will actually want to read. If you care about motivating children to become lifelong readers, you will want to read this book.
–Barbara K. Stripling, Former President of AASL and the American Library Association; Retired school librarian, library administrator, and library professor, USA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christie Kaaland, EdD, is Core Faculty in the School of Education at Antioch University Seattle, USA.
forthcoming
US October 2025 | UK October 2025
232 pages
PB 9798216186274 | $54.95 | £39.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Classic Fairy Tales and Modern Retellings
A Guide for Librarians, Teachers, and Readers
Pauline Dewan
You may also be interested in… Library Website Design and Development 9781538192351
Designed to help librarians, teachers, and reading partners feel more confident in selecting and suggesting fairy-tale books for children and teens, this comprehensive guide offers themes, readalikes, reading levels, awards, and curricular tie-ins. Readers will learn about the distinguishing characteristics of fairy tales, key authors (contemporary and historical), major trends, and significant changes in the genre. They will also discover the therapeutic power of fairy tales, their empowering impact on children and teens, and the reasons that fairy tales continue to attract young readers. Insightful and engaging annotations will increase their knowledge of the riches of the genre.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pauline Dewan, MA, MLIS, PhD (in English), is a reference librarian at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.
Collection Development and Management
Streaming Video Collection Development and Management
Michael Fernandez & Amauri Serrano
A useful how-to manual for library practitioners new to selecting and acquiring streaming media content, this book is also a refresher for established professionals who need to navigate this rapidly expanding area. Michael Fernandez and Amauri Serrano outline the myriad challenges of managing streaming video content across all stages of the electronic resources lifecycle, from initial collection decisions to the user's experience of accessing the content.
Readable, supportive, and well-organized, this offers necessary information for making, interacting with, or carrying out video streaming decisions for anyone tasked with developing a library video streaming program.
–School Library Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Michael Fernandez is the Head of Technical Services at Boston University, USA. Amauri Serrano is the Head of Collection Strategy at Yale University Library, USA.
Crash Course in Collection Development
Third Edition
Wayne Disher
Focusing on collection development basics, this third edition now covers all aspects of collection development and management in all library environments including public, academic, and school libraries, featuring essential strategies for inventory assessment, market analysis, budgeting, marketing, and customer service. Newly included are such new trends as libraries as spaces for users, collection diversity issues, makerspaces, nontraditional collections, popup libraries, the digital divide, and noncirculating collections.
Offers a practical, digestible guide to mainstream collection development basics. –Booklist
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wayne Disher is a retired public library director for the City of Hemet Public Library, USA. US February
WALK AWAY WITH
A practical introduction to collection development and management
The entire process of collection development, from community analysis, writing policy, and selection to promoting the collection and dealing with challenges
Current trends and rapidly evolving changes in the field, such as diversity issues, makerspaces, nontraditional collections, pop-up libraries, and the digital divide
Collection Development and Management
US February 2024 | UK February 2024 328 pages
PB 9781440880988 | $67.95 | £45.99 Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Curating Community Collections A Holistic Approach to Diverse Collection Development
Mary Schreiber & Wendy K. Bartlett
This book begins where diversity audits end, informing and supporting academic, school, and public librarians in the quest to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion in a meaningful and sustainable manner throughout collections, policies, and practices.
❝A book to support librarians in every field. This outstanding work should be required reading for every LIS student, and seasoned librarians will find valuable insights within its pages."
–School Library Journal
❝This excellent guide, featuring a mix of hands-on information, time-tested advice, and insight into the hows and whys of creating inclusive collections, is an indispensable resource. Perfect for collection development librarians, school librarians and teachers, and seasoned and early-career librarians."
–Library Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Mary Schreiber is a collection development specialist at Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH, USA. Wendy Bartlett has served as the collection development and acquisitions manager for Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH, USA, since 2013.
How does this book help libraries turn audit data into an achievable and sustainable action plan?
“Great question—this is exactly why we were motivated to research and write the book! We had done diversity audits with several vendors, but in talking to other librarians, we weren’t hearing about next steps. We knew there had to be great librarians out there doing the work, and we were determined to find them—and we did! We interviewed and researched and gathered everything we could to present to other librarians working in school, academic, and public libraries so they could construct practical action plans for themselves.”
How does the concept of a “community collections program” differ from traditional collection development?
“Community collections begin with customers in community itself, not with book selection. Working with staff who have their eyes and ears in the community and who can connect collection development librarians directly to the community members, and/or who can represent the needs of their community, is what it’s all about. This puts the focus on the dynamic needs of the community and its diverse makeup—not on the collection. By focusing on the diverse needs of our communities, the collection organically becomes more relevant and more useful.”
Collection Development and Management
US March 2026 | UK March 2026
368 pages
PB 9781538186343 | $60.00 | £31.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
LOOK INSIDE
Digital
Preservation
for Libraries, Archives, and Museums
Third
Edition
Edward M. Corrado, Heather Moulaison-Sandy, & Teresa Soleau
This third edition is the most current, complete guide to digital preservation available today. The text has been both updated and revised, continuing to present complex topics thoroughly and accessibly. Important new content includes information on environmental sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). After laying out the problems and perspectives that inform digital preservation, the authors present a variety of solutions ranging from basic to complex. Addressing digital preservation in the broadest sense of the term, the text looks at all aspects of curating and preserving digital content for long-term access.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Edward M. Corrado is Associate University
Librarian at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, USA. Heather Moulaison-Sandy is Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the iSchool at the University of Missouri, USA. Teresa Soleau is Digital Preservation Manager at the J. Paul Getty Trust, USA.
