Developing Librarian Competencies for the Digital Age. Jeffrey G. Coghill and Roger G. Russell, eds. Lanham, Md.: Roman & Littlefield, 2017. 180p. Paper, $41.00 (ISBN 978-1-4422-6444-1).

Abstract

Developing Librarian Competencies for the Digital Age presents an overview of issues librarians face as the world has shifted to a more digitalcentric approach and provides suggestions of areas in which librarians should hone their skills to meet the changing demands of their customers. Edited by Jeffrey G. Coghill, outreach librarian and the director of Eastern AHEC Library Services, and Roger G. Russell, assistant director for user services, both of East Carolina University's William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, this book was written to dive into new trends in librarianship. It counsels readers on how to gain expertise in a field that is increasingly evolving due to the impact of technology on how it meets its core function of service. Coghill and Russell's book has chapters specifically dedicated to different aspects of librarianship, including public services, technical services, and librarian education. Each begins by providing an overview of some of the historical developments of its area. The first chapter is a short, general introduction by the editors discussing the history of librarianship as a profession, with a focus on the evolution of library services as technology has become increasingly embedded into daily life. The book then moves to chapters that are task-based, focusing on specific roles librarians fill in libraries. The first chapter is by Joseph Thomas and Yunting Fu and focuses on collection development and the drastic shift that has happened as libraries have moved toward collecting in ever more digital formats. One of the key points addressed in this chapter is a reminder to readers about the importance of preservation as librarians are increasingly leasing content via digital platforms as opposed to purchasing materials outright. The collection development argument about the merits of collecting in print versus digital formats is familiar; however, the chapter is clearly written and provides a concise summary for those who may be new to the topic or those who are looking for a clear overview of the subject. The book then moves to a chapter titled "Organization of Knowledge and Information" by Sarah W. Sutton and Mira E. Greene. It is very refreshing to see a chapter focused on the evolution of cataloging in a digital environment, as so often books such as these focus almost exclusively on the areas typically referred to as public services. Sutton and Greene's chapter serves as an excellent primer on the subject, including discussion of the desire to move to a library catalog that is more open to web discovery via linked data and BibFrame. Two chapters that focus on communication/marketing and reference and user services complete the section of the book that focuses on librarian roles. These chapters address the role of librarians in public-facing positions and address librarians in a wide variety of settings, including academic, school, health science, and public libraries. The chapters look carefully at how evolving technology can be used to support these important services.