Virtual Technical Services: A Handbook

is the methodology used to analyze the challenges presented throughout the book. Each chapter starts with a case study, written in an engaging, almost conversational narrative style that introduces a specific privacy or confidentiality challenge. Once the challenge is presented and contextualized, the authors conduct an in-depth analysis by synthesizing perspectives and strategies from a variety of entities including library employees, research in the area of privacy and confidentiality, library policies, the American Library Association, other industries that provide similar services, and the authors themselves. This evidence-based methodology does not provide universal, one-size-fits-all solutions which, as the authors state in the book’s introduction, rarely meet the needs of all types of libraries. Instead, this approach seeks to create a practical and scalable toolkit that provides relevant viewpoints, tools, and strategies to guide libraries’ decision-making processes when faced with privacy or confidentiality challenges. Although the themes covered in this book touch upon multiple aspects of librarianship, Library Patrons’ Privacy: Questions and Answers would prove particularly helpful to library employees in the areas of Library Administration, Systems & Technology, and Public Services. Throughout the book, readers will find strategies, considerations, recommendations, and examples that would be instrumental for the development of protocols, selection of technologies, implementation of best practices, and interpretation, communication, and enforcement of policies. Overall, Library Patrons’ Privacy: Questions and Answers is a timely, comprehensive, and accessible read. Regardless of the level of expertise or responsibility, library employees involved in the planning, implementation, support, and evaluation of measures to protect patrons’ privacy and confidentiality will find this resource particularly useful. Library Patrons’ Privacy: Questions and Answers is, on all counts, a worthwhile read.