Covers preservation of the complete range of digital formats
Emphasizes sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion
Accounts for technological developments since the publication of the second edition
forthcoming
US February 2026 | UK February 2026
112 pages
PB 9798216195238 | $39.95 | £28.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited forthcoming
You may also be interested in… Decentering Whiteness in Libraries 9781538162910
Be Kind; Rewind! (Re)Introducing Fun Retro Media and Vintage Technology to Libraries
Christopher Kincaid
Let’s face it, new physical media is disappearing, and digital reigns. New film, music, and video game releases will eventually be digital only. To move forward, libraries need to look backward. In this fun, concise handbook, Christopher Kincaid tackles the appeal and challenges these vintage media pose for circulation. He offers programming ideas to introduce and rekindle interest in old technology and provides lists and suggestions to help you get started building your vintage technology collections. When word gets out about your new (old) library collection, you never know who might stop by!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christopher Kincaid has worked in public service, from retail to librarianship, for over 25 years.
Children’s and Young Adult Services and Programs
US August 2025 | UK August 2025
208 pages
PB 9798216184249 | $54.95 | £35.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Read Me a Tree, Rhyme Me a Bee Books and Activities
Heather McNeil
for Nature Storytime
Experts agree that it's essential for children to spend time exploring and enjoying the outdoors; when they come back in, librarians and teachers can supplement their adventures with nature storytimes. In this comprehensive book full of storytime plans, veteran children’s librarian Heather McNeil recommends storytime books that encourage respect for nature and an understanding of the fragility of ecosystems. Each chapter includes crafts, games, songs, and rhymes that focus on learning about and appreciating nature. Some crafts use items from the outdoors; others represent nature’s beauty or mystery.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather McNeil is Manager of Youth Services at Deschutes Public Libraries, Bend, Oregon, USA.
WALK AWAY WITH
Everything needed for a successful storytime that promotes an appreciation of nature, including book titles, rhymes, songs, crafts, and games
Research that explains the importance of children connecting with nature
Extensive bibliographies of recommended children’s books as well as educational resources, both online and in print
What advice do you have for a new librarian or teacher who wants to start nature-themed storytimes?
“Search the online catalog for books about whatever fascinates you, because then you'll be invested. Maybe you have a friendly squirrel in your yard. Find a book you love about a squirrel, read it to the listeners, and then tell the story of your personal encounters with that squirrel. On the other hand, maybe you're afraid of snakes. Find a funny story about a silly snake, laugh with the children, and share your own fear so they can share theirs. Storytime should always be fun, and if you're reading a book YOU like, and singing songs that make YOU giggle, and making a craft that enhances the story, then the children will perceive your joy and that story will be received with joy.”
Was there a moment in your career when you saw firsthand how nature-themed stories made an impact on a child?
“When I read fox stories I always bring along Yippers, my fox puppet, and the children are convinced he is real and can enlighten them about his life in the forest. Children brought me feathers, seashells, and dandelions, telling me in great detail where and how they acquired their treasures because they knew my passion for nature.”
Children’s and Young Adult Services and Programs
Youth Social Action in the Library
Cultivating Change Makers
Gina Seymour
This book outlines school and public library programs, activities, and collaborative projects that will help students learn how to accomplish their goals in their communities. Highlighting the role of the librarian in fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the book explores controversial topics to qualify and expand best practices. By incorporating the programs in the book, librarians can help students learn how to have reasoned arguments inside and outside of the classroom and to become responsible members of society. UN Sustainable Development Goals are addressed, making this book not only based in community but global in scope. Numerous examples of youth activism from volunteering to protest marches are explained and are broad enough to be applied not only to current trends but also to future causes.
❝A useful and encouraging resource for educators seeking to promote advocacy, civic engagement, and social action among students.”
–School Library Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gina Seymour is library media specialist at Islip High School, USA, and author of Makers with a Cause: Creative Service Projects for Library Youth (2018).
100 Glues, Brews, and Goos
Kid-Tested Activities
That Stimulate Creativity
You may also be interested in… Young Adult Library Services
9781538179291
and Critical Thinking
Diana F. Marks
Illustrated by Donna L. Farrell
Never run out of activity ideas again with this book of 100 kid-tested, child-centered activities. Recipes and formulas stimulate creativity, critical thinking, and fun. They work solo or in groups and fill rainy days with hands-on activities. Librarians, teachers, and adult family members will appreciate their connection to broad areas of learning, including STEAM and the language arts. Recipes can travel the globe and be enjoyed by people from a variety of cultures and countries. And they won’t be outgrown—there’s plenty for children to create as they progress in both age and interests.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diana F. Marks, M.Ed., is the author of seven books. She taught for over 36 years in suburban/ rural school districts. She has served as a consultant for a variety of entities, including the School District of Philadelphia.
Children’s and Young Adult Services and Programs
US December 2024 | UK December 2024
176 pages
PB 9798216182665 | $49.95 | £36.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Revolutionize Youth Book Clubs Strategies for Meaningful and Fun Reading Experiences
Stacy
Brown
How do you get the kids in your library to read? The benefits of reading are plentiful, especially for youth—it improves vocabulary, helps them become more empathetic and inclusive, and expands exposure to academic opportunities. In an age of digital distractions, book clubs can be a catalyst for encouraging youth to prioritize reading.
These tried and tested strategies help even reluctant readers develop a love of reading through book club participation. Author Stacy Brown, who has facilitated book clubs for more than twenty years, shows you how to build active engagement through hands-on activities, reflective discussions, and theme-related tips and tricks, even in the face of time and budget constraints. Learn how to attract participants, brand and market your book clubs, and keep attendees returning for more. You’ll be changing the world—one book club at a time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stacy Brown is the Director of Innovation and Professional Learning at The Davis Academy in Atlanta, GA, USA.
In a world full of digital distractions, how can book clubs capture the attention of reluctant or disengaged readers?
“In a world in which we are competing with digital distractions, book clubs serve as spaces of joy, creativity, and social connection. Instead of focusing on unnecessary rules or reading requirements, book club facilitators should emphasize the fun, social connection, and choice that book clubs offer. Incorporating hands-on, innovative activities alongside informal discussions deepens engagement and gives participants a sense of purpose, which in turn, encourages focus. The dynamic, flexible approach shifts the book club vibe from obligation to authentic enjoyment and cultivates a book brand that readers want to return to regularly.”
Can you share a favorite book club activity that really got kids talking and thinking deeply?
