Conferences, Events, and Online Learning

publications guidelines

shared resources list

ALA Online Store

audiotapes

Tech Notes

PLA PUBLICATIONS

Chosen by Public Librarians for Public Librarians

PLA Publications Are the Resources You Need Now. In today’s competitive environment, every decision and every dollar counts! To ensure the best use of your library’s resources, you need the best information available. That’s where the PLA Publications Program can help. As a member, you receive the greatest savings on PLA publications, which cover a wide range of public library concerns and issues.

To order any of these publications, contact:

Phone: 1-866-Shop ALA (1-866-746-7252)
Phone (for international callers): 312-944-6780
Fax: 770/442-9742
Mail orders: ALA P.O. Box 932501, Atlanta, GA 31193-2501
Online: www.alastore.ala.org

Recent Releases / Planning and Evaluation
Policies and Guidelines
Programming/Marketing/Outreach / Other

Recent Releases

The Public Librarian's Guide to Providing Consumer Health Information

Authored by Andrea Kenyon, director of the Katherine A. Shaw Division of Public Services at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and Barbara Palmer Casini, director of the Memorial Library of Radnor Township in Wayne, Pensylvania, this comprehensive guide contains helpful information for librarians seeking to provide the best consumer health information for their patrons. Includes chapters on:

Performing a Community Needs Assessment
The Health Information Consumer
Health Reference Services
Ethical Responsibilities and Legal Implications of Providing Health Information
Building a Consumer Health Collection
The Internet
Partnerships to Provide Consumer Health Information
Planning and Funding Consumer Health Information Services
Promotion and Programming for Consumer Health Information Services

Andrea Kenyon and Barbara Palmer Casini. 2002. 157 p.
ISBN 0-8389-8200-X
LIST $32

Staffing For Results: A Guide to Working Smarter

How long does it take to...catalog a book? This latest entry in the PLA Results series will help you to answer that question and others you have related to the output and performance of your staff. By analyzing, in a systematic way, how long work activities take and then assigning steps to each unit of work, you will have a quantifiable measure of the output of your staff. The only book of its kind, Staffing for Results equips you to not only gauge performance and output but also build on what you learn to maximize and even increase productivity.

Using common public library tasks as the context, Staffing for Results walks you through the process of measuring work, identifying best practices, assigning costs to each activity, analyzing resource allocation, and communicating results. With more than 20 figures and workforms that you can customize for your setting, six easy-to-follow chapters provide step-by-step guidance on how to ensure that your library is optimizing its resources. By the end of the process, you'll be able to answer questions such as:

Who is doing the work?
How long does it take?
What steps are required?
Can the work process be streamlined?
Is this the best use of people available?
Do we need more staff?
Can support staff handle a job done by a library professional?
How can the data be communicated to support needed changes?

Giving you tools from the experts of PLA to get the job done, this indispensable guide will help you to show and prove results!

Diane Mayo and Jeanne Goodrich. 2002. 192 pages
ISBN: 0-8389-0826-8 - ALA Order #: 0826-8-2233
LIST $42.00.

Managing for Results: Effective Resource Allocation for Public Libraries
Managing for Results requires librarians to take a proactive approach to marshaling and managing all of the library’s resources effectively. Using this planning guide, librarians will be able to identify their key resources, make choices among different priorities, and assign resources to achieve results.

The key to successfully allocating resources is first knowing what you want to accomplish. Most of a library’s resources are already allocated to some objective or another. However, Managing for Results forces you to evaluate whether resources are being used to achieve the real objectives of the library in the community. This may mean reallocating resources, or evaluating library goals to be sure that the library’s resources are used to ensure that the library achieves its mission, serves the community, and gives patrons what they need and want.

The numerous workforms are designed to enable librarians to identify, collect, and analyze the information needed to correctly allocate resources. They focus on the factors needed to allocate resources, such as the number of professional staff needed, how to budget for library materials, the amount of space needed for programs, and the type and amount of software and hardware needed for the community served.

Using the workforms and the guidelines, librarians can focus on their specific library’s needs and objectives. The process outlined in Managing for Results can be used regardless of the planning process used, the size of the facility, and the library’s mission.

Sandra Nelson, Ellen Altman & Diane Mayo. 1999. 362 p.
ISBN 0-8389-3498-6
LIST $45

Bare Bones Young Adult Services: Tips for Public Library Generalists
Offers a quick-start guide to superior service for library staff working without a young adult services librarian. Provides answers to common questions, describes the seven developmental needs of young adults and shows how to interact with them; discusses readers advisory services for teens and more.

Renee J. Vaillancourt. 2000. 120 p.
ISBN 0-8389-3497-8
LIST $30

Unattended Children in the Public Library: A Resource Guide
Developed by the Public Library Association (PLA), the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), and the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA), this book provides information about setting policies and pricdeures, sample program initiatives and best practices, promotional ideas, and more for serving unattended children in your library. Includes bibliography.

