Jump-Start Your Career as a Digital Librarian

June 1, 2013

This career guide--12 essays by 21 authors--presents both overviews and practical information. Editor Monson (digital initiatives librarian, Univ. of Northern Colorado, Greeley) provides an introduction. Two main sections follow. The first includes pieces on what a digital librarian is and on approaching this career straight out of library school or as a later professional shift. There is advice on picking relevant library school courses, as well as on networking, and how best to apply for jobs in this emerging specialty. The second section has pieces on the technical practice of digital librarianship, with discussions of website code, XML, digital imaging, metadata, content management, digital project management, and digital content preservation. Each piece has a webliography as well as bibliography. On the less positive side, this book suffers from the inevitable problem with technology titles: its content is already somewhat dated owing to the speed of change in practices and software. The dates of articles cited by the essay writers (2011 and earlier) could well decrease the ongoing value of the information. Each section of the book may have been better if fleshed out for an entire book. However, there is sufficient information and context here for a current basic understanding of the concepts. VERDICT Recommended with reservations for librarians seeking or thrust into a digital information position.--J. Sara Paulk, Wythe-Grayson Regional Lib., Independence, VA

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