“When planning book club activities, it helps to design experiences that draw participants into a ‘state of flow,’ where they are deeply engaged in achieving a goal or solving a challenge, especially one that encourages empathy. After reading All Thirteen:
The Incredible Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat, I shared curated social media posts highlighting the global rescue efforts, including the involvement of celebrities to international experts, to serve as a hook to spark interest. Then, I challenged participants to design an innovative rescue device using a bag of maker supplies. I set the scene with weather conditions, survival needs, and cave dimensions. With a finite amount of time, participants became so immersed in the challenge that they did not want to stop when the timer sounded.”
What advice would you give to a librarian or educator starting a book club with limited time and budget?
“Designing meaningful book club experiences within time and budget constraints can actually spark creativity and serve as opportunities for innovation. One helpful strategy is to use a ‘book club blueprint,’ which is a template that, despite changing variables, provides structure to each event, ensuring key goals are accomplished in a finite amount of time: engaging discussions, meaningful socialization, and fun, hands-on creation. Upcycle materials on hand, such as pages from weeded books for origami, book art, or engineering challenges that connect to the book’s themes. Inexpensive treats, like dollar-store candy, can be reimagined to fit the story, like wrapping a small handful of Starbursts in aluminum foil to serve as ‘moon rocks’ for science fiction reads. With a little imagination, limitations can lead to consistent, streamlined planning and joyful experiences.”
Adult Services and Programs
US June 2023 | UK June 2023
360 pages
PB 9781440878695 | $74.95 | £54.00
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited Library and Information Science Text Series
Library Programs and Services
The Fundamentals
Ninth Edition
Stacey Greenwell & G. Edward Evans
Building on the strong foundation of the previous editions, award-winning author G. Edward Evans returns with a new co-author, Stacey Greenwell, for this update that combines their signature style of textbook readability, informality, and sometimes humor, as well as their knack for balancing foundational topics and new trends.
A new feature in this edition is the incorporation of the concept of "library social work" through "Social Work Connections" sidebars in each chapter. Anecdotes throughout the text and "Career Connections" sidebars offer practical advice and specific current examples. Greenwell and Evans have combined several chapters from the previous edition and expanded discussions of new trends while retaining and updating the fundamentals. The ninth edition is a welcome update for library and information science courses and a valuable handbook for public services librarians.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Stacey Greenwell is Coordinator of Educational services and an Instructional Designer at the University of Kentucky Libraries, USA. G. Edward Evans, PhD, is a retired award-winning author and Fulbright Scholar.
US December 2023 | UK December 2023
256 pages
PB 9781440880834 | $54.95 | £39.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Creating a Person-Centered Library Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons
Elizabeth A. Wahler & Sarah C. Johnson
Helping librarians build or contribute to library services that will best address patrons' psychosocial needs, this book provides advice on addressing the growing numbers of highneed patrons experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, mental health problems, substance abuse, and poverty-related needs. The authors, experienced in both library and social work, focus on best practices for libraries providing person-centered services and share lessons learned, including information about special considerations for certain patron populations that might be served by individual libraries. The book concludes with information about how library organizations can support public library staff.
❝A helpful collection that will inform high-needs patron services, targeted toward public libraries but useful everywhere.
–Library Journal
❝I highly recommend that someone from each library read this book.
–Library Life
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Elizabeth A. Wahler is Professor and Director of the School of Social Work at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA. Sarah C. Johnson is adjunct lecturer at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA.
Library Management, Administration, and Leadership
US August 2025 | UK October 2025
144 pages
PB 9781538183755 | $39.95 | £22.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Practical Project Management for
Librarians
Kirsten Clark
In this book, readers will learn: how to balance the goals of the project with the reality of working in libraries today, what key questions can help readers move effectively through the project process and choose the right tools, best practices to ensure sustainability in project plans as well as outcomes, and how to incorporate diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles into your project management. This practice guide provides step-by-step instructions to determine what project management tools and techniques match the needs of the particular library project and person/team’s skills level, while also providing these in the context of libraries’ specific cultures and norms.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kirsten Clark is the director of Library Enterprise Systems at the University of Minnesota Libraries, USA, where her department oversees systems for five system campuses as well as ensures consistent and transparent application of access policies for students, faculty, researchers, and community users.
THIS BOOK
Fills critical gaps in training support for library professionals
Includes best practices for incorporating diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion principles into project management
Covers project management strategies for small, mid-size, and large projects
Author Q&A
What motivated you to write a project management guide specifically for libraries?
“Projects have always been part of libraries’ work but most literature on project management focuses on business or technology settings, and in many cases with an emphasis on specific certification/training or degree programs. I wanted to create a guide that translated project management principles in a framework that centered on libraries first and did not expect the reader to have formal training to understand how to apply the information to their own situation. The use of several project examples throughout each chapter was a deliberate choice to weave practical experience into the guide as well.”
How can librarians evaluate the success of a project beyond just whether it was completed on time?
“Finishing a project on time is a great feeling but so is meeting the expectations of stakeholders, raising employee morale by streamlining workflows, or filling a gap in services sorely needed by a community that is dealing with a multitude of other societal changes. Knowledge is acquired even in projects where the end result may not be what was originally seen as the successful outcome. Lessons learned can be applied to future projects. It really is about perspective, and being realistic with what is in a librarian’s control and what isn’t, as well as working to set the organizational mindset on what is considered project success.”
Library Management, Administration, and Leadership
Efficiency by Design
Transforming Libraries and Archives through Process Management
Joy M. Perrin
Professionals in libraries and archives often are asked to take on decades-old processes and are not provided the tools to rework those processes. This book provides practical insight into how to analyze and re-design work processes to be faster, more effective, and more reliable. Readers will learn methods for getting more done while reducing stress and burnout.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joy M. Perrin is a tenured faculty member at Texas Tech University and the head of the Digital Resources Unit at the Texas Tech University Libraries, USA.
