The Academic Library and Its Users. By Peter Jordan. Aldershot: Gower Publishing, 1998. 157 pp. �39.50 hard ISBN 0566079399

Title, publisher and author - a former head of reader services, now lecturer in library management - all promise far more than this modest little textbook can deliver. What is, perhaps, most striking about current developments in higher education are the worldwide commonalities: we are all facing very similar challenges. There is undoubtedly a place for a text with some international perspectives which not only describes but also attempts to analyze the implications of these challenges for academic librarians. Sadly, this is not that text.

Jordan provides an introductory overview of academic libraries in the UK, drawing almost exclusively upon the British literature (plus a little from the US). While clearly written, the content is uneven in both quality and coverage, occasionally reading as if based upon lecture notes incompletely transformed into book format.

It is especially frustrating that real problems are sometimes raised and then left, without proper analysis or suggested action. For example, "many libraries are now attacking noise by saturating the library with warning notices and threatening punishment for transgressors." True, and well put - but is this an effective response to the problem? What other strategies might be possible - not just group work spaces, but segregation of areas within the library, or separate study facilities? Could this be put in a wider management context of consultation with users about problems? No: this is a one-sentence paragraph at the very end of a short section on noise, and Jordan simply proceeds to the next topic.

A general criticism of the book is the absence of concluding comment, not only at the end of such sections but also at the end of each chapter. Chapters simply stop, with no attempt to draw threads together. The overall impact is of a text which merely describes the present situation in British academic libraries, short on analysis, lacking in critical reflection on current practice and largely bereft of appropriate international comparisons.

Peter Clayton
University of Canberra

Business Information at Work. By Michael Lowe. London: Aslib, 1999. 327 pp. price not reported soft ISBN 0851424031

Information is power. As the world we live in is increasingly turning into an information-based society, information management will become ever more important. Based on his experience as a reference librarian and professor of library and information studies, the author sets an ambitious objective for himself of building the bridge between business needs and potential information. The book is written for managers and business decision-makers at all levels in all industries, as well as for information professionals and students. The goal is to relate together the points of view of information providers, information professionals and business people.

Business information is defined in the book as it has come to be understood by a large industry and profession: as information on those factors outside and largely beyond the control of the business, which have a direct commercial significance. The book is organized by the common divisions of business information: company information, market information, financial information, product information, and country information. There are also separate chapters on accessing business information, business news sources, industry sources, etc. Information on technology, legislation and economics is excluded from the coverage.

For each category of business information the author attempts to contemplate a businessperson�s problems and information needs in relation to the subject, to examine the relevant primary information in the field, and to characterize and evaluate the available sources. The methods used by the author are both theoretical and practical. It is theoretical in that it analyzes and categorizes relevant elements of businesses and external information, and practical as it also relates real information needs to specific types and examples of information sources and services. It is therefore a combination of a reference tool and a textbook on business information. This approach is well suited for students and people who are new to the field of business information; however, a business librarian seeking to identify a quick reference source may find the detailed discussion unnecessary.

The focus of the book is on business information in the UK, while providing limited coverage of Europe, the US and other countries. Other similar titles in the field include Kaye�s Information and Business (Library Association, 1991) and Burke and Hall�s Navigating Business Information Sources: A Practical Guide for Information Managers (Library Association, 1998). In Lowe�s book business sources from reference books to Web sites, from newspapers to special online services are included, and plenty of examples are given. However, it is not to be used as an exhaustive guide to business sources. A major advantage of the book is its coverage of online electronic sources in the business field. It would be really helpful to users if the author could set up a Web page covering this sector of business information as it is in a constant state of change.

Wenxian Zhang
Rollins College

Developing Information and Library Staff through Work-Based Learning: 101 Activities. By Barbara Allan. London: Library Association Publishing, 1999. 191 pp. �29.95 hard ISBN1856042812

The goal of the book is to provide a wealth of ideas that may be used to develop work-based learning in information and library services. It is divided into two parts. Part 1 presents first a description and a rationale for developing work-based learning. Then it introduces practical strategies for the development and management of learning skills in the workplace, including developing individual learning, developing independence in learning, developing a learning organization, etc.

