A must-have preparedness handbook for every library and information center, this nontechnical guide offers you comprehensive strategy for protecting your library's technology assets against the growing array of threats--from viruses and worms to hackers, system failures, and natural disasters. Here is a step-by-step, easy-to-implement guide for securing servers, systems, and networks against both internal and external threats. Beginning with the fundamentals, the authors will guide you through the steps necessary to build a comprehensive security plan. You will learn how to take a detailed...

Using paraprofessionals to answer reference questions is a great way to expand your library's reference reach while getting the most value out of your staff. But how do you begin training them? What training materials should be used? What skills should be taught? How important is the reference interview for paraprofessionals? What are the pros and cons of using paraprofessionals in this manner? Morgan answers these and other questions in a new edition of this bestselling book. Revised and updated to include basic and advanced skills using both print and electronic resources, this volume...

Make sure your school district is legal! Use this authoritative guide to set up and maintain a copyright compliance program. You'll learn how to: define copyright compliance and establish procedures; involve/meet with all stakeholders; write or update a copyright policy; conduct training sessions; develop auditing processes and procedures; and, maintain copyright compliance district-wide. Superintendents, school administrators, teachers, technology coordinators, aides, school boards, and especially library media specialists will find this resource invaluable.

The revised 2nd edition of this practical how-to for all types of librarians will teach you to understand the needs of public, academic, and special library users across any virtual setting--email, text messaging, and social networking Web sites--as welll as in traditional and face-to-face models of communication. Based on the latest research in communication theory, the book includes new exercises and examples to help you practice effective reference transactions and avoid common pitfalls. Guidance for helping users with special language-related needs (such as speech and hearing disabilities...

Library Journal and other review journals raved about the first edition of this now-standard guide. This new edition has been completely updated and expanded to include crucial new information on digital records, encoded archival description (EAD), copyright issues, post-9/11 security concerns, and international perspectives on these issues--content that makes this manual essential for archivists of all backgrounds. Setting up archives, appraisal and accessioning, acquisition strategies and policies, arrangement description, reference and access, preservation, and electronic records are just...

Today's tight financial times make budgeting and sound money management more important than ever. The first six chapters of this essential how-to use a step-by-step approach to thoroughly explain and illustrate the nuts and bolts, including types of budgets and how to create and revise them; ways of tracking spending and fund allocation; and timelines for financial planning, such as capital spending. Later chapters cover special spending challenges, such as new buildings, maintenance, proposals and bids, outsourcing, and more. Careful attention is given how libraries make and save money--now...