US August 2025 | UK October 2025
184 pages
PB 9781538188767 | $42.00 | £31.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
THIS BOOK
Examines how to analyze current library work flow processes
Offers insight into how to re-design work processes to be more efficient
Includes practical advice on how to reduce burnout while getting more work done
You may also be interested in… Library 2035
9781538180402
US September 2025 | UK October 2025
392 pages
PB 9798765152874 | $49.95 | £36.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Marketing and Social Media
A Guide for Libraries, Archives, and Museums
Third Edition
Lorri Mon & Christie Koontz
Marketing and Social Media is a guide to marketing for libraries, archives, and museum professionals in the social media age. This book is an introductory textbook and a guide for professionals on developing a comprehensive marketing campaign that integrates social media into a holistic marketing strategy. Chapters cover how to do a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis, identify and involve stakeholders, conduct market research, and evaluate the market. The final chapter guides readers through the first days, weeks, and months of taking over an organization’s social media marketing efforts.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr. Lorri Mon has served as an associate professor and former director of Florida State University’s School of Information, USA, researching and teaching in the area of changing and emerging technologies for libraries. Dr. Christie Koontz is an adjunct professor of marketing at Florida State University’s iSchool, USA, as well as San Jose State University iSchool, USA, continuing work in marketing internationally through IFLA, International Federation of Library Agencies.
Library Management, Administration, and Leadership
US August 2025 | UK October 2025
208 pages
PB 9798881802097 | $37.95 | £27.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
US December 2024 | UK December 2024
160 pages
PB 9781440880902 | $54.95 | £39.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Rural Public Librarianship
Jennifer Thiele
Nearly 50% of libraries in the United States are considered rural. These libraries face unique challenges and issues that continue to manifest as they contend with the systematic problem of access to information. These challenges include: financial barriers such as the drying up of recent federal and local grant funds for both rural municipalities and public libraries specifically; broadband accessibility; eBook access; mobile hotspot circulation and community access points outside the library; and more. How can librarians address these accessibility issues? This book highlights these challenges and offers best practices to contend with them given the limited resources rural libraries have access to.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Thiele is an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the School of Information Studies at Louisiana State University, USA. From 2008-2021, Dr. Thiele served as Director of the Marinette County Library System.
A Complete Guide to Training Library Staff From Onboarding to Offboarding
Emily Leachman & A. Garrison Libby
Written for library managers and training leaders, this book presents a comprehensive lifecycle for staff development with a focus on tools and techniques to build a sustainable training program, set staff up for success in their positions, and develop a positive and supportive community across the library. Authors Emily Leachman and A. Garrison Libby spearheaded their library's movement to largely online trainings, which are inclusive of staff at all branch locations.
This practical guidebook helps managers and trainers develop a comprehensive plan that allows new staff to quickly become acquainted with the operations of the library, provides ongoing training to make staff aware of new procedures and services, and creates a collaborative and supportive training environment to empower staff to learn and lead.
❝This practical guide is an invaluable resource for libraries looking to create or expand upon existing training programs. By prioritizing ongoing training, libraries can ensure that their staff members are empowered to adapt, learn, contribute, and grow.
–Library Journal
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Emily Leachman is the Assistant Director for Public Services at Central Piedmont Community College, USA. Garrison Libby is the Head of Research Services at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA.
Library Management, Administration, and Leadership
US November 2025 | UK November 2025
240 pages
HB 9781538182406 | $80.00 | £60.00 Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Planning Library Spaces
A Practical Guide for Library Building Projects
Lauren Stara
Illustrated by Kelsey Kruse
Written by a registered architect and professional librarian, this is a guidebook for librarians embarking on a library building project. It includes a brief history of library facilities, placing them in the context of public buildings. An introduction to library planning principles and a discussion of library design concepts and trends are presented, including the impact of the 2020 pandemic on library design. Sections on working with architects, building design/construction terminology and the basics of reading architectural drawings provide insight into unfamiliar jargon and visual communication. Extensive illustrations and photographs show examples of library layouts and furniture and equipment, and the final chapter addresses the challenges inherent in a major building project.
As library services change, buildings must adapt to accommodate and provide these new innovations. Buildings are living things, and this book will offer guidance to those embarking on a project of any scale or size.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lauren Stara, B.Arch, RA, MaLS, is a registered architect and a professional librarian specializing in library design. As a Library Building Specialist for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for over a decade, Lauren administered construction grants and assisting libraries with building projects.
US June 2023 | UK June 2023
232 pages
PB 9781440879111 | $74.95 | £54.00
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Creating a Staff-Led Strategic Plan
A Practical Guide for Libraries
Katy B. Mathuews & Ryan A. Spellman
This book takes a step-by-step approach to grassroots strategic planning for libraries of all types. The authors, who led a successful strategic planning process at their own library, provide practical advice and detailed information to guide library personnel through their own process. Topics include aligning with institutional and community values, creating vision and mission statements, researching stakeholder needs, conducting environmental scans, collaborative drafting of the plan, communication strategies, and implementation and assessment of the plan. Each chapter helps librarians create a strategic plan for a broad spectrum of libraries, including K–12, postsecondary, public, and special libraries. A unique feature of the book is its emphasis on the ways in which different library types can collaborate to meet shared goals. This book is a onestop-shop, providing everything library staff will need to create a strategic plan without searching for additional sources.
This guide is a useful primer for all library staff, particularly in terms of in-staff communication. –Booklist
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Katy B. Mathuews is the Executive Director and CEO of OhioNet, USA. Ryan A. Spellman is an Online Learning Librarian at Northern Kentucky University's Steely Library, USA.
Library Management, Administration, and Leadership
US February 2026 | UK February 2026
224 pages
PB 9798216194668 | $59.95 | £43.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Empowering Library Staff and Customers
Building A Culture of Teamwork and Trust
Christine D. Feldmann
& Catherine E. Hollerbach
Learn how to create a library environment where the needs of staff and customers are mutually supported without sacrificing efficiencies. You’ll discover how to enhance employee satisfaction and performance while improving the quality of service to help build more successful communities. Real-world scenarios show why simple policy changes like allowing food and drink in the library or permitting sleeping can demonstrate trust and why flexibility in scheduling won't result in complete chaos at your branch. This book provides ways to break down silos between management and front-line staff to work together for the advancement of all.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Christine D. Feldmann is Director of Marketing and Communications, Anne Arundel County Public Library, USA. Catherine E. Hollerbach is Chief Operating Officer, Anne Arundel County Public Library, USA.