Part 2 lists in alphabetical order 101 methods of work-based learning in library and information organizations, ranging from action learning to writing. For each activity there is a brief description along with an example of its implementation in the workplace. Some entries also include advantages and disadvantages of such applications, various approaches, potential problems, etc. In addition at the end of the book there is a brief annotated resource guide of eight books published in the 1990s on work-based learning. No journal articles, Web sites, electronic and multimedia resources are included.

Unlike the traditional way of preparation for work through academic study or vocational training, work-based learning involves learning at work and learning through work. Plenty of literature on work-based learning in general has been published, though not much is written on its applications in the field of library service. To survive and succeed in the fast-changing environment of the electronic age, it is critical for today�s library and information service professionals to commit to continuing education and independent learning. Based on Kolb�s Learning Circle theory, the author explores the concept, strategies, action plans and assessment of work-based learning from the perspectives of individual, team and organization. The importance of developing independent learners through formal and informal processes in the workplace is emphasized.

The core of the book is the list of ideas and approaches that may be used to encourage learning in the workplace. These ideas have come from the author�s own experience in staff development and training in library and information services, from feedback from colleagues and from professional literature. This part of the book serves as a reference tool for library employees and administrators to seek new ideas and approaches. Ninety-six activities for work-based learning are actually described in the book, and the listing could be better organized. For example, the headings �Computer-Based Training�, �Computer Conferencing�, �E-Mail�, �Internet, and World Wide Web� only refer readers to a brief description under �Computer-Mediated Communication�; on the other hand, there are separate entries for �Audio Tapes�, �Audio Taping�, �Multimedia Resources and Video Activites�.

A person looking for ideas and examples of work-based learning in the area of computer and information technologies may be a bit disappointed. Despite the drawback the book remains a useful tool for practising librarians and information professionals interested in developing work-based learning activities.

Wenxian Zhang
Rollins College

Document Delivery beyond 2000: Proceedings of a Conference Held at the British Library, September 1998. Ed. By Anne Morris, Neil Jacobs and Eric Davies. London: Taylor Graham, 1999. 188 pp. �30.00 soft ISBN 094756876X

This volume reflects the main issues addressed by the Conference speakers and delegates. The topics are divided into two distinct aspects of document delivery: first, the people in the process of seamless access to documents; second, the requirements of infrastructure for document delivery. Each of these aspects consists of a two-part treatment - papers and brief reports of breakout sessions. These reports show some important insights into the main issues discussed by the delegates in order to promote the continuation of discussions beyond the Conference.

The first half of this volume includes nine papers and four reports from breakout sessions that can be grouped into three sections. The first is concerned with document delivery from a library management perspective and addresses significant issues such as budgeting, collection development and access, particularly the importance of electronic document delivery. The second mainly analyses the complexity of the document delivery marketplace and emphasises the aspect of co-operation among librarians and suppliers. The third characterises "what the end-users want" and how to meet their needs.

The second half of this volume contains eight papers and four reports and also can be grouped into three sections. The first describes the history and technical background of the LAMDA and DocUTrans document supply systems. The second emphasises the legal framework for document delivery activity in the UK in order to support private research. The final section identifies the importance of the technical infrastructure for document delivery and resource sharing and describes the significant work done over the years in the UK, Australia and the US.

This volume reveals current developments in document delivery from an international perspective. It should be of value to those who hope to seize the opportunities and challenges for supplying the best document delivery services to their users.

Zengzhi Shi
Peking University

Finding Common Ground: Creating the Library of the Future without Diminishing the Library of the Past. Ed. by Cheryl LaGuardia and Barbara A. Mitchell. The New Library Series. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1998. 478 pp. US$75.00 soft ISBN 1555702902

Libraries have always been in a transition. In modern times the change has been visible both in their concepts, functions and physical outlook. In times of information deluge their very existence is perceived to be threatened. This is a misconception of the notion of books and libraries - in the digital and networked culture our wares, products, services, tools and techniques have changed. But our mission remains the same. Coping with the changes, we can survive with the same name when the type hype dies down. There are common grounds for continuity.

This was the theme and spirit of a conference held at Harvard in early 1996, and represented in this volume by full texts of 55 contributed papers, a keynote and a plenary lecture and a listing of 20 demonstrated papers. The six sub-themes of the conference were: technology and networks, satisfying users, the change face of research; changing [informational] materials, changing economics, future of intellectual organisation, and our individual and collective future - the library as an organisation. Methodologies in the papers vary from case studies to descriptive studies and theoretical contributions.

