Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services: Paths for the Future and Case Studies

Citation

Fourie, I. (2005), "Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services: Paths for the Future and Case Studies", The Electronic Library, Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 257-258. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470510593022

Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services offers a wealth of information in a 480‐page publication. Editor, Bradford Eden, aptly involved a team of expertise. It is however, a pity that there is no contact detail on the contributor's expertise and contact detail is not included.

The publication consists of 21 chapters. Part 1 concerns theoretical issues and includes a review of the literature on the redesign and reorganization of technical literature, the meaning of technical services as seen from the perspectives of praxis as well as LIS education, staffing trends in academic libraries, changing and adaptation of technical services (according to a case study) (it is not clear why this chapter is not included in Part 2 dealing with case studies), alternative and innovative methods to quality cataloguing and the name and role of the cataloger in the twenty‐first century.

The second part covers a wide variety of case studies. These include: the redesign of database management at Rutgers University Libraries; successful merging of workflow and personnel in technical services; workflow analysis as a basis of organizational redesign at McMaster University Library; the centering of technical services at Union College; merging departments in small academic libraries; creating career paths for cataloging support staff; reorganization and change at Emory University Libraries; a case‐study of a mid‐sized research library; personnel turnover as impetus for change; shifting duties and responsibilities of technical services staff; reorganization in technical services at the Ohio State University Libraries; two reorganizations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; a national cataloging and indexing program for United States Government Publications; and the Cornell University's Geospatial Information Repository.

A great value to the book is the editor's note preceding each chapter. It highlights the essence of the chapter, and puts it in context with the rest of the publication. The theoretical chapters all include lists of references (mostly very extensive lists). Some of the case studies also include lists of services. The chapters are mostly well‐written and of high quality. Chapters that, however, stood out for me include Laurie Lopatin's review of the literature, Mary Mastraccio's contribution on alternative and innovative methods for quality cataloging, and Nadine Ellero's extensive discussion on the titles and roles of catalogers over a ten‐year period. Among the case studies, Cheryl Martin's contribution on workflow analysis is also of interest.

It is a well‐bounded soft cover publication, with an excellent index, including author names. Innovative Redesign and Reorganization of Library Technical Services is excellent value for money, and is highly recommended to all library technical services staff members, management, and LIS educators.