How can library leadership foster a culture of trust and flexibility without losing structure or accountability?
“Library leaders don’t need to fear losing structure or accountability when working to build a culture of trust and flexibility. The key is to clearly communicate expectations, model transparency, and prioritize relationship-building. When staff understand the 'why' behind a decision, they are more empowered to carry it out effectively—and trust across the organization grows. Taking time to build genuine relationships with staff shows that you care about them as individuals and reinforces the message that we’re all in this together.”
Can you share an example of a policy change that had a big impact on both staff morale and patron experience?
“To make our libraries more welcoming to the community, we abolished the 'no food and drink' rule a few years ago. From removing the negative signage on our front doors to allowing customers the flexibility to bring a cup of coffee or an after-school snack, this change has had a positive impact on the library atmosphere. Customers were initially surprised but have embraced the shift. Staff appreciate it as well, as they now spend less time enforcing rules and more time focusing on meaningful work and building positive relationships with customers.”
What does a successful, compassionate, and empowered library culture look like to you, and how can we measure progress toward that vision?
“Fostering a healthy and positive library culture requires a dedicated effort to remain transparent, open to change, willing to listen, and responsive to both staff and customers. The results are reflected in how people engage with the library system, the feedback they share, and the energy exchanged between staff and customers. Low turnover is one indicator of staff satisfaction, but so is seeing staff grow within the organization, bringing forward new ideas, and collaborating to support one another.”
Library Management, Administration, and Leadership
forthcoming
US February 2026 | UK February 2026
288 pages
PB 9798216188773 | $67.95 | £49.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
LOOK INSIDE
Creating Healthy Library Workplaces
Five Factors That Improve Employee Engagement and Satisfaction
Edited by Jason Martin
Five factors form the foundation of a healthy library workplace: culture and work environment, leadership, workload, recognition, and meaning. In this practical volume, contributors critically examine these five factors and offer up real, meaningful ways to positively improve them. Chapter authors represent many types of libraries and many points of view, including BIPOC writers and those from other marginalized groups as well as librarians from small and large libraries, rural and urban libraries, and academic, public, and school libraries. Leaders, librarians, and library staff can all contribute to making their library a better workplace, and this guide shows you how.
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Jason Martin is the Dean of the Evans Library at Florida Institute of Technology, USA.
Learn more about the library as a workplace
Identify and learn about the five factors of a healthy library workplace
Implement practical strategies to positively influence these five factors
Better understand all types of library workplaces from different contributors’ points of view
Understand readers’ roles in the health of the library workplace
forthcoming
US January 2026 | UK January 2026
144 pages
PB 9798881800017 | $44.95 | £32.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Medical Library Association Books Series
Library Staff Development Handbook
Supporting Your Most Important Resource Second Edition
Mary Grace Flaherty
You may also be interested in… The Safe Library 9781538169605
How do you promote staff morale or provide a safe work environment during challenging times? How do you work with library supervisory boards? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this updated handbook. From planning to hiring to advocating for staff, this second edition provides practical tools, tips, templates, and reports from practitioners in the field. Throughout the book, practitioners across libraries and library systems, from academic, public, urban, and rural settings share their experiences when it comes to the joys and challenges of the day-to-day tasks of supporting staff. After all, libraries don’t work without their most vital resource, the folks who run them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Grace Flaherty is professor emerita at the School of Information and Library Science at UNC-Chapel Hill, USA. She has over 40 years of professional library experience in a variety of positions.
US January 2025 | UK January 2025
392 pages
PB 9798216185758 | $59.95 | £43.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Careers in Library and Information Services
First-Hand Accounts from Working Professionals
Edited by Priscilla K. Shontz
Written in a conversational, candid tone, Careers in Library and Information Services collects first-hand accounts from workers who have earned a master’s of library science degree to help new LIS graduates understand their career options.
Chapters, all snapshots of a particular career, are gathered into parts: the introduction is followed by careers in public libraries, school libraries, academic libraries, special libraries, and careers outside of libraries. Each chapter author describes their typical duties, shares likes and dislikes, and offers advice for those wanting a job like theirs.
❝A must-purchase text for recent and aspiring library science grads, career planning collections, and anyone exploring career changes in academic and public spheres. –School Library Journal
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Priscilla K. Shontz is a librarian at Lone Star College-Montgomery, USA.
US January 2026 | UK January 2026
224 pages
PB 9781538191941 | $49.95 | £36.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Medical Library Association Books Series
The Librarian's Grants Handbook
Understanding the Grant Process from Start to Finish
Abigail Mann, Mary Piorun, & Tony Nguyen
This book provides librarians with the tools they need to develop grant proposals and juggle the differing demands of multiple collaborators both internally and externally.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Abigail Mann, PhD, MSLS, is the Digital Scholarship Librarian at the Ames Library at Illinois Wesleyan University, USA. Mary Piorun, PhD, MSLS, MBA, AHIP, is the Director of the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, USA. Tony Nguyen, MLIS, AHIP, is Associate University Librarian for Rutgers Health Libraries at Rutgers University Libraries, USA.
US December 2025 | UK December 2025
160 pages
PB 9781538191088 | $46.95 | £33.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
AI and Digital Leadership
Transforming Libraries, Archives, and Museums for the Future
Angela I. Fritz
Explore how GLAM institutions are navigating new leadership styles and organizational frameworks to help meet the challenges posed by a digital society.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angela I. Fritz is Assistant Professor at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Iowa, USA.
