Fundamentals of children's services

Children's services are the heart of the library; in fact, more than one-third of U.S. library users are under the age of 12. Sullivan has updated and expanded his comprehensive reference, covering both innovative and standard practices in children's services. Fundamentals such as collection development and management, programming, homework support, and reference and readers' advisory are all thoroughly updated. In response to pervasive changes in the field, he also Offers an expansive view of what it means to ensure that children are well-served in light of ongoing budgetary challenges Shows how to collaborate effectively with parents, teachers, and administrators, and how to cooperate with schools Gives techniques for using tools such as social media for marketing, outreach, and advocacy Addresses the subject of children and e-books Helps readers understand the importance of new cataloging trends, such as RDA: Resource Description and Access and RFID, and reference work in the digital ageThose studying to become children's librarians, experienced and new children's librarians, library administrators, and trustees alike will find Sullivan's book a definitive guide to the fundamentals of children's services.

Where we fit in -- Principles of children's librarianship -- Whom do children's librarians serve? -- Children's services and the new approaches to public libraries -- The collection development policy -- Purposes and components -- Selection and acquisition -- Organization and cataloging -- Evaluation and deselection/weeding -- A space of their own -- After-school services -- Reference in the digital age -- Readers' advisory -- The internet and social media -- Story hours -- Book discussion groups -- Booktalking -- Entertainment and enrichment programs -- Summer reading programs -- Family programs and family literacy -- School cooperation in an age of shortages -- Serving special audiences -- Budget and finance -- Planning -- Law, policy, and procedures -- Public relations, promotion, and marketing -- Professional development -- Conclusion -- Appendix A. Competencies for librarians serving children in public libraries -- Appendix B. Library bill of rights -- Appendix C. Code of ethics of the American Library Association.