This is a fully revised and updated second edition of an introductory guide for students of information and library studies and also recent entrants to the profession. It provides a general guide to the functions and structure of the information and library services.
The contents include a general introduction covering issues such as funding, the library’s role, status and pay, image, information society, gender issues, censorship and other issues. This is followed by chapters covering: functions and structures of the principal types of library and information service within the UK; recruitment, supervision, education and training; library co‐operation; the stock of libraries; and services to users. In addition Alan Hornsey provides a chapter on information technology and Lyn Pullen has contributed a chapter on the management perspective. The book ends with a guide to useful sources of information and a glossary. There is a detailed index too.
This book is written in a friendly and accessible style. An entrant to the profession is likely to dip into the book at regular intervals as it provides easily digestable explanations of topics such as “best practice” and “benchmarking”. Equally, they might want to read individual chapters as a means of developing their knowledge about specific topics. Overall this is a book that is likely to be well used during the first few years of working or studying in the sector.
A useful chapter for people seeking employment in information and library services is the one on recruitment, supervision, education and training. This provides a clear and readable outline of the process. However, a slip does appear in the section on interviewing, where the author states “The expert interviewer will make notes on his or her feelings about each applicant relating to individual areas of questioning …” In my experience, it is important that interviewers note down what the candidates say and do rather than their own feelings about a candidate. Hard evidence is the basis of a sound selection process and very important in these days of increasing litigation. It is a pity that this slip has appeared in this section as it flaws an otherwise excellent chapter. The section on education and training provides a detailed account of a wide range of opportunities. The focus is on the needs of para‐professional staff, so this chapter could be developed further by considering graduate routes in more detail.
Alan Hornsey’s introduction to information technology covers key ideas and themes such as basic terms and concepts, hardware, software, practical IT management, automated library systems, online public access catalogues, information retrieval, and government initiatives. He assumes no prior knowledge and presents a readable and useful guide to this rapidly changing subject. This chapter could also mention the development and use of managed and virtual learning environments (MLEs and VLEs). Overall this is a very useful chapter and it concludes with an excellent list of useful URLs.
Lyn Pullen’s chapter on the management perspective provides a thoughtful and readable introduction to topics such as the role of the library, social inclusion, business planning, finding out what users want, best value, finance and resources, promoting the service, reader development, and the wider context, e.g. People’s Network, government initiatives. The focus of this chapter is public libraries and, to a lesser extent, academic libraries.
The authors’ backgrounds are education and public libraries, and this book reflects their knowledge and expertise. If a third edition was to be produced (and I hope it will) then my suggestion is to involve an author with experience of working in workplace libraries and information units. This additional input would ensure that this valuable book covered the whole information and library sector in a more balanced manner.
I would certainly recommend this book to new entrants to information and library work, and also to students starting out on their programme. It offers an excellent overview of the field and is written in an accessible style. The authors have managed to achieve a good balance between presenting a broad sweep of the field and still providing sufficient detail to enable a newcomer to grasp the key ideas.