Research Methods
US August 2025 | UK October 2025 280 pages
HB 9781538187951 | $65.00 | £45.00
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Librarians as Researchers
Developing our Scholarly Identities
Edited by Paul C. Campbell & Sarah Nagle
Many librarians, particularly those in academic libraries, are expected to engage in research and scholarly output. However, unlike disciplinary faculty, most librarians have not completed a PhD program, and many have never designed or participated in original research upon embarking on their career. This edited volume provides inspiration and support for academic librarians looking to develop or refresh their research skills and develop their scholarly identities. The focus of this book is toward empowering librarians as researchers, rather than librarians supporting student or faculty research. This book provides a venue for librarians to share their knowledge on different aspects of research as well as build community for other librarians to actualize their own identities as researchers.
ABOUT THE EDITORS
Paul C. Campbell is an assistant professor and the Social Science & Assessment Librarian at Kent State University Libraries, USA. Sarah Nagle is the Creation and Innovation Services Librarian at Miami University in Ohio, USA.
How might this book serve not only as a resource but as a launchpad for future librarian-led scholarship?
“This anthology serves not only as a practical resource but also as a catalyst for future librarian-led scholarship. With guidance on topics like navigating the IRB process, addressing positionality, and building communities of practice, the book empowers librarians to take confident steps into the world of library research. Additionally, the contributing authors’ perspectives and experiences offer inspiration and affirmation, helping readers see themselves as scholars and sparking ideas for new research rooted in the unique perspectives of the profession.”
Why do you think librarianship has historically struggled to center librarians' own scholarly identities?
“Librarianship has long struggled to center librarians' scholarly identities, in part because the profession has traditionally been framed in a service role—supporting the research of others rather than producing original scholarship. This tension likely stems from the fact that librarians possess deep expertise in research methods, critical inquiry, and information systems, all of which are extremely helpful to supporting the scholarship of other researchers. Yet, it is because they are so deeply embedded in the research infrastructure that librarians have the opportunity to flip this dynamic, assert their own scholarly voice and realize their full potential as researchers.”
What advice do you have for a librarian who is curious about research but doesn’t know where to begin?
“The first advice we have for librarians new to research and publication is to step into the unfamiliar and be willing to challenge themselves to explore what developing a researcher identity means to them. All researchers need to start somewhere, so don’t be afraid to start with small scholarly goals that you can later build into larger projects and outputs. A great way to do this is to get exposure to existing librarian researchers in their own institutions, through professional organizations, and existing literature. We strongly encourage reaching out to other librarian researchers and see if there are any opportunities for collaboration. The contributing authors of this anthology outline different perspectives on how to collaborate to develop related communities of practice, navigate a research project, or gain the benefits of seeking mentorship.”
US February 2024 | UK February 2024
160 pages
PB 9781440880216 | $39.95 | £28.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Conducting Original Research for Your Library
Caitlin Gerrity & Scott Lanning
A concise manual for professionals in the field, this book helps librarians master the skills to conduct, interpret, and analyze their own original research. This guide combines elements of multiple traditional text topics into one concise manual for professionals in the field, teaching types of research methods, how to do research in the field, and how to run and interpret statistical tests. From research ethics to statistical significance and everything in between, this primer is the point-of-need resource for librarians in public, academic, and school libraries who wish to use original research to support the profession.
❝The title concludes on an introspective note, nudging the reader to imagine an ultimate world in which the library is better for the knowledge, collaboration, and actions of professionals working toward a common goal and vision. . . . A good starting point for librarians looking to further holistic literacy in their communities, as well as their own careers.
–School Library Journal
❝Gerrity and Lanning explain the core concepts clearly, avoiding technical language. This book will probably find its greatest benefit as a textbook for pre-service librarians.
–Booklist
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Caitlin Gerrity is associate professor in the department of library and information science at Southern Utah University, USA. Scott Lanning is professor in the department of library and information science at Southern Utah University, USA.
forthcoming
US February 2026 | UK February 2026
384 pages
PB 9781440880704 | $79.95 | £59.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Knowledge into Action
You may also be interested in… Online Searching 9781538167731
Research Methods for Library, Archives, and Museum Professionals Second Edition
Susan K. Burke
This second edition retains respected authors Danny P. Wallace and Connie Van Fleet’s focus on practical applications of research methods. It introduces readers—both students and working professionals—to core principles of research, the structure and steps of a research project, the most common methodologies used in LAMs, and the use of study outcomes for continuous improvement of services and processes. New author Susan K. Burke emphasizes the importance of including diverse voices in research and evaluation. Exercises at the end of each chapter result in a complete research paper at the end of the course.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan K. Burke is an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma, USA, School of Library and Information Studies and Program Director for the OU Master of Arts in Museum Studies program.
Reference and Information Services
Mastering United States Government Information
Sources and Services
Second Edition
Christopher C. Brown
This approachable book provides an introduction to all major areas of US government information. Important updates to the second edition include a robust look at Data.census.gov, further elaboration on bill tracking, and enhanced instructional tools for dealing with documents that will never change and the ever-changing discovery tools and web portals that have transformed access to these documents. Examples throughout the text help users understand real-life information challenges, while exercises at the end of chapters help them become comfortable answering government information questions on their own. Several appendixes serve as quick reference sources.
I can't recommend Chris Brown's Mastering United States Government Information enough. His mastery of this important topic is unparalleled, and his enthusiasm for it is infectious. He brings to life a subject that, in lesser hands, could seem dreadfully dull. Brown's work is the standard for which all other works on government information must be measured.
–John Cannan, Faculty Scholarship Librarian & Legal Research Instructor, Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law, USA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melissa A. Wong has been an online instructor for the University of Illinois, USA, since 2001, teaching courses in reference, instruction, management, and academic librarianship. Laura Saunders is Associate Professor at Simmons University School of Library and Information Science, USA, teaching in the areas of reference, instruction, and academic libraries. US September 2025 |
Christopher C. Brown is Reference Librarian and Coordinator of Government Documents at the University of Denver, Main Library, USA.
