Written by librarians working and teaching on the front lines, this guide uses a functional, hands-on approach to lay out the basics of technical services, from acquiring new materials to making them available to library users. Perfect for those just moving into the profession, as well as library staff in need of a brush up, Fundamentals of Technical Services concisely examines



What precisely Technical Services are, with a brief history of the field
Collection development and acquisitions, including budgeting, ordering, and receiving
Metadata and cataloging, from MARC to RDA
Dealing with different kinds of materials, including books/monographs, serials, video, audio, and electronic/e-resources
The basics of physical processingSystems such as ILS, ERM, and EDI
Collection maintenance issues such as book repair/preservation and weeding
Authority control and database maintenance
Vendors, contracts, workflow, and other administrative functions
Forward-looking analysis of important trends and developments such as pricing, consortia/co-ops, languages of materials, and outsourcing

. Complete with a handy glossary, this primer provides essential coverage of the broad array of technical services and how the library's back-office operations work together.