JOURNALS

The Information Society: A Study of Continuity and Change. 3rd ed.
John Feather. Library Association, 2000. ISBN 1856043614 �19.95 paperback

This new edition has undergone considerable revision to reflect the speed of social, political and technological developments. An introduction considers the myth and the reality of the information society. The historical dimension ranges from script to print, to the mass media and new technology. Coverage of the economic dimension includes the information market place and access to information. Political questions include the information rich and information poor, and information - the state and the citizen. There is a discussion of the changing information profession and an afterword - an information society? It will be a welcome introduction for students. It is also stimulating reading for those who qualified some years ago - a contribution to continuing professional development.

This is a how-to-do-it volume based on the authors� experience of operating a peer-tutoring programme at the University of New Mexico. It was developed in response to the need to provide an effective service against the challenges of understaffing, and an increase in the number of questions from users about electronic resources. The authors have prepared eight detailed training sessions for tutors. Given some of the outcomes of research into user behaviour in academic libraries, it may well be that students teaching students may be more, or at least as, effective as the more traditional approach. Well worth consideration by managers of services outside of North America too.

This standard manual has been revised to take account of a decade of developments in national and international descriptive practice. It is the only comprehensive British guide to the theory and practice of listing archives. The volume covers the new international standards such as ISAD(G), developments in administrative theory, new approaches to access delivery and electronic archives. The glossary has been updated and additional examples of listing practice provided. It is an essential reference tool for practising archivists, and for students.

Written for a North American readership this practical guide will be of value to librarians in other parts of the world. The emphasis is on the practical aspects, and the author provides tips and tales. The first tale is "building a library is exciting, enervating, nerve-wracking, and the best and the worst of everything". The volume covers how to talk constructively with architects and builders, plan for technology access, incorporate security, electrical, HVAC, lighting and roofing, and perhaps most importantly, to keep the project on track and within budget. Managing a building project isn�t taught at library school, nor does it feature in CPD courses, so this volume is vital for anyone getting involved in a building project - for the manager to use as a learning tool and checklist, and for other staff to understand the nature of such an undertaking.

This is a timely volume for Herbert White�s volume is really published at the start of the new millennium in time for January 1 2001. It is a collection of his writings that have been published over a period of time, brought together under headings such as Planning and evaluation: the endless carousel, Should leaders want to be managers and give up all that freedom?; What is a professional in our field? As ever the papers are thought provoking and readable. We need writing that makes us think about our own ideas, and this he provides bringing his output over many years between one cover. In addition he provides an autobiographical introduction. And yes - I agree with his views about the ALA which also apply to so many other professional associations!

Back to the Books and Journals Index