UK-Nordic seminar on training for change: new skills for the electronic library.
NORDINFO 1998. ISBN 952-5204-03-0. Not priced

This is the proceedings of a seminar organised by NORDINFO and the British Library Research and Innovation Centre held in York in September 1997. The contributors are drawn from the UK and the Scandinavian countries. What should have been a set of stimulating papers is marred because some contributions are only represented by abstracts, rather than the full paper. Whilst this is frustrating for the reader, it is still possible to obtain some detail concerning developments in the different countries - at the time at which the seminar was held. Useful for trainers, educators, and academic librarians.

Written by a management consultant, who also holds a degree in psychology, the blurb starts with the sentence "shows why some companies release the red hot passions of their staff while others leave them cold". Yes, well - and it has some amusing cartoons. On the serious side it is easy to read and provides an introduction to cultural change and how to achieve it. Three models are introduced - the CAM, the 9R Model and the 6P Model. Each chapter has an overview, and the text is broken into clearly labelled parts. After a discussion about change, attention is paid to the question of implementation and the problems that will be encountered.

The author is Head of Reference at Trinity University at San Antonio and he has produced a practical handbook which will be helpful for those new to the profession, or who might be switching between specialist posts. Guidelines are provided to key areas of reference collection management including: the preparation of a reference collection development policy; the implementation of selection policies and procedures; the selection and management of electronic reference sources, and the evaluation and weeding of reference collections. Detailed for US sources but also includes UK sources. A good introduction to the subject.

The contributors are drawn from US academic libraries, the book trade, and library suppliers - and it is a fascinating collection of papers. The paper by Patricia Glass Schuman and Charles Harmon of Neal-Schuman describes the process of publication together with the timescale and costs. Fascinating and informative. Each section has good reading lists, and there is an excellent index. Don�t be put off by its US origin. Librarians from other countries will find it informative. A good read for anyone wanting to know more about publishing and acquisitions.

Walt Crawford�s texts are always stimulating to read. In his latest he "offers an alternative model to a simplistic digital future". He challenges the assertions that the complex mixes of technologies do not provide a clear path to the future. The role of libraries is explored together with the reasons why people use libraries. The text will help readers to articulate their viewpoint to "administrators, staff, or users who claim that the virtual library will do it all for less". Useful for librarians in all types of library - and for students.

Patricia Layzell Ward
Library Link Convenor-in-chief
Updated 31 March 1999

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