PRACTICAL ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Here is a book that should be in every library in the country in towns of 10,000 and up; it should be for key people on library staffs and active members of library boards. Interested laymen will find their image of the library taking on new dimensions. Important as it is from the viewpoint of comprehensive coverage of every phase of library administration, it is of greater importance that the book is lively, stimulating and good reading, that it takes account of changing viewpoints and methods, and that it makes the career of librarianship important in the American scene. The author- both immensely qualified for their assignment- see the future of small libraries as combined with large systems, but operating for some time to come- as far as administration is concerned- independently. The one area on which this book does not attempt detailed assessment is in the development of the main patterns of larger area system, whether under a national program, state-wide systems, county or multi-county units, federation, contract service or cooperative arrangements.. They do accept the trend of the future. Their purpose in this book is to do exactly what the title indicates, and to this end they cover the following main topics:- (1) Overhead Responsibility: Planning; (2) Organization, Staffing and Supervising; (3) Administration of Departments (circulation, reference, Y.A., children, work with schools, branch and extension work); (4) Developing the Book Collection; (5) Administrative Aspects of the Business Office and Building Projects. Throughout, the philosophy of librarianship, the function of the library in the community, and the sound operation of library personnel within the library itself is never lost sight of. Library Schools take note.