Facet Publishing have announced the release of Exploring Digital Libraries, a landmark textbook for LIS students, educators and practising information professionals throughout the world.

Authored by librarian, writer and international speaker Karen Calhoun, Exploring Digital Libraries is a highly readable, thought-provoking authorative, and in-depth treatment of the digital library arena. The text provides a timely overview of digital libraries, from their collections and technology-centred foundations over two decades ago to their emergent, community-centred engagement with the social web.

This essential textbook:

• Brings students and working librarians up to date on the progress, nature and impact of digital libraries, bridging the gap since the publication of the best-known digital library texts
• Frames digital library research and practice in the context of the social web and makes the case for moving beyond collections to a new emphasis on libraries’ value to their communities
• Introduces several new frameworks and novel syntheses that elucidate digital library themes, suggest strategic directions, and break new ground in the digital library literature
• Calls a good deal of attention to digital library research, but is written from the perspective of strategy and in-depth experience
• Provides a global perspective and integrates material from many sources in one place - the chapters on open repositories and hybrid libraries draw together past, present and prospective work in a way that is unique in the literature.

Exploring Digital Libraries suits the needs of a range of readers, from working librarians and library leaders to LIS students and educators, or anyone who wants a highly readable and thought-provoking overview of the field and its importance to the future of libraries.

Exploring Digital Libraries - http://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/title.php?id=8200 (January 2014, 352pp, paperback, ISBN: 978-1-85604-820-0, £49.95) is published by Facet Publishing and is available from Bookpoint Ltd | Tel: +44 (0)1235 827702 | Fax: +44 (0)1235 827703 | Email: facet@bookpoint.co.uk | Web: www.facetpublishing.co.uk. | Mailing Address: Mail Order Dept, 39 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4TD The book is available in North America through ALA Editions.