The theme wisely presupposes that the past remains with us and cannot be shaken off. We are working towards the library our users and we want. We create the future by standing in the present and being guided by the past. The printed book still signifies scholarship and humanism, and our collections on the shelves continue to grow. Our aim remains the same, though products and services have multiplied. We will have to work in co-operation (if not in competition) with diverse information providing agencies. The days of stand-alone libraries are numbered. Sources, skills and tools of bibliographic organisation and access may be changing, yet philosophy and intellectual concepts remain the same. The conference provided a forum for exploring reasonable cost effective ways of developing viable libraries in a climate of continual change. The papers are timely and present the cutting edge of technology and current thinking.

M P Satija
Guru Nanak Dev University

Foundations of Library and Information Science. By Richard E. Rubin. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1998. 495 pp. US$45.00 soft ISBN 1555703097

Written primarily as a textbook for ALA-accredited MLIS programmes, this book nevertheless has much to offer the LIS community worldwide. It discusses in broad and general terms the development of libraries and information science, the impact of information technology on libraries, information policy and related issues. Because of this very wide scope, and the pace at which different concepts are introduced, it is probably best consulted as a resource, the range of topics being approached through chapter headings and the slim but adequate index.

The sections of most interest are the substantial chapters on information policy, information policy as library policy and ethics and standards. These make a coherent whole covering many useful topics - the political and economic aspects of information, government information, information infrastructures, intellectual property, equity of access, intellectual property, and censorship. Key documents which explain or contain US policy on these matters are referred to. Given the interest in many countries on information policy, this is useful material - if only as a guide to what a developed policy might look like and the issues it should cover. Of less interest are the chapters on the history of libraries in Western countries and more specifically the US, and library education and career opportunities, unless the user is looking for some form of guide to programmes for overseas study purposes. Too brief to be of much value, and somewhat out of place, is the short chapter on information organisation, which coves major classification and cataloguing systems, and briefly refers to systems for listing information on the Internet without mentioning the use of metadata and the Dublin Core list of metadata items, increasingly being used as the international standard for Web-based resources.

Supplementary materials in the appendices, such as the Association of Research Libraries� Statement on Intellectual Property, the White House Conference on Library and Information Services Priority Recommendations, and Principles for the Development of a National Information Infrastructure, provide access to documents which can be hard to obtain.

Used sensibly, this is a valuable resource for teachers and students of LIS. The short lists of major works in each topic area would provide a useful guide to collection development for a library collection to support a degree programme in LIS, and the many articles referred to are key items on the subject. For these reasons, and because the book clearly explains a number of important issues relating to libraries in the contemporary environment, and the information policy framework in which they function, it would be a valuable addition to any professional LIS collection.

Rowena Cullen
Victoria University of Wellington

Information Design: The Knowledge Architect�s Toolkit. By Graziella Tonfoni. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press; Exeter: Intellect, 1998. 183 pp. price not reported soft ISBN 0810835266

Some years ago Elizabeth Orna first drew our attention to the importance of information design. She realised that desktop publishing had made it possible for librarians to create their own print materials such as pamphlets, pathfinders and posters, and so it was crucial that the importance of good design principles was understood before too much bad material reached the hands of library customers. Skills of using layout, the selection of font, the use of kerning, spacing, and so on, all have to be learned. Printers and publishers have understood the importance of these concepts for centuries, but if librarians want to become publishers themselves then they, too, have to acquire an understanding of information design. Orna was talking to librarians, but the importance of information design in a wider context has been well understood for decades. Perhaps the best known proponent of information design principles is Edward Tufte, whose trilogy of books has become acknowledged as essential reading for information designers around the world.

Because this is a topic that greatly interests me, I seized Tonfoni's book with high anticipation. Unfortunately, it was a great disappointment. Her approach is more indebted to McLuhan than Tufte, and she writes mostly about text analysis rather than graphic design. Documents, she argues, are constructions and can be reduced to their basic elements, then redesigned and reconstructed to meet specific information needs. Although this sounds postmodernist and perhaps suited to new technologies such as hypertext, this did not emerge from her book. She uses architectural metaphors a great deal. Her models are given names that often reflect different buildings: the Union Station indoor model, the Union Station outdoor model, the Pentagon city mall model, etc. The subway-surfacing-information-seeking model sounds interesting because it is about "an enhanced dynamic network for accessing information territories quickly and accurately at the same time". What Tonfoni presents, however, is a metaphor that tells us nothing new about the difficulties of information retrieval.