Reference and Information Services
An Introduction Seventh Edition
Edited by Melissa A. Wong & Laura Saunders
This fully updated and revised seventh edition continues to provide thorough and authoritative information about foundational services, including the reference interview, reader's advisory, and instruction, as well as information sources from dictionaries and encyclopedias to statistics and data sources. Written as a textbook for LIS students taking reference courses, it also serves as a helpful handbook for practitioners to refamiliarize themselves with particular types and formats of sources and to refresh their knowledge on specific service topics. This textbook is essential reading for all pre-service and working librarians, particularly those concerned with ethical and social justice perspectives on reference work.
ABOUT THE EDITORS
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
US August 2025 | UK September 2025
168 pages
PB 9781538195017 | $38.00 | £22.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Unlocking Possibilities in the Library
Programming for the Future
M'Balu “Lu” Bangura
Explore the evolving role of libraries as community hubs that go beyond traditional book lending and educational programs. This book highlights innovative and forward-thinking library programs that address emerging community needs, from digital literacy and re-entry services to mental health support and environmental sustainability initiatives. Drawing on real-world case studies, the book provides practical insights into how libraries can harness their unique resources to tackle the challenges faced by diverse and underserved populations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M'Balu "Lu" Bangura is Chief of Equity and Fair Practices at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where she has integrated DEI into all aspects of organizational and community engagement, significantly enhancing the employee and user experience alike.
What are some of the most surprising or inspiring programs you came across while researching this book?
“One of the most inspiring programs I came across was the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s cell phone lending initiative. It was created specifically to serve individuals experiencing homelessness and low-income patrons, providing not just phones but preloaded access to social service contacts and critical library resources. The impact was immediate. People were able to get housing, connect to transit systems, and re-engage with society simply by gaining access to something as basic as a phone. . . . And of course I must toot my own horn with my initiatives, Pratt Free Market and Project ENCORE, creating innovative ways to address hunger and reentry services. These programs showcase how libraries can be at the forefront of tackling social issues with dignity, creativity, and community-centered approaches.”
How does Unlocking Possibilities in the Library challenge the conventional perception of what libraries do?
“This book challenges the outdated notion that libraries are just quiet places for books. Unlocking Possibilities in the Library showcases how libraries are evolving into dynamic, community-driven spaces that meet people where they are physically, culturally, and emotionally. It reframes the library as a hub for food equity programs, restorative justice circles, citizenship services, and digital equity initiatives. These examples show that libraries are no longer passive spaces. They are actively shaping community well-being and addressing systemic challenges.”
How can libraries ensure that these programs are sustainable and not just one-off efforts?
“Sustainability begins with intentional planning and deep-rooted partnerships. Libraries can ensure longevity by aligning their programs with community needs through regular assessments and by building collaborative relationships with local organizations that share similar goals. The key is to think of libraries not just as service providers but as conveners and co-creators.”
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
US February 2026 | UK February 2026
320 pages
PB 9798216170549 | $67.95 | £49.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Racial Literacy in Libraries
Edited by Sally Battle, Betsy Bird, Nicole A. Cooke, Kennedy Joseph, & Jessica Iverson Wu
This guide to racial literacy helps librarians learn to communicate about race and offer bias-free programming. Part One is a primer written by experts on the science and history of skin color, the invention of race and racism in the United States, and the development of racial identity. Part Two helps librarians bridge the gap between theory and practice, discussing the important concepts of representation, equity, and access and offering practical examples of how to apply them. Part Three offers real-life examples of libraries across the country who are bringing racial literacy to their communities through collections, curated resources, and programs.
ABOUT THE EDITORS
Sally Battle is the Youth Programming Librarian at Mount Prospect Public Library, Illinois, USA. Betsy Bird is the Collection Development Manager of Evanston Public Library, Illinois, USA. Nicole A. Cooke, PhD, MEd, MLS, is the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and an Associate Professor at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina, USA. Kennedy Joseph is the Teen Engagement Coordinator at the Evanston Public Library, Illinois, USA. Jessica Iverson Wu is a Children’s and STEM Focus Library Assistant at Evanston Public Library, Illinois, USA.
NEW
US August 2025 | UK October 2025
128 pages
PB 9781538193136 | $38.00 | £19.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
You may also be interested in… Cultural Humility in Libraries
9781538162156
A Library Worker's Guide to Saying No to White Supremacy Work Culture
Christina Fuller-Gregory
Using Tema Okun’s seminal research on white supremacy culture as inspiration, this book analyzes several aspects of white supremacy work culture in libraries. Written as a call to action for libraries and library workers, the book uses self-reflection, team-building exercises, and case studies to invite individuals to discover ways in which they can address oppressive work structures, finding successful solutions to creating environments where library workers feel safe to show up authentically.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Fuller-Gregory is principal consultant and Founder of Fuller Potential Consulting, a consultancy at the forefront of preparing individuals and organizations to harness the power of authentic belonging.
LOOK INSIDE
Includes conversation prompts and action exercises to help readers address issues in real time
Establishes how to incorporate EDI into all aspects of library work
Provides case studies and real world examples
Intellectual Freedom and Censorship
US November 2025 | UK November 2025
240 pages
PB 9781538195079 | $39.95 | £26.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited Beta Phi Mu Scholars Series
Book Banning in 21st-Century America
Second Edition
Emily J. M. Knox
This book, based on 25 contemporary book challenge cases in schools and public libraries across the United States, argues that understanding contemporary reading practices, especially interpretive strategies, is vital to understanding why people attempt to censor books in public institutions. The book focuses on the why of censorship and posits that many censorship behaviors and practices, such as challenging books, are intimately tied to the how one understands the practice of reading and its effects on character development and behavior. In order to understand why people challenge books, it presents a model of how the practice of reading is understood by challengers, including “what it means” to read a text, and especially how one constructs the idea of “appropriate” reading materials.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily J. M. Knox is a Professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also a member of the Mapping Information Access research team.
Your book explores how reading practices influence decisions to challenge or censor books. Can you walk us through what inspired this angle and how it differs from typical censorship discourse?
