With all the publications on new issues and developments within the library and information sector, it is refreshing to come across a book that quite literally goes back to basics in order to address the issue of how to establish a library from scratch. This is certainly one of the more practical handbooks that the library and information profession has produced in some time, although I still balk at the cost of Facet's books.
It might be expected that the organisations which would be looking at setting up a library service, and which do not have already one, would be small organisations, such as charitable organisations and schools. However, many larger organisations waste money by duplicating resources and so a centralised information service would be a relevant and viable facility for them too. It would also increase efficiency if the service was staffed by a librarian, and having professional staffing of the facility is strongly recommended by the authors, but this book is aimed at anyone who has the responsibility for establishing a new information service.
After an opening chapter on the basic topics, such as justifying having a library and the benefits that can accrued by establishing such a facility, Pantry and Griffiths go on to consider the first steps, including reviewing the need for work, information audits, wider use of information professional skills, and communication and the information audit. Hence, information needs within the organisation and consultation with stakeholders are, quite rightly, considered to be important factors before establishing the facility.
Establishing the actual library and information service involves such factors as premises, design (including acoustics), location, security, access, etc. which are briefly considered. Obviously, this initial stage will involve the project manager consulting with many other people within the organisation.
These practical considerations are supported by appendices which offer help on copyright; lists of basic reference works; press releases; brochures to promote the services; suppliers, subscription agent and searching the internet; library basics such as repairs, filing, loans and reference services.
The issue of staffing is considered in its own chapter. This section is difficult to judge because each organisation will have its own needs and resources for staffing. The approach tries to look at issues of recruiting staff and team building, while also making suggestions for the library and information service workers about day‐to‐day responsibilities. This approach has some useful advice but does not really work well as a chapter and it would have been much clearer if there was advice to management on recruitment and team building, with another section on how the staff appointed would operate within the organisation's culture.
Much more satisfactory is the section about the importance of networking. This emphasises the significance of tapping into regional, national and specialist sources of information in different formats. The References and further reading section at the end of the book provides more in‐depth support to the comments and suggestions in this chapter and the others.
An interesting checklist of services that a library provides to its users is suggested by the authors, with the understanding that the new library and information service may want to adopt most if not all of them. This list includes things that will be familiar to most library and information professionals: acquisitions using subscription agents, book suppliers, buying newspapers and exchanging duplicate information; organising information using catalogues; indexes and indexing; abstracts and abstracting; database building; enquiry services; reference collections; disseminating information; translation and interpreting services; setting standards of service provision; other services tailored to particular user groups. This section is useful, but hints that the target of the book is not very clear – if it includes library and information professionals then this will be too obvious and really just a checklist rather than anything new; if it is for a complete novice then more explanation will be needed (although the further reading does provide links to some further help).
A very brief, but important, chapter looks at the support needed for the new, and indeed an existing, library and information service. The authors stress the importance of management support, including that managers should understand what the service does, provide a clear line management, be keen to promote the service and in return explain what the organisation's information needs are. Financial support is also important, including having and managing budgets, although this section is rather cursory, as are the comments on organisational, technical and network supports. External support, such as professional bodies, informal contacts and other networks, is emphasised too in a short section. The support of the whole organisation for any library and information service is essential and is often an overlooked factor, but for a newly established service it is critical.
The penultimate section looks at promoting the library and information service. Pantry and Griffiths specifically look at advertising the service; press releases; writing articles; organising visits to the facility; participating in conferences, seminars and exhibitions; producing promotional publications; publicity packages; having a union list of periodicals for the organisation; producing a newsletter and web site; organising seminars and training courses. The theme of user training and organising meetings is explored in more depth in the final chapter.
Although this is certainly a worthy book and has some valuable advice that is both practical and realistic, there are some doubts about the depth of information provision and to whom this is pitched. Case studies of organisations that have instituted a new library and information service from scratch would have been useful to see more clearly what kinds of organisation the authors are referring to, the practicalities of the advice offered here and any pitfalls that arose in the case studies. The book has heavy emphasis on promotion and training, when it could be argued that the priorities for someone faced with starting a new service within an existing organisation might be more basic issues such as management, technical and financial support, plus how to get and organise resources. To partly address this, these issues are addressed in brief and there are links through the references and further reading. An experienced library and information professional might find this book useful as a reminder or checklist of some of the issues to cover in planning a new library and information service. A novice faced with implementing the service will certainly find this book useful, even if the balance of subjects is rather different in practice than the coverage in the book. Sheila Pantry and Peter Griffiths are certainly to be commended for attempting to address an area where there is very real need for guidance and expertise.