Only the first 60 pages consist of text. Then about 10 pages of photographs follow; these are of buildings Tonfoni has used in her metaphors. The second half of the book is made up of her drawings and charts, which look rather like overheads from a lecture. Considering this is a book on design, it is a rather unattractive publication. There is a bibliography (in which two-thirds of the references are to Tonfoni's own work) and an index. I cannot imagine many librarians finding this book worth purchasing.

Philip Calvert
Victoria University of Wellington

Information Sources 1999. Ed. Erin E. Braun. Washington, DC: Information Industry Association, 1999. 250 pp. US$149.50 ISBN 0787628735 (available from Gale Group, 27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535)

This is a directory of members of the Information Industry Association (IIA) in Washington, DC. Established in 1968, IIA represents various companies, such as publishers, database producers, online search and Internet service provides, and similar other companies that are involved in creating, distributing and facilitating the use of information both in print and digital formats. There are 463 members listed in this directory.

This edition has eight parts. The first two, included in the preliminaries provide some general information about IIA and its office bearers, etc., as well as an alphabetical list of all the companies that are included in the main directory that forms the main part of this publication covering 171 pages in two columns. Entries for each of the 463 members of IIA, are arranged alphabetically by name of the organization, in the main part of the directory. Each entry provides information on: company name and address, name and designation of the IIA representative, key personnel, company description; key products and services, Internet site profile, foreign operations, products and services niche market, brief corporate history. The average length of each entry is between half a page to a full page, though some entries are quite long, particularly because of the long list of their products and services.

The main part of the directory is followed by a section containing information on academic and distinguished members. This section is only three pages long, containing brief biographical information on 11 academic and two distinguished members of IIA. This section is followed by a Key Executive Index, which identifies the IIA representatives and key executives for each organization listed in the main part. Entries are arranged alphabetically by surname of the executive. Each entry provides the name, title, company represented, and contact information of the executive concerned. This is followed by two geographical indexes: one for the US, and one international. The geographic indexes contain contact information for organizations listed in the main part of this directory. Entries in the US index are arranged alphabetically by state and by city, whereas the international geographic index is arranged alphabetically by name of country. Each entry includes organization name, complete address, and telephone number. The geographical indexes are followed by a Foreign Operations Index listing all foreign operators of the companies listed in the main part. The index is arranged alphabetically by country name, and within a country alphabetically by the name of the companies. Each entry contains only the name of a company. This is followed by the Product and Service Index, which is extremely useful for it classifies organizations, systems, products and services listed in this directory into categories according to their chief functions or types of services provided. Under each heading company names appear alphabetically.

This is a useful source of information for libraries to acquire.

Gobinda G. Chowdhury
Nanyang Technological University

Leadership and Academic Librarians. Ed. by Terrence F. Mech and Gerard B. McCabe. The Greenwood Library Management Collection. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998. 276 pp. US$65.00 hard ISBN 0313302715

In their introduction to this book the editors identify the importance of leadership in academic libraries by saying that "the future of academic librarianship in the United States and Canada is being shaped by willingness and ability of its 26,341 and 1,887 academic librarians to lead and be creative in our responses to the pressure facing academe and our profession". The purpose of this book is to show how individual librarians and their personal leadership are contributing to the changes in our profession and the expanding career opportunities available to academic librarians. To develop leadership potential in future library administrators and to promote the success of incumbents, it is necessary to determine leadership effectiveness and its relationship to organizational outcomes in academic libraries.

This book in its 19 chapters looks at how academic librarianship is evolving through the continuing contributions of individual librarians� leadership and career actions. Separate chapters use history to examine how practices we take for granted can be traced to the actions of individuals. Several authors provide examples of how librarians have accepted leadership challenges, and they remind us that the need for leadership is not limited to those in management positions. This book will inspire readers to exercise and assume new roles that are not restricted to traditional leardership or management positions, because leadership begins with people who know how to take the best of yesterday and carry it into tomorrow. It is enhanced by people who are flexible, open, decisive, able to tolerate uncertainty, loyal to their institutions, and care about human beings.

