In recent years, interest in International Librarianship has grown rapidly and will continue to grow as globalization influences education and librarianship. In countries around the world, public and school libraries have unique roles and their staffs collaborate across types of libraries to varying degrees. Library staff preparation, training, and ongoing learning and organization of youth-serving librarians mirror each country's values and priorities. The essays in Youth-Serving Libraries in Japan, Russia, and the United States address the universal and culture-specific aspects of library services to children and teens in these three countries. This collection shows how libraries have developed in light of each country's political, educational, and social history. They examine how government and citizen roles in youth-serving libraries also reflect culturally defined social structures. The chapters highlight unique collections and services within each country and also show how librarians deal with the challenges they encounter, both from within their culture as well as from outside-including natural disasters. Each country's authors discuss contemporary issues that face youth-serving libraries, such as information literacy, reading in a multimedia world, and the overarching influence of technology. This book will be of interest to youth-serving librarians around the world, library educators, and for those studying international and young adult librarianship.

About the Author
Lesley S. J. Farmer coordinates the Library Media Teacher program at California State University Long Beach, where she also serves as a reference librarian for the university's library. She is the author and co-author of numerous books, including Technology Infused Instruction for the Educational Community (Scarecrow, 2004) and Information Literacy Assessment in K-12 Settings (Scarecrow, 2007). Natalia Gendina is professor for the department of information technology at Kemerovo State University of Culture and Arts in Russia and directs the Information Technology Research Institute of Social Sphere. Yuriko Nakamura is associate professor at Rikkyo University in Tokyo. Nakamura has published several books and academic papers. She has been working as a committee member of the School Libraries and Resource Centers Section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions since 2005, and serves as Information Officer for the section.

Reviews
Farmer, coordinator of the Library Media Teacher program at CSU-Long Beach, vice president of the International Association of School Librarianship, and a Booklist reviewer, presents 18 essays covering various aspects of international youth librarianship. Along with her associate editors, Farmer aims to start a discussion of the history and ongoing development of youth-serving libraries in their respective countries, with the goal of building bridges across cultural barriers. The book is divided by country, with each section giving an overview of libraries and then delving into more specific topics-an essay on media literacy in Japan; one on the role of a children's library as a "center of tolerance, international communication, and peacemaking" in Russia; and school-library partnerships in the U.S. Public and school librarians with a focus on serving young patrons will enjoy having this book in their professional collections. * Booklist *
With this in mind, Lesley Farmer and her associate editors have produced a comprehensive collection of essays addressing the issues of libraries serving youth in Japan, Russia and the United States that includes contributions from the leading voices of youth services in libraries from these distinct geographic areas. ... The three editors, identified the key issues for their area and selected expert authors to contribute to the volume on these issues. The result is a unique insight and appreciation of the role that libraries play in supporting youth and indeed their communities. ... This comprehensive collection of essays forms a body of research that explores the development of library services, the impact of contemporary issues such as technology, and the cultural and social impacts of libraries on young people. The research is valuable in the development of new libraries, the redevelopment of old services and in building new ways of reaching youth who often disengage from library services. * Australian Library Journal *
[R]ecommended for a large library school program. * American Reference Books Annual *



Book Information
ISBN 9780810882256
Author Lesley S.J. Farmer
Format Paperback
Page Count 378
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 549g
Dimensions(mm) 232mm * 155mm * 26mm