For immediate release | July 12, 2011

Working in the virtual stacks

CHICAGO — Thanks in part to technology, the boundaries of library positions are dissolving. It is no longer practical to discuss the profession in terms of traditional library types, and the relationship between librarians and technology is stronger than ever. In “Working in the Virtual Stacks: The New Library and Information Science,” published by ALA Editions, veteran author Laura Townsend Kane interviews dozens of practicing librarians who are highly involved with technology as part of their day-to-day jobs. Revealing the full richness of the profession, Kane:

  • Profiles web-services librarians in all types of settings, from veterinary medicine and law to astronomy, market research and cataloging;
  • Offers insights into career opportunities in the library world by challenging traditional notions of what a librarian does;
  • Shows examples of real-world librarianship in the fields of technology instruction, digital futures, virtual libraries and even librarians as entrepreneurs.

Kane is the assistant director for information services at the University of South Carolina’s School of Medicine (SOM) Library in Columbia, S.C. Kane is co-author of “Answers to the Health Questions People Ask in Libraries: A Medical Library Association Guide,” and author of the ALA Editions book “Straight from the Stacks: A First Hand Guide to Careers in Library and Information Science,” "Access Versus Ownership” in the “Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science” and several peer-reviewed journal articles on various issues in librarianship. She is an active member of the Medical Library Association (MLA) and its regional Southern Chapter and is a Distinguished Member of MLA’s Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP).

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.

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