It is hoped that this book helps individuals to see the connections between how we lead, how we practice our profession, how we develop our careers, and how our profession is defined and evolves. In these times of challenge and opportunity we all make a difference, both professionally and personally, depending on how we envision academic librarianship and exercise leadership.

Sujin Butdisuwan
Mahasarakham University

Librarianship and Information Work Worldwide 1998. General ed.: Maurice Line. Ed. by Graham Mackenzie and Paul Sturges. East Grinstead: Bowker-Saur, 1998. 307 pp. price not reported hard ISBN 1857391691

Librarianship and Information Work Worldwide 1999. General ed.: Maurice Line. Ed. by Graham Mackenzie and Paul Sturges. East Grinstead: Bowker-Saur, 1999. 353 pp. price not reported hard ISBN 1857392973

These are the seventh and eighth volumes in this annual series of reviews of current international literature of librarianship and information work - and in fact the final volumes, now that Bowker-Saur is ceasing its book publishing activity. The volumes provide a global picture of developments in the field, but the editors acknowledge that the coverage can never be complete. However, in spite of limitations we can say that the works give a reasonably indicative picture of what has appeared in the literature. Both volumes have several regular chapters, covering the previous year�s activities in national, academic, public and special libraries, followed by chapters on other topics. The 1998 volume includes special chapters on library collections, rare books and special collections, health services information, research and consultancy, and staff management. The 1999 volume contains chapters on government information online, education and training, performance indicators, resource sharing, and marketing of libraries and information services. Each volume in the series also includes one or two chapters on particular regions of the world. Thus South Asia is included in the 1998 volume, while the Far East and Latin America are covered in the 1999 volume. An introductory chapter is included in each volume that overviews the professional trends observed in the literature of previous year. All chapters are written by experts in the relevant fields.

One feature that makes the volumes more useful is the long list of references at the end of each chapter. A notable point in these lists, particularly in these two volumes, is the increased number of references to online sources. At the end of each volume there is an index of authors whose works are cited in various chapters. About 1400 authors, with their citations, are listed in each of these two volumes. As the authors represent many nations, this index presents a good picture of the international coverage of the volumes. To assist the reader acronyms and abbreviations used in the chapters are explained at the end of 1999 volume. A subject index is also provided.

Reading these excellent volumes should be considered a form of continuing professional development for librarians and information professionals. Considering that these are essential reading for teachers, researchers and working professionals, the volumes should be acquired by all larger libraries and library schools.

Khalid Mahmood
University of the Punjab

Libraries: Global Reach - Local Touch. Ed. by Kathleen de la P. McCook, Barbara J. Ford and Kate Lippincott. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 1998. 256 pp. US$42.00 (US$37.80 ALA members) soft ISBN 0838907385

International co-operation and communication possible through the digital age has released librarians for "friendship, collaboration, commerce, and community" - Global Reach - Local Touch explores this challenge in the context of a type of "radical humanism" according to Kathleen de la Pena McCook. This title has as its theme that used by Barbara Ford in her 1997-1998 American Library Association presidency. With Ford�s directive to "think globally and act locally", issues involving the environment, health, the economy, population growth and poverty are all within the purview of the library community. This compendium of essays from libraries in Canada, Estonia, Guam, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and the US makes philosophical conversations of global librarianship possible. Regardless of geographic location, nationality, and ethnicity, the same issues are being examined, and the same questions asked worldwide. Robert Wedgeworth gives the collection of essays a united theme with his description of a global library agenda - "my vision of a global library community is one that is asynchronous, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, geographically diverse, Internet-enabled and technically competent. Achieving this vision will require concerted efforts on a number of fronts simultaneously."

Global Reach - Local Touch shows an enormous effort of scholarship; as a consequence, problems with reaching Wedgeworth�s utopia are not glossed over. For example, Diljit Singh relates possible reasons why the country�s public libraries are not always the source for reading materials in his chapter, Library and Information Services in Malaysia. An over-emphasis on paper qualifications, language difficulties and the limited number of books in local languages, as well as the ever-increasing competition from electronic media, are all barriers to participation in a literate society. However, interest in technology is high among the populace in Malaysia, and libraries are the leaders in making resources available through the Internet. Peter Underwood and Mary Nassimbeni describe education as a focus for library and information work in South Africa, as marginalized communities are the most "starved of education, information, employment and other resources". They also call for public libraries to be transformed from "recreational resources for wealthy whites into vital resources for millions of black people who need to fill an educational vacuum". Multi-Purpose Community Centres will be established to give respect and recognition to oral sources and traditional knowledge - considered the best strategic choice for addressing the community needs of previously disadvantaged groups in urban and rural localities. The delivery and provision of health care, welfare and library and information services will form another important focus for the MPCC. William V. Jackson, in his description of university libraries in El Salvador, cites significant on-going trends: a growing awareness of the library�s mission and role in higher education, increasing financial support.