2000. 44 p.
ISBN 0-8389-8082-1
LIST $28

Collection Development and Resource Access Plan for the Skokie Public Library
This comprehensive plan will help guide the process of developing a collection to meet the needs of your community. Also provides a clear outline of the roles, duties, and responsibilities of all persons involved in the selection of materials.

1999. 123 p.
ISBN: 0-8389-8050-3
LIST $24

Baltimore County Public Library Strategic Plan—2000
The latest in BCPL’s planning series. Use it as a basis for developing your own plan.

Jane S. Eickhoff. 2000. 14 p.
ISBN 0-8389-8132-1
LIST $24

The New Planning for Results: A Streamlined Approach
A classic resource, Planning for Results has long served to help public librarians envision, evaluate, and respond to community needs with distinctive programs and services. The New Planning for Results continues with an all-in-one guide that outlines a tested, results-driven planning process, revamped and streamlined to enable librarians to respond quickly to rapidly changing environments.

Sandra Nelson. 2001. 316 p.
American Library Association
ISBN 0-8389-3504-4
LIST $55

Michigan Public Library Trustee Manual—1998
This comprehensive guide is designed to give public library trustees basic information on library service, with emphasis on the trustees’ major areas of responsibility. Intended to serve as a resource to help trustees’ major areas of responsibility. Intended to serve as a resource to help trustees understand and fulfill their duties responsibly, the manual addresses trustees rights and responsibilities, board organization and policymaking, library planning, role setting, budgeting, intellectual freedom, the board’s relationship with the director, public relations, and many other issues relevant to public librarians and trustees nationwide.

1998. 54 p.
ISBN: 0-8389-7990-4
List: $24.00

Planning and Evaluation

Planning for Results: A Public Library Transformation Process
PLA’s new planning guide Planning for Results provides a unique, results-driven program that empowers librarians to meet community needs and to develop strategies to anticipate future demands. Includes all the essential tools for library planning—rethinking existing roles in the community, evaluating choices and opportunities, and developing the right service responses. The planning process enables librarians to envision, evaluate, and respond to community needs with distinctive programs and services. Includes two valuable tools:

The Guidebook is the introductory guide to the planning process, which explains each step in the process. Its two parts incorporate thirteen service responses and guidelines for developing customized responses.
The How-To Manual contains detailed instructions on how to perform each step in the process and includes work forms to aid in completing the various planning tasks. The manual’s loose leaf design makes it easy to add notes, share materials with others, and make copies of the work forms.

Planning for Results (Guidebook and How-To Manual) 1998. 328p.
ISBN 0-8389-3479-X
$40

Guidebook 1998. 120p.
ISBN 0-8389-3488-9
$20

Wired for the Future: Developing Your Library Technology Plan
Building on the Planning for Results model, this comprehensive and practical guide will aid in preparing a technology plan that positions the library to meet its objectives for the community, its staff, and its best future. Necessary tools are provided to determine technoloy needs, identify technology options, select a technology infastructure, and implement the plan.

1999. 280 p.
ISBN 0-8389-3491-9
LIST $38

Weeding Guidelines
Compiled by the Gwinnett County (Georgia) Public Library Staff, Weeding Guidelines clarifies deselection procedures and offers applicable policies for nonfiction, fiction, foreign language, periodicals, video, and music collections.

1999. 70 p.
ISBN: 0-8389-8004-X
LIST $28

Boulder Public Library—MasterPlan
This readable, easy-to-follow, long-range master plan for the Boulder (Colorado) Public Library examines the roles the library plays in the community, identifies areas for improvement and charts a course for the library’s future needs. Includes public survey and results. The MasterPlan examines issues relevant to many libraries and can serve as a model for strategic planning by public libraries across the United States.

1995. 89p.
ISBN: 0-8389-7941-6
LIST $25

Public Library Data Service: Statistical Report 2001.
This annual publication provides invaluable quantitative information on library finances, salaries, output measures and related topics. The 2001 edition features the results of a special survey on public library finances.

2001
ISBN 0-8389-8135-6
LIST $75

Public Library Data Service: Statistical Report 2000.
Features the results of a special survey on Children’s Services.

Public Library Association. 2000.
ISBN 0-8389-8080-5
LIST $75

Public Library Data Service: Statistical Report 1999.
Features the results of a special survey on public library facilities.

Public Library Association. 1999. 142 p.
ISBN 0-8389-8008-2
LIST $75

Repositioning for the Future: Baltimore County Public Library Long Range Plan IV 1994–1999.
The latest update in BCPL’s planning series. Use it as a basis for developing your own plan.

Eleanor Jo Rodger. 1994. 23p.
ISBN 0-8389-7773-1
LIST $24

Policies and Guidelines

Collected Technology Policies
This collection of technology policies from 30 United States public libraries provides easy reference for public librarians looking to compile or compare technology policies.

1998. 128p.
ISBN: 0-8389-7939-4
LIST $15

Children and the Internet: Guidelines for Developing Public Library Policy
Developed by the American Library Trustee Association (ALTA), the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), and the Public Library Association (PLA), Children and the Internet is designed to help trustees and public librarians set children’s Internet policy and develop procedures.

