Foundations of Library Services

April 1, 2016

The core values of library service must be understood by all library staff, no matter the type of institution. Condensing history, ethics, duties, and the reasoning behind certain tasks into one text is a tall order. Keeler (library technology, Three Rivers Community Coll., CT) is thorough and uses real-life contemporary examples to connect traditional practices to modern times. Chapters are divided into three sections: materials, customer service, and access to information. Subjects covered include acquisitions, readers' advisory, serving youth, assisting challenging patrons, intellectual freedom, and more. Each chapter states the library support staff certification (LSSC) competency being addressed and provides a glossary of terms, a chapter summary, discussion questions and activities, and a list of extensive references. Material is covered at a level of detail useful for library support staff. The chapters, while brief in length, are dense in content. VERDICT This is an excellent text for library science students and for library staff developing learning outcomes and training opportunities.--Kendra Auberry, Indian River State Coll. Lib., Port St. Lucie, FL

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