The fourth edition of the classic textbook offers a firm foundation of knowledge and guidance for library and information science (LIS) students and professionals alike.
Foundations of Library and Information Science
will prepare LIS students and professionals to cope with and effectively manage their many complex responsibilities by:
providing an introduction to the LIS field
identifying and discussing the current major topics and issues in LIS that will continue to affect the profession for years to come
providing librarians and information professionals with an opportunity to refresh their knowledge through a systematic review of the major issues and topics that have changed the field
placing LIS in a larger social, political, economic, political and cultural context
inviting readers to further explore topics raised in the book.
Responding to the many changes occurring both in the field and in society at large, this text includes comprehensive coverage of:
the impact of digital devices and social networking
the impact of digital publishing and e-books
the evolution of library services including virtual reference, embedded librarianship, digital access and repositories, digital preservation and civic engagement
the new efforts to organize knowledge including FRBR, RDF, BIBFRAME, the Semantic Web and the next-generation library catalogue
the significance of the digital divide and policy issues related to broadband access and network neutrality
legal developments including new interpretations of copyright related to mass digitization of books and scholarly articles
the continuing tensions in LIS education between information science and library science
new initiatives to integrate libraries, archives, and museums.
Spanning all types of libraries, from public to academic, school, and special, this book illuminates the major facets of library and information science for aspiring professionals as well as those already practicing in the field.
Readership
: The book will be essential reading for students of information science, information and knowledge management, librarianship, archives and records management worldwide. It will also be of interest to students of other information-related disciplines such as museum studies, publishing, and information systems and practitioners in all of these disciplines.
Richard E. Rubin is the former Director of the School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University, USA. He has spoken and presented at workshops throughout the United States, primarily on aspects of human resource management, and he has been active in professional associations both nationally and locally, having served as Chair of the ALA Committee on Accreditation. Dr Rubin is the author of numerous publications including four editions of Foundations of Library and Information Science (Neal-Schuman 2000, 2004, 2010), and his articles have appeared in journals including Library Quarterly and Library and Information Science Research.
