Public Libraries and Their Communities

Kay Ann Cassell is adjunct professor at the Rutgers University Department of Library and Information Science where she teaches a variety of courses including reference and information services, collection development and public libraries. She has worked in public and academic libraries. She has been the director of the Bethlehem (NY) Public Library, the director of the Huntington (NY) Public Library, the director of the New School for Social Research library and the associate director for collections and services at the New York Public Library. As NYPL’s associate director of collections and services she oversaw the development of reference services, collections, programs and services for all branches. She has also worked as a coordinator for public library services at the New Jersey State Library and the Westchester Library System. Kay Ann Cassell is the coauthor of Reference and Information Services, an Introduction and the author of Managing Reference Today.

• Table of ContentsPrefaceChapter 1: Introduction and the History of U.S. Public LibrariesChapter 2: Strategic Planning and the Public LibraryChapter 3: Library Establishment, Policies, and GovernanceChapter 4: Organization and StaffingChapter 5: Advocacy, Relationships with External Groups, State and Local GovernmentChapter 6: Fiscal Organization of Public Libraries; Funding, Funding Sources and BudgetsChapter 7: Community and Civic Engagement; Outreach ServicesChapter 8: Services to Children and Young Adults by Lisa HoudeChapter 9: Services to Adults and Groups of AdultsChapter 10: Collections and Collection DevelopmentChapter 11: Marketing and PromotionChapter 12: The Post Pandemic Public Library