The Librarians Guide To Public Records

"Taken directly from the databases of the Public Record Research Library"--Cover.

The United States Federal Government produces a massive trove of valuable information – but these resources are often difficult to locate and utilize, requiring the addition of another layer of cognizance and expertise to the librarian’s traditional skill set. Finding and UsingU.S. Government Information: A Practical Guide will: Serve as a guide to the vast universe of government information, with a special focus on digital methods of delivery Provide librarians with the tools they need to understand how government information is produced, organized, located, and accessed for most effectual use For those new to the government information landscape and government information specialists alike, this volume will also offer an annotated listing by subject which can serve as a ready-reference tool for some of the most widely-useful government information resources While geared primarily towards reference and instruction librarians, acquisitions and collection development librarians may also find this book useful in making purchasing decisions in light of resources freely available from the US Federal Government

Commercials for the largest subscription database indicate that the process of genealogy is simple—you just “plug in” what you know, and the database does the rest! Those ads might sell subscriptions, but they are misleading. Getting beyond that “low-hanging fruit” is not so easy; collecting the records and data needed to delineate a family tree accurately requires time, organization, and informed searching. Records are available from many places, and finding them is never a “one-stop shopping” experience. So how does the new researcher identify which resources meet his or her specific research needs? And how can libraries and librarians best help this new generation of genealogists? Genealogy: A Practical Guide for Librarians offers help on several levels: First, librarians can use this book to learn what resources, both print and online, their library should offer their patron base. This means not only what monographs to purchase and subscription databases to maintain, but what websites to highlight at the library’s webpage, what to include in their online tutorials, what adult education programming is appropriate. Critical assessments of print and online resources are given, including the strengths and weaknesses that librarians need to help patrons understand them. Second, both librarians and researchers can find here an in-depth discussion of the research process itself, including the best steps for a beginning researcher and search strategies for the experienced one. And third, anyone can use this book to become better informed about the phenomenon of genealogy itself and about the latest standards for online searching and research. The book includes practical advice for every public-service librarian and offers all researchers, from novice level to experienced, a clearly delineated context for the popular subject of family history research.

This professional reference overviews state laws regarding the retention and confidentiality of library records, and shows why librarians must recognize that library records are subject to public record retention laws.

This book provides a concise and usable overview of the practical implications of important public sector United States federal, state, and municipal laws and standards related to information governance, as they pertain to librarians, research staff, universities, corporate regulatory managers, and public-sector information governance professionals. It is the first in a series of two volumes addressing public sector information governance compliance matters from the perspective of our target audience. Topics addressed in the book include: the evolving role of librarians and the need for librarians and legal researchers to understand the principles of information governance, the importance of broad-based regulatory IG principles such as the Federal Records Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 and 36 CFR Chapter XII, Subchapter B – Records Management, that have been promulgated by various federal government agencies in framing public-sector IG principles, a survey of interpretive surveys from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that further elucidate the core IG principles applicable to public sector stakeholders, case studies detailing the application of important IG principles by federal agencies and bodies, and a survey of important IG issues facing state and local governments.

In this updated and expanded second edition of her popular guidebook, Searcher columnist Irene McDermott once again exhorts her fellow reference librarians to don their pith helmets and follow her fearlessly into the Web jungle. She presents new and improved troubleshooting tips and advice, Web resources for answering reference questions, and strategies for managing information and keeping current. In addition to helping librarians make the most of Web tools and resources, the book offers practical advice on privacy and child safety, assisting patrons with special needs, Internet training, building library Web pages, and much more

Increasingly, challenges arise to the confidentiality of customer records in libraries. This book gives guidance on the laws governing records privacy and tools whereby librarians can develop appropriate responses to privacy issues. The activities of ALA on this mattter are described.

For librarians and others who guide genealogical researchers, a handbook from one who learned the skill on a sink-or-swim basis as a reference librarian at Brigham Young U. Library in the 1960s; true to his name, he swam. It covers how to help researchers get started, develop collections, use technology to find out about other collections, provide instruction for genealogists, and stay current professionally. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.