This brief selection from the varied chapters in Global Reach - Local Touch shows that the work is well worth acquiring for collections that seek to stimulate thinking about the future of our profession.

Susan Higgins
Nanyang Technological University

Managing Your Organization�s Records. By Elizabeth Parker. The Successful LIS Professional. London: Library Association Publishing, 1999. 181 pp. �14.50 soft ISBN 1856043355

The purpose of this book is to provide an overview of records management for librarians and other information professionals - to act as a resource for someone charged with managing organizational records but without formal training in this field. The style of writing is clear, and the author uses various organizational settings to illustrate her points. Interestingly, none of these are central government agencies - three are private enterprises, one a charity, one a local authority and one a university.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part consists of just one chapter, which establishes what records are and why they should be managed. The definitions of records are very clear, and appropriate emphasis is placed on the variety of formats in which records can exist - with Monica Lewinsky�s dress used as an example! Records are presented in the context of a life cycle, with no mention of a continuum approach.

The second part takes up the majority of the book - nine chapters on the techniques of managing records. The first chapter introduces classification systems, and this is where a major weakness becomes apparent. Although the book�s intended audience is information management professionals, it does not take into account concepts or terminology that will already be familiar to them and consequently does not directly address the areas that librarians in particular may wonder about, or on which they would appreciate more in-depth discussion. Indexing is dealt with very briefly, and the author recommends that all indexes (e.g. to library publications as well as records) in the organisation should be integrated, but she does not suggest how this should be done.

The remainder of this second part covers retention, vital records, storage, the management of active and inactive records and destruction considerations. As this is a Library Association publication, all legislation referred to is British, and thus of limited interest to overseas practitioners. Archiving requirements are not addressed at all - they are briefly introduced as an end stage in the life cycle, and then mentioned again as an alternative to destruction. The very brief look at electronic filing systems does not introduce or discuss records management software at all. Reference is made only to Windows Explorer and a controlled directory structure. Recommendations for filing e-mails are printing and filing or filing electronically using Windows Explorer.

The third part of the book considers the practical implications of implementing a records management programme within one�s own organization. Topics addressed include functional analysis and records surveys. One debatable or possibly misleading recommendation here is that when interviewing staff to determine the functions of the organization the interviewer should select the least senior person who can "tell you what you want to know". In theory this may be good advice but in practice often results in records decision making being based on the perceptions of administrative staff.

This book presents basic records management theory and procedures, and very clear explanations of what records are and why they matter, but should only be regarded as a brief and superficial introduction to the field.

Gillian Oliver
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

Marketing/Planning Library and Information Services. 2nd ed. By Darlene E. Weingand. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1999. 187 pp. US$57.00 hard ISBN 1563086123

This is a good, basic guide which can be used as a resource by practising library professionals. It clearly explains the fundamentals of marketing and applies them to the library environment. However, if one already owns the first edition, then this may not be a necessary purchase.

As the title indicates, there is a strong emphasis on the merging of marketing and planning, and marketing is not considered just a form of promotion. The overall structure reflects the marketing/planning process, proceeding from definitions to the creation of a mission, developing goals and supporting strategies, through the four Ps of marketing (product, price, place and promotion) to evaluation. The final chapter brings the reader full circle and considers designing a preferred future. This topic is explored in more depth by Weingand in her other recent book, Future-Driven Library Marketing (American Library Association, 1998).

The author states that Marketing/Planning Library and Information Service is designed to be used by "information professionals, both institutional and entrepreneurial". However, the content is definitely more targeted at the institutional setting and, although the theory may be useful to an independent practitioner, there appears to be little specifically aimed at those working in this role.