“I've always been interested in how reading books can change who you are as a person. Most people are able to name at least one book that changed their life in some way. If we consider that reading is a powerful act, it's not surprising that people try to control what other people read. Censorship discourse often focuses on the legal aspects or arguments over free speech online. I try to get to the heart of the relationship between books and censorship, which is reading.”
US June 2023 | UK June 2023
256 pages
PB 9781440879760 | $60.95 | £47.00
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
The Fight against Book Bans Perspectives from the Field
Edited by Shannon M. Oltmann
This volume captures the views of dozens of librarians and library science professors regarding the recent flood of book challenges across the United States, gathered in a comprehensive analysis of their impact and significance. It also serves as a guide to responding to challenges.
❝This book provides helpful tips for dealing with allies/opponents during challenge attempts—including parents, trustees, and politicians—and it stresses the need for well-written, thoughtfully considered collection, selection, and reconsideration policies. All librarians will benefit from reading this book and following the guidance within.
–Choice 360
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Shannon M. Oltmann is Associate Professor in the School of Information Science at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, USA.
Information Systems and Technology
US November 2025 | UK December 2025
176 pages
PB 9781538197837 | $36.00 | £22.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Library Technical Services
Future Forward
Mary Beth Weber & Melissa De Fino
The work done by technical services librarians has undergone tremendous changes, including the advent of generative AI, read and publish agreements, Open Access, the large-scale switch from print to electronic resources, reparative resource description, and the impending implementation of BIBFRAME. The book is comprehensive in its coverage of technical services work, beginning with collection development, covering acquisitions, electronic resources, resource description, and assessment, and concluding with a discussion of skills sets needed for success.
❝Well organized and comprehensive, the expert perspectives in each chapter cover specific areas within technical services work, while at the same time drawing connections to the larger mission of technical services as a multi-faceted unit. For library workers in technical services roles, this book does more than just encapsulate the existing state of practice—it shows where we need to go to meet the current moment and charts a course for how to get there.
–Michael Fernandez, Head of Technical Services, Boston University Library
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Mary Beth Weber has served as the head of Central Technical Services at Rutgers University Libraries, USA, since 2008. Melissa De Fino has been a technical services librarian for twenty years and currently serves as the Metadata Librarian for Distinctive Collections and Audiovisual Materials at Rutgers University Libraries, USA.
US January 2026 | UK January 2026
208 pages
PB 9798216195061 | $59.95 | £43.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Artificial Intelligence for Libraries
Brady D. Lund
Artificial intelligence is an extremely important but little-understood topic, including in libraries. This timely book explores what AI is, how it works, how it’s relevant to all types of libraries, and how it can be used. Readers will better understand the use of AI in library systems and applying AI to teaching and learning environments, and they will grow in the ability to discern potential ethical issues posed by this emerging technology.
The final chapter provides a practical guide to using various types of AI in libraries.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brady D. Lund, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Information Science at the University of North Texas, USA.
WALK AWAY WITH
Knowledge about the history and foundations of artificial intelligence technology
The ability to discern potential ethical issues related to AI usage
Ways to integrate artificial intelligence into libraries
New knowledge across library contexts and how AI technology may impact daily work
Information Systems and Technology
US January 2026 | UK January 2026
480 pages
PB 9781440856662 | $74.95 | £54.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Ethics, Information, and Technology
Kip Currier
Today, professionals spanning all sectors of society face fast-changing information use questions related to Artificial Intelligence, scholarly communication, research practice, teaching pedagogies and platforms, data sharing, knowledge management, entrepreneurial endeavors, and service access and delivery. Further complicating matters are grassroots movements such as open access, open data, and open education.
This wide-ranging and thorough volume surveys historical traditions and principles in ethics and brings readers into the current digital landscape, where ethical issues are often complex and confounding. Covering subjects that range from big data and hacking to surveillance and access, it explores the background of each topic and describes how, where, and why ethical dilemmas arise within it. Through real-life examples, this timely text teaches students and practitioners how to identify an ethical dilemma, provides guidance on how to respond, explains how to separate personal belief from professional responsibility, and discusses how to make exceptions in a principled way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kip Currier, PhD, JD, MLIS, is Assistant Professor in the School of Computing and Information (SCI) at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, where he teaches technology ethics and intellectual property (IP).
The Organization of Information
US September 2025 | UK November 2025
688 pages
PB 9781440878619 | $79.95 | £59.99
Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Library and Information Science Text Series
The Organization of Information Fifth Edition
Daniel N. Joudrey
The fifth edition of The Organization of Information provides a timely, detailed introduction to organizing in a variety of information contexts, including library cataloging, archival description, indexing, museum registration, metadata creation for digital collections, organizing on the web, linked data, and the development of the Semantic Web. Providing a thorough overview of the field’s major issues, challenges, and standards, this book is an essential resource for students in library and information science programs as well as for established professionals who want to refresh their knowledge of the latest developments in the field.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel N. Joudrey is a Professor in the School of Library and Information Science, Simmons University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where he teaches information organization and cataloging.
Did You Know?
Bloomsbury has one of the largest open access book portfolios, with several hundred titles available through our rapidly expanding program. We are commi ed to evolving this program as well as adapting to change as the demand for open access increases.
Two Opportunities for Librarians
Access Bloomsbury open access books
• All Bloomsbury open access titles are made available via a dedicated open access collection on Bloomsbury Collections.
• Open access titles are also typically included in our standard subject collections on Bloomsbury Collections for discovery purposes.
• All Bloomsbury open access titles are also distributed through the OAPEN library.
Publish open access professional development titles through Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited (BLU)
• BLU publishes PD books for academic, school, and public librarians, archivists, and museum professionals.
• BLU is excited to support equitable library professional development by offering OA resources.
Questions?
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From core disciplines like American history to unique lenses on popular culture and anthropology, Bloomsbury / ABC-CLIO’s subject-specific databases provide opportunities for everyone looking to learn.
Learn more at www.abc-clio.com/public-library-databases
