Running a Small Library: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians, 2nd ed. Edited by John Moorman. Chicago: ALA, 2015. 288 p. Paper $80.00 (ISBN 978-0-8389-1273-7).

Running a Small Library provides a plethora of ideas for librarians working in various types of libraries. Small libraries are found all over the country, and Moorman considers them to be “the backbone of our information society and an essential component of a democratic society” (vii). Therefore it is important to provide helpful resources to help library directors serve their communities. This book focuses on challenges and responsibilities unique to directors of small libraries who, due to limited budgets and staffing, often must wear many hats and cross-train on nearly all of the tasks that are performed in the library. This book also includes sections written by experienced librarians who provide ideas for running the small library.

The book is organized into five parts covering the major areas of a library director’s responsibilities: administration, planning, services, collection development, and technology. The first part begins by defining and briefly describing different types of small libraries, including college, community college, special, public, and school libraries. The next section explains the different aspects of administration, such as planning, budgeting, policies, and staffing. Further information is given on how to deal with government regulations, governing boards, and friends’ groups. The third section discusses the public services that a small library may provide, such as adult services, youth services, and digital services. In the collection development section, the entire life cycle of the library’s collection is explained, from selecting, ordering, and cataloging materials, to circulation, and ending with weeding the collection. The final section addresses the use of computers and automation in libraries, covering topics such as personal computers, in-house networks, and integrated library systems.

With small chapters packed full of useful information, this book delivers a great summary of what is involved in the running of a small library. Both new and seasoned library directors will be able to find helpful ideas in this book, as “it is imperative that knowledge be continually upgraded, that all possible areas of cooperation be explored, and that funding be located to provide essential library services” (vii). However, this book would be particularly helpful to the new library director who needs to understand the many different tasks expected of them. Furthermore, it will also be useful for any librarian who wishes to learn how to run a small library, find a wealth of library administration information all in one place, and understand the different aspects of serving their community with the best their library has to offer.—Janet A. Tillotson, Library Director, Towanda Public Library, Towanda, Kansas