The first edition was published in 1987, and, despite an altered structure, much of the content is similar. What is new in this edition? The chapter on developing a mission has been expanded to include a vision statement. The sections on audit and goal setting add environmental scanning to the methodology. The author states that the presentation of goals, objectives and strategies in this edition makes the production of a marketing plan easier to follow and implement. In summary, this is a clear and concise overview of marketing and planning in the library context, but possibly not an essential purchase if one�s library already has the first edition.

Gillian Oliver
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

Mentoring Programs in ARL Libraries. Comp. by Barbara Wittkopf. SPEC Kits, 239. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, Office of Leadership and Management Services, 1999. 72 pp. US$40.00 (US$25.00 ARL members) soft ISSN 01603582

This SPEC Kit was compiled by Barbara Wittkopf, a reference and distance education librarian at Louisiana State University, as part of the OLMS Collaborative Research /Writing Program. It reports the survey results on mentoring programmes of 21 ARL libraries that have formal mentoring programmes. The kit consists of a summary of the survey, details of survey results, a review of the literature on formal mentoring with an annotated bibliography of selected readings, and the representative documents submitted in addition to the completed questionnaires by nine responding institutions.

The representative documents are related to the following five areas: 1) policies and/or procedures on mentoring including; 2) outlines/documentation for orientations/workshops on mentoring; 3)training programmes; 4) statements regarding goals, measurement, and evaluations; and 5) URLs for relevant Web site information.

The documents submitted by the nine universities include librarians� handbooks, faculty code, new faculty orientation checklist, mentoring programme guidelines and procedures, memo to all staff, mentoring programme attachment, memo to mentor, mentoring attachment, memo to mentee, mentoring survey, memo to interested mentor with no match, mentor programme, mentee/protegee application form, faculty sponsor programme, mentoring goals and guidelines, and guidelines for the faculty mentoring programme. This kit is helpful for learning about basic concepts of mentoring in libraries. The review of literature and the annotated bibliography provide insightful information about mentoring program and related literature for further readings.

Surithong Srisa-ard
Mahasarakham University

The Mirage of Continuity: Reconfiguring Academic Information Resources for the 21st Century. Ed. by Brian L. Hawlins and Patricia Battin. Washington, DC: Council on Library and Information Resources and Association of American Universities, 1998. 301 pp. price not reported hard ISBN1887334599

It is perhaps inevitable that the turn of a century sparks publishers to life. Asking eminent authors to gaze into the future seems to be a neat way of selling books, so recently we have seen several collections of essays on the future of academic libraries. Titles similar to this one include Recreating the Academic Library: Breaking Virtual Ground (Neal-Schuman, 1998) and Libraries for the New Millennium: Implications for Managers (Library Association Publishing, 1997). This book is rather different because of the attitude towards �change� used by the editors. They no longer regard change as incremental and therefore largely predictable. In the society of the knowledge worker we now must face discontinuous and transformational (and therefore radical) change that will alter the basic performance of our daily lives. Yet, claim the editors, instead of confronting this reality we cling to a mirage of continuity. We believe we can continue to modify and reform our organisations, when in reality fundamental rethinking is necessary. At the heart of radical change they see the digital library ideally positioned to be the catalyst for transforming the university, though they warn that the virtues of the new library must complement and not supplant those of the old. There is no obvious starting point for planning radical transformation, because it is not linear and therefore not predictable.

The impact of information technology is of extreme importance to this argument. The chapter by Lyman and Chodorow on the future of scholarly communication is typical in its emphasis on electronic publishing and e-mail as the basis of a new system of scholarly communication in which authors, research libraries and university presses combine to cut out the profit-making commercial publishers. Other authors, such as Hawkins, argue that the traditional academic library is simply unsustainable and that many information resources will inevitably move to the Web. Indeed, so often do authors refer to the Web�s role in the future that one has to ask whether amazon.com will be the library of the future. The editors say that management and budgets are still geared to the old organizational unit. This cripples the power of technology to decentralize access and control. There is a need for new skills for the new library, but librarians and IT people are kept apart by budget structures.

It is one thing for the editors to set out their stall and promote the concept of radical, transformational change as the only way forward. It is quite another to get everyone to believe it, and I suspect that in this case not even the authors of the separate chapters were totally convinced. The chapter by Jose-Marie Griffiths is titled Why the Web is Not a Library, and it is quite symbolic of the potential contradictions in the book�s thesis. The Web cannot replace the traditional library for a number of reasons: the information is not all there; the Web lacks standards and validation; it has minimal cataloguing and rather poor information retrieval capabilities. If we cannot dispense with the traditional library altogether, what does the radical change perceived by the editors consist of? Lyman and Chodorow�s argument for a new scholarly communication system also leaves one wondering why, if this argument is so good, the changes have not been made already, and the simple answer is that most people are quite satisfied with the current performance of commercial publishers.

