As the author explains in the preface to The Public Library, the aim of this book is provide an introductory text on the development of public libraries in the UK and the services they provide. It discusses the nature and functions of the public library service from its beginnings through to the present day.
It would be a useful text book for students of LIS with little knowledge of the public libraries sector. The first part of the book deals with the historical development of public libraries and their development during the twenty‐first century under New Labour.
Following this, the author explores a number of inter‐related service themes. He examines equity of access, looking at the core values of public libraries, social inclusion, censorship and the impact of closures and the reduction of opening hours. This is followed by a chapter considering the cultural role of libraries versus their role as a leisure facility. The book then describes another role of the public library: as a source of information, advice and informed citizenship. The final chapter of this section explores lifelong learning in libraries.
The third section of the book focuses on a number of management and service development issues relating to public libraries. These consider challenges such as budgeting, governance, the impact of ICT, performance measurement, staffing and marketing. Finally, there is a conclusion which revisits the service themes considered earlier and briefly reflects on a number of key questions including: can public libraries learn lessons from retailers, and what does the future hold for public libraries and librarians?
As the author admits, the book is written from the stance that public libraries are institutions which should be cherished. However, he presents a fairly balanced account: although the book is largely uncritical of public libraries, it falls well short of making an impassioned plea for libraries. It is, therefore, a competent textbook for library studies students, but is covers its themes in such brevity that it would be of limited use to anyone with a more in depth interest in the field. Given the limited attention given to each of the themes discussed, a more comprehensive list of selected reading would have been useful.
I am afraid that this text, although competently written and wide‐ranging, suffers by comparison to two recent publications on the same theme: Anne Goulding's Public Libraries in the 21st Century and Bob Usherwood's Equity and Excellence in the Public Library. It lacks the detail of the first or the passion of the latter. That said, The Public Library provides a clear overview of the main issues relating to public libraries and would provide a valuable introduction for those with little previous knowledge of the sector.
