Introduction to serials work for library technicians reveals the author's extensive experience in the expanding field of technical aspects of library work. The book is an excellent practical guide to the entire process of the life cycle of serials on their way to the end users. Intended as a manual for library students, this resource differs from others by its extremely comprehensible, clear professional language. Everything one needs to know about the management and processing of serials in the libraries is in one practical, highly useful volume.
In 12 chapters Scott Millard covers all aspects of serials librarianship from the definition of a serial and common problems with serials through to acquisitions, ordering, check‐ins, and cataloguing as well as shelving arrangements, claims, binding, renewals, cessations and the description of the new technology with the overview of its advantages and disadvantages.
The resource addresses both large automated libraries and small school and public libraries that handle serials manually. The information covers serials in any medium – paper, CD‐ROM, microfiche, and electronic and deals with problem situations, difficulties and complications which can include title changes, serials merges and splits, cessations of serial publications, changes in format and, which is very valuable, shows the solutions to these situations.
Primarily designed as a practical resource for students, each module in this book starts with a learning objective, then continues on to cover the main topic of the chapter, thus enabling the reader gain gradually the understanding and sense of every aspect in the process, procedures and standards involved in serials work. The author also introduces readers to several helpful library tools such as Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory and Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media, to search for bibliographic information on serials, and AACR2 that establishes standard cataloguing practices.
Of particular interest is a very constructive chapter on the recording holdings information, in which a detailed description of a holding list, a manual check‐in system, both on stock cards and a kardex, and automated system is given along with examples and guidelines for recording holdings. This knowledge is of significant practical value. Also interesting is a chapter on cataloguing serials which provides an overview on data elements necessary to describe a serial, a prescribed source of information, access points and cataloguing standards, thus surely offering practical help to library students in this complex task. An extensive glossary of terms, bibliography for further reading, numerous figures, tables and real‐life examples help the reader to deal with the challenges of the complicated field of serials librarianship.
“Serials work requires a great deal of attention to detail” states the author and takes on the challenge to clarify and explain these details. This very much needed resource and a hands‐on tool will surely aid not only library students and librarians involved in training library technicians but anyone taking challenge to understand how the process of acquisition, handling and management of serial publications works in the library. I can only regret that textbooks like this were not available during my university years.
