Overview

No matter what the future brings for academic libraries, technical services librarians need to be ready to face the unexpected. Virtual Technical Services guides librarians through the steps of creating a contingency plan for disasters seen and unseen

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9781538152638

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Can people work from home? Should they work from home? Rutgers University librarians Weber and De Fino present evidence that people can and should, arguing that remote and hybrid work schedules are better for employees, libraries, and the environment....Though many recent studies have documented the improved productivity of employees who have chosen to work remotely, libraries were thrown into this largely unexplored realm, most with little or no time to plan as a result of the pandemic. Even were it not for pandemics, unforeseen electrical outages, floods, weather emergencies, earthquakes, terrorism, active shooters, and other unfortunate events require that libraries create emergency plans, taking into account the possibility of short- and long-term closures. Applicable to both public and technical services, this work is required reading for librarians and administrators of all types of libraries.-- Library Journal

Author Information

Mary Beth Weber has worked in library technical services in academic libraries for over 30 years. She has held various technical services positions, and is an expert on cataloging nonprint materials, acquisitions workflows, and non-MARC metadata for digital collections. She also has extensive managerial experience. Weber has authored numerous books, including Describing Electronic, Digital and Other Media Using AACR2 and RDA, and Rethinking Library Technical Services: Redefining our Profession for the Future. She has given presentations on cataloging, mentoring, and publishing for various organizations. She is a member of Rutgers University Libraries Faculty Mentoring Program Committee and participated in ALCTS’ inaugural mentoring program. Weber is an active member of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), an ALA division (soon to be CORE). She served two terms as the editor of ALCTS’ online newsletter, and is currently editor-in-chief of Library Resources and Technical Services (LRTS), ALCTS’ official scholarly peer-reviewed journal. Weber was awarded the ALCTS Presidential Citation in 2011 for her service as the ALCTS Newsletter Editor. She received the ALCTS Honors award in 2015 for her contributions as LRTS Editor. Weber is currently the head of Central Technical Services at Rutgers University Libraries and oversees a staff that includes both faculty librarians and support staff. In this capacity, she has dealt with crises such as the aftermath of 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, and has successfully resolved other challenging management issues. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History and English (double major), and holds a Masters of Library Science degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Melissa De Fino has fifteen years of experience in technical services, with a focus on special collections and non-book formats. In her current role, she leads the team responsible for acquiring and providing access to special collections monographs, serials, and visual materials, as well as audiovisual materials. She has published about patron-driven programs for electronic monographs and a technical services librarian’s guide to Amazon’s database. Her presentations have focused on the changing role of catalogers, special collections and archival cataloging, and cataloging assessment. For five years she has served as editor of “Tech Services Online,” a column in Technical Services Quarterly. As a manager for special collections and audiovisual materials technical services in a state University spread across four campuses and three cities, De Fino is no stranger to problem solving, planning, and remote work. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she worked with Mary Beth Weber to create a plan for special collections and audiovisual cataloging to continue unimpeded by disaster. De Fino holds a B.A. from Fordham University, an M.L.I.S. from Rutgers University, and is working towards a M.A. in Liberal Studies from Rutgers University, with a concentration in American Studies.

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