1998. 31p.
ISBN: 0-8389-7940-8
LIST $22

Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees Policy Manual.
This volume provides one convenient source for trustee orientation and reference. It addresses the board’s authority, responsibility, structure and relationship with the director.

Fairfax County Public Library. 1987. 81p.
ISBN 0-8389-7158-X
LIST $25

Forming and Funding Library Foundations.
Covers the basics of forming a library foundation. Sections cover the differences between public and private foundations, choosing a board, various articles of incorporation, bylaws, public relations and various types of funding. Appendices include sample forms.

Faye Clow. 1993. 31 p.
ISBN 0-8389-7689-1
LIST $21

Guidelines for Establishing Community Information and Referral Services in Public Libraries, 4th ed.
Prepared by the Community Information Section of PLA, and created to assist public librarians considering offering community Information and Referral (I&R) service, the updated and expanded guidelines provides helpful information about all aspects of providing I&R service. Includes a selectively annotated guide to the literature of information and referral.

1997. 39p.
ISBN: 0-8389-7222-X
LIST $26

Help Manual: A Guide for Emergency Procedures.
A welcome addition to any library’s procedures collection, the Baltimore County Public Library’s (BCPL) Help Manual is an updated, expanded and revised version of BCPL’s 1981 STEPS Manual. This comprehensive, all-inclusive guide for helping library staff members deal with emergency situations is presented in three-ring binder format, and divided into five main sections: building emergencies, medical emergencies, problem behavior, service inquiries, and theft and loss. Libraries are encouraged to personalize the manual, and space is provided for evacuation plans, equipment locations and other individualized information needs.

Baltimore County Public Library. 1996. 104p.
ISBN 0-8389-7833-9
LIST $27

Library Personnel Policies.
Features a wide variety of personnel policy examples—from compensatory time to emergency closings and tuition reimbursement—that are readily adaptable to other libraries.

Michigan Library Association. Sandra Arden, ed. 1989. 257p.
ISBN 0-8389-7468-6
LIST $30

Updated National Bookmobile Guidelines - 1999

National Bookmobile Guidelines—1992.
Looking for information on improving your bookmobile program or launching a new bookmobile? This concise volume provides helpful guidelines for managing a successful bookmobile program. Compiled by a team of bookmobile specialists, procedures for everything from funding, staffing, planning stops and evaluating services to marketing/public relations will help librarians and managers run bookmobile operations much more effectively.

State Library of Ohio. 1992. 21p.
ISBN 0-8389-7779-O
LIST $28

PLA Handbook for Writers of Public Library Policies.
Helps librarians think about issues involved in writing a policy manual. For each policy, the book lists needs that the policy should address, gives a sample core statement, suggests issues to be covered, cites sources for further information and gives a sample policy.

PLA Policy Manual Committee. 1993. 72p.
ISBN 0-8389-7687-5
LIST $23

Problem Behavior Manual, 2d edition
Outlines procedures for addressing a wide range of situations. For each scenario, the manual defines the problem, lists the action to be taken, and designate the people responsible for carrying out each step.

Fairfax County Public Library. 1997. 75p.
ISBN 0-8389-7937-8
$26

Reference Evaluation Project, rev. ed.
Identifies some of the primary issues confronting reference staff—such as purpose, priorities, statistics, referrals—and outlines a sample policy librarians can use as a starting point for the development of their own written reference policy. A number of tools for evaluation and improvement of reference services also are described.

Reference Librarians Association. 1992. 37p.
ISBN 0-8389-7653-0
LIST $18

Service Code for Information Services, 2d Ed.
If you’re looking for a model to establish policies and procedures for your library; Prince George’s County (MD) Library System’s Service Code covers all the bases. From individual staff member responsibilities to ethical dilemmas and day to day service, this book provides policies, standards, procedures, guidelines and instructions.

Prince George’s County (MD) Library System. 1991.
ISBN 0-8389-7796-0
LIST $24

Programming/Marketing/Outreach

Bare Bones: Young Adult Services Tips for Public Library Generalists.
Gives practical advice for libraries serving young adults without a YA librarian. Sections include adolescent development, identifying and promoting popular materials, supporting homework needs, working with local schools, and coping with issues such as discipline and intellectual freedom. Includes a bibliography.

Mary K.Chelton and James M. Rosinia, with the PLA/YALSA YA Services in Public Libraries Committee. 1993. 73p.
ISBN 0-8389-7665-4
LIST $15

Marketing Plan for the Anne Arundel County Public Library.
Outlines specific strategies to help improve services, increase use and enhance awareness, understanding, appreciation and support by the public.

Crosby Communications Inc. 1992. 63p.
ISBN 0-8389-7788-X
LIST $26

Other

Real World Resumes
A revised and updated version of the Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library’s The Resume Guide, this book was written by public librarians for public library patrons. As well-written as its predecessor, it includes five easy to follow sections, and three appendices that feature a list of skills/action words, sample resumes, cover letters, and thank-you notes. Better buy more than one, this popular title will be in circulation constantly!

Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library. 1996. 136p.
ISBN 0-8389-7885-1
LIST $29