# Library technical services

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{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
'''Library technical services''' are the ongoing maintenance activities of a library's collection, including the three broad areas of [collection development](/source/collection_development), [cataloging](/source/Cataloging_(library_science)), and processing.<ref>G. Edward Evans, Sheila S. Intner, Jean Weihs ''Introduction to Technical Services''; 7th ed. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 2002 {{ISBN|1-56308-918-1}}</ref> Technical services are the [infrastructure](/source/infrastructure) that enable the user's experience of many library services and are typically performed "behind the scenes."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reitz|first=Joan M.|title=Technical services (TS)|url=https://products.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_t.aspx#technicalservices|access-date=2021-12-11|website=ODLIS}}</ref>

==Collection development==
*Identification: locating potentially worthwhile items to add to the collection.
*Selection: deciding which of the identified items to add to the collection.
*[Acquisitions](/source/Library_acquisitions): securing items for the collection, including the purchase of books, [databases](/source/Full_text_database), [e-book](/source/e-book)s, and multimedia materials for a library's collection.

==Cataloging==
*Description: creating and adapting records for library materials and licensed content, allowing users to search and discover these resources in the [library catalog](/source/library_catalog). These records, often based on [MARC standards](/source/MARC_standards) and available for [online public access](/source/Online_public_access_catalog), include descriptive elements—such as author, title, and subject—to assist users in identifying relevant resources to meet their needs.
*Classification: indexing and arranging the items acquired in a manner that will aid the end-user in locating materials in the collection. Materials are often organized by established classification systems, such as [Dewey Decimal Classification](/source/Dewey_Decimal_Classification) or [Library of Congress Classification](/source/Library_of_Congress_Classification).

==Processing==
*Physical processing: labeling, binding, repairing, and otherwise preparing items for storage in a manner that allows for easy retrieval and maintenance over time.
*Preservation: maintaining and repairing both print and electronic materials. The former includes repairing damaged books, binding journals into hardcover volumes, and reformatting print materials to digital. The latter includes [digital curation](/source/digital_curation), where archivists work to preserve electronic materials from data deterioration, and periodically migrate data from older formats to newer one.

==Related systems and services==
Technical services may also include a range of activities broadly related to the above core functions: from security processing (using [RFID tag](/source/RFID_tag)s or similar), to [interlibrary loan](/source/interlibrary_loan) services, to maintaining the library's [technology](/source/technology) resources, such as [servers](/source/Server_(computing)), staff and public computers, [scanners](/source/Image_scanner), or the [integrated library system](/source/integrated_library_system) software that facilitates [circulation](/source/Library_circulation).

==See also==
* [Association for Library Collections and Technical Services](/source/Association_for_Library_Collections_and_Technical_Services)
* [Resource Description and Access](/source/Resource_Description_and_Access)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Peggy |title=Library Resources Technical Services |journal=Association for Library Collections and Technical Services Annual Report 2002/2003 |date=January 2004 |volume=48 |issue=1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Liu Kao |first1=Mary |title=Cataloging and Classification for Library Technicians |date=2001 |publisher=The Haworth Press® |location=New York |isbn=0-7890-1062-3 |edition=2nd}}
* {{cite book |last1=Liu Kao |first1=Mary |title=Introduction to Technical Services for Library Technicians |date=2001 |publisher=The Haworth Information Press® |location=New York |isbn=0-7890-1488-2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/libcareers/jobs/technical Technical Services Librarian], via LibraryCareers.org 
* [https://www.webjunction.org/documents/webjunction/Evaluating_Your_Technical_Services_Department.html Evaluating Your Technical Services Department] (2012) OCLC WebJunction

{{Libraries and library science}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Library Technical Services}}
Category:Library management
Category:Library science

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Library technical services](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_technical_services) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_technical_services?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.