This is a challenging book that is well worth reading. Almost every chapter is thought provoking. There is a good cumulated index but only footnotes for each chapter and no bibliography. It is recommended for all academic library collections.

Philip Calvert
Victoria University of Wellington

New Measures for the New Library: A Social Audit of Public Libraries. By Rebecca Linley and Bob Usherwood. British Library Research and Innovation Centre Reports, 89. London: British Library Board, 1998. 115 pp. price not reported soft ISBN 0712397124 (available from the Centre for the Public Library in the Information Society, Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield)

The research reported in this volume has tried a new method of assessing the performance of the public library by using a "social process audit" that attempts to measure the social impact and value of library activities in relation to stated objectives of the local government authority. The project sought to analyse the goals, inputs, outputs (the programme or services) and the outcomes (actual experience) of the public library and information service.

The research was conducted in two contrasting public library services: Newcastle upon Tyne and the County of Somerset. The starting point was to identify and clarify the stated social objectives of the two authorities, and that was used as the base measure of the success or failure of the service. The next step was the critical one of identifying the stakeholders. The stakeholder groups selected for this research were elected members of the local Council, library staff, and groups of library users and non-users. Then the research team interviewed members of the stakeholder groups using semi-structured questions. Interview questions were largely developed to examine the organisations� objectives, but also drew upon published literature and input from members of a steering group. Focus groups permitted input from a larger number of respondents than could be managed with interviews, and allowed people to develop their original responses after they had heard other views expressed. Later, a draft report was presented to a workshop held with invited politicians and practitioners. Participants worked in small groups to discuss major themes resulting from the research, and comments made at the workshop helped further consideration of the data.

The findings, as might expect from this kind of research, were varied. There are several chapters in the report that are devoted to findings. The first of these is called Established Functions and comments are made on the public library�s role in culture, education, reading and literacy, leisure and information. As if this were not enough, subsequent chapters detail findings on social and caring roles, economic impact, and equity. There could well be public library managers who would be happy to persuade the public and politicians of the value they provide from just a few of these functions, so the whole list becomes extremely impressive when reported in this manner.

It was in the so-called social and caring role that some new and fascinating observations were made. Perhaps the greatest surprise of all was the huge interest among the public in local history resources. The boost local history studies have given to local image and identity appears to be very considerable, and probably far greater than has previously been supposed. Other aspects of the social role are found in comments about the safety of the library, about the community that is achieved within the library, and in the way it can support community by providing venues for local groups.

The economic impact of the public library was found in business information services, particularly for small start-up enterprises that had no resources of their own; in start-up training and in job-seeking (especially in Newcastle where the old industries of shipbuilding and coal mining have gone); in tourism (especially in Somerset); and in what was perceived as a general boost to the economic vitality of the locality. Of course much of this is difficult to establish and that must count as a problem with the research method. A fair amount of the economic boost provided by libraries, however, can be gathered intuitively. Nearly all public library managers know that they do best when the building is located close to shops, but the reverse is also true - having a public library built nearby can increase the business turnover of retailers.

The treatment of equity issues covers the topics of equity as administrative justice, equity of access, and equity between groups and communities. Both authorities made some mention of social purposes in their objectives, so it was good to see how the public library helps to promote social justice for ethnic minorities, the elderly, single parents, and so on. The report also deals with some management and other issues that affect the impact of the library.

In conclusion, this is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the role of public libraries in a modern democratic society. There is much here that will cause rejoicing among library managers, especially the findings on the importance of local history studies, the library's role as a community agent, and the stimulation of local business and employment (provided the library actually does contribute to these outcomes, which certainly isn't true of all Asia's public libraries). What I suspect critics will point to, though, is the ultimate lack of any absolute measurement resulting from the research project. In defence of the research team the social process audit doesn't use units of measurement to prove the impact of the organisation, but that can easily leave the public library in much the same position it has always been - much appreciated but under-resourced. I suspect that all decisions related to the public library are ultimately subjective and subject to political