This is one of those books that, on paper, I thought would be ideal to donate to my library; but when it arrived I realized that it was one of those few books that is really quite indispensable. When a title has gone through this many editions, you know that it is a valuable resource. In this case it seems that so many editions have refined the product down to something that is slim‐lined, very direct and to the point, and without a doubt one of the most user‐friendly titles I have come across in years.
This edition, like previous ones, is “new and improved”, and incorporates information from a recent survey of colleges in England, as well as including new sections relevant to professional practice across the education sector. The guidelines are described in the Foreword as being “well contextualized”. Key topics such as information literacy, customer care, advocacy and inclusion are highlighted, and a new section on benchmarking is useful in demonstrating library contribution to institutional success.
There are ten recommendations, all straightforward, achievable and entirely consistent with the mission and values of our profession. Additionally, there are quantitative performance indicators that, together with the key recommendations, are referred to at the beginning of the eight chapters. There is also a glossary, conclusion, bibliography and index. The eight chapters – Facilitating learning, Quality framework, Promotion and advocacy, Learning environment, Accessibility, Learning materials, Human resources, and Finance – are each broken down into sub‐chapters that leave nothing to chance.
While primarily aimed at the education sector, I believe this books crosses library boundaries and is completely adaptable to any type of library. It should be at the top of every library purchase list this year.
