Reidsma, Matthew. Responsive Web Design for Libraries.

Reidsma, Matthew. Responsive Web Design for Libraries. American Library Association, 2014. 152p. $60. Oversize pb. 978-1-55570994-5. Index. Photos. Illus.

Written by a web services librarian, this handbook comes with strong credentials backed by the Library and Information Technology Association. Reidsma works at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, and has experience with website design and user responsiveness on a global level. The text is intended to help librarians address the imploding world of electronic diversity in screen origins, from desktops to smartphones to minis. Using responsive web practices, the author shares his experience delivering the same content to all users no matter the venue for HTML and CSS. Following his suggestions, librarians should be able to use any existing design and augment its responsiveness to meet changing-use devices. Screen captures, associated code samples, and web links add to the practicality of his step-by-step plan to channel desktop CSS into breakpoints for site responsiveness. Other suggestions revolve around tips and techniques from developers and making use of vendor sites.

Two librarians who previewed the text were impressed with the approaches suggested for accommodating a variety of screens but had reservations about the American Disabilities Act compliance in regard to responsiveness. All in all, Reidsma creates a basic manual that would be useful to any working librarian.--Judith Hayn.