Those who predicted the death of libraries forgot to consider that in the automated maze of contemporary life, none of us--neither the experts nor the hopelessly baffled--can get along without human help. And not just any help--we need librarians, who won't charge us by the question or roll their eyes, no matter what we ask. Who are they? What do they know? And how quickly can they save us from being buried by the digital age? This book is a romp...

Gerding and MacKellar provide a manual for developing a successful grant proposal for your library system. In the face of the last several economic crises, grant funders want to know what difference the library is making in the lives of the people in the community. The authors emphasize the importance of library planning as the critical first step in writing a successful grant.

"Associate Professor at San Jose State University, Stephens encourages curiosity and creativity in his students and all library workers by connecting trends from outside the profession to its bedrock values. With a humanist lens, he reflects on such topics as: how libraries can empower kindness; developing a coterie of kindred spirits at conferences outside libraryland; inspiring creativity in library patrons; the most effective professional development...