This is a well produced, clearly laid out book “aimed at the busy information professional”. It has a good practical feel for professional issues and practice and is readable and succinct. The author, based at Birmingham City University, has chosen widely and well in her selection of joint‐use libraries and draws heavily upon papers published for the First International Joint‐Use Libraries Conference held in 2007 at Manchester.
Joint Use libraries seem to check all the boxes: collaboration and partnership, efficiency improvements, accessibility, environmental sustainability, inclusion and so on. Perhaps their moment in the sun has finally arrived. Joint use libraries have been around for some time – one remembers the pioneering joint academic/public libraries of Hertfordshire County Libraries in the 1960s – and the Australians appear to have embraced the concept enthusiastically. The book also gives good examples from South Africa and China. There are helpful and clear chapters on defining joint‐use libraries and many interesting examples are outlined (such as the joint NHS/University Health Library at Stoke on Trent). The concept of “one‐stop shops” in library and information provision is well explained, with good examples given from Bolton and Staffordshire. Well written chapters on joint‐use library design and operation, partnerships and potential developments help to clarify and expand the concept for the reader. Library standards and evaluation techniques are also covered in a clear and helpful manner and there is a useful index, references and appendices. In conclusion, a well organised and useful work suitable for practitioners and students who want a clear and up to date introduction to the concept of joint‐use libraries.
