Library Technical Services: Future Forward

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Mary Beth Weber (Rutgers University Libraries) Melissa De Fino (Rutgers University Libraries)

Library Technical Services

Future Forward

Mary Beth Weber (Rutgers University Libraries), Melissa De Fino (Rutgers University Libraries)

$140

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
11 December 2025

Library, archive & information management; Library & information services

This book takes a look at the future of technical services post-pandemic

and at the brink of technological disruptions through a diversity,

equity, inclusion, and accessibility lens.

Libraries have undergone a tremendous transformation that has been driven by multiple factors that include technological developments, and societal impacts such as declining college enrollment and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has introduced changes to how technical services professionals work and provide services. Whereas the library is often perceived by users as a building to house print books and journals, the reality is that the library encompasses both physical and virtual spaces. For many users, the library’s online catalog and website are their first (and perhaps only) experience with the library. Our user community is global, and technical services work has evolved to serve users with a growing array of electronic resources, including e-books, databases, and e-journals. These resources differ from their print counterparts in that they cost more, require licenses and contracts that must continually need to be renegotiated and renewed, must comply with accessibility standrards, and require different skill sets to catalog. The virtual spaces and services libraries provide are built on the foundation provided by technical services librarians.

Assessment is an important, yet often overlooked, aspect of technical services work, and is addressed in this book. It is critical for collection development and acquisition of electronic resources. It is also an important component of the work of electronic resources librarians, who monitor usage and trends.

Developing an appropriate skill set for technical services work is essential for success. This includes knowing the standards for the work performed, awareness of emerging standards, and remaining relevant.

By: Mary Beth Weber (Rutgers University Libraries), Melissa De Fino (Rutgers University Libraries)
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781538197820
ISBN 10: 1538197820
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 11 December 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Preface Mary Beth Weber Chapter 1: Collection Development: Traditional and the Future Qiana Johnson and Stephanie Rodriguez Chapter 2: Thinking Forward: The Future of Acquisitions Kavita Mundle and Laura Sill Chapter 3: Resource Description Sungmin Park and Autumn Faulkner Chapter 4: State of the Area: Electronic Resources Today Elyssa M. Gould Chapter 5- “Because it is Anomalous”: Library Technical Services Assessment Reconsidered Catherine Oliver and Jessica Schomberg Chapter 6: Timeless Skills, Evolving Roles: The Technical Services Librarian Gretchen Hoffman and Laura Sill Chapter 7: Positioning Ourselves for Success: The Future of Technical Services Melissa DeFino About the Editors About the Authors Bibliography Index

Mary Beth Weber served as the head of Central Technical Services at Rutgers University Libraries for 17 years and is currently the Coordinator for Training and Mentorship. She has experience with acquisitions (requests for proposals, approval plans, PDA/DDA/EBA plans) and resource description. Early in her career, she established herself as an expert in cataloging non-print resources. Weber has been active in ALA Core (previously ALCTS) and served as editor-in-chief of the peer-reviewed scholarly journal Library Resources & Technical Services for nine years. She has authored numerous books on technical services and cataloging. In addition, she has been active in mentoring programs, both within ALA and at Rutgers University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Art History (Double Major) from Michigan State University, and holds an MLS from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Melissa De Fino has been a technical services librarian for 20 years and is currently the Team Lead for Cataloging and Metadata Services at Rutgers University Libraries. In 2022, she co-authored Virtual Technical Services: A Handbook with Mary Beth Weber. Her research focuses on the evolving field of technical services librarianship, including articles such as ""Amazon for Technical Services Librarians"" and ""New Roads for Patron-Driven E-Books."" De Fino also served as editor of the ""Tech Services Online"" column in Technical Services Quarterly for several years and was named the 2009 Association for Library Collections and Technical Services Emerging Leader. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in creative writing from Fordham University, a Master of Library and Information Science from Rutgers University, and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a focus on creative arts from Rutgers University.

Reviews for Library Technical Services: Future Forward

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