New From ALA Editions

In New on the Job (2006), Ruth Toor and Hilda K. Weisburg provided useful advice for school librarians just starting out in their careers. Now, in Being Indespensable: A School Librarian’s Guide to Becoming an Invaluable Leader, they provide a template for librarians trying to save their jobs. The idea is that by “Knowing Who You Are,” “Knowing Your Stakeholders,” and “Thinking Bigger” (as the book’s three sections are called), school librarians can make themselves so essential that no one would think of eliminating them.

Indexed. 170p. $42. 978-0-8389-1065-8

I’m seeing more titles written for librarians that reflect new economic realities. The Frugal Librarian: Thriving in Tough Economic Times is one, geared to all of us who are coping with severe financial constraints. In it, contributors representing various kinds of libraries offer guidance on topics such as providing service to job-seeking patrons, finding low-cost and free professional development opportunities, writing grant proposals, partnering with other institutions, conserving resources, and more. There’s even a chapter on attending library conferences for $40 a day (share a room, sign up for vendor-sponsored meal events).

Indexed. 416p. $42. 978-0-8389-1075-7