Cooperation in Action; Collaborative Initiatives in the World of Information

One of the great unsung features of the library profession is the quiet, effective cooperation – both formal and informal – between the libraries and librarians of all types. Here is a fine, well produced and authoritative collection of articles on the many innovative cooperative schemes in existence in the UK, giving a sound and current overview of “the state‐of‐the‐art” in this important sector of professional endeavour. As Baroness Blackstone wisely observes in her Foreword: “Cooperation is not easy –it takes hard work and persistence.” The Editors have brought together a knowledgeable and distinguished array of practitioners; household names such as Derek Law, Graham Cornish and Nick Moore write authoritatively and clearly on such topics as International Cooperation, cooperating in the new Electronic Information milieu, and the idea of a “critical mass” of cooperating libraries. Stuart Brewer writes a perceptive and lucid account of the regional perspective: the landscape of cooperation – a truly difficult task which he accomplishes effectively by covering well the plethora of major cooperative arrangements in existence, ranging from Regional Library Systems to the London Libraries Development Agency and the TLP‐West Midlands scheme. Bernard Naylor also provides a useful and comprehensive account of cooperation in the academic libraries sector. All in all, a useful and timely book, well written and with good Indexes (including a helpful Web sites Index).