An interesting, thoughtful and wide ranging book covering both academic and public libraries today. It is a timely work given the fact that libraries everywhere have to cope with the severe effects of a worldwide economic recession and rapid social change. The pressing need for the LIS profession is to step back – to take a wider view, to rethink the future and plan for inevitable change. “The internet has brought chaos and a plethora of choices,” the editors state, and librarians must cope imaginatively and effectively with this “Monster or Saviour”. This book was originally published by The American Library Association and is thus fairly American in tone and scope. The work is well produced and attractively laid out with a good index and clear lucid notes and further reading suggestions.
The work itself presents a series of authoritative, well written and thought provoking articles from a wide array of senior LIS practitioners, mainly American but no worse for that. They are “clued up”, knowledgeable and enthusiastic thinkers about the future and possible worlds of LIS. Some good examples of the LIS futurologies and “what if?” scenarios are presented. There seems little doubt amongst thoughtful LIS practitioners that thinking about possible LIS futures is here to stay – an innovative and fruitful area and a valuable tool for LIS practitioners everywhere.
In conclusion, this is a valuable book for LIS practitioners, not too Americanised and lucidly written by a well-chosen array of respected and well experienced LIS practitioners – a catalyst to encourage forward and innovative thinking. As the Ancient Romans said “Times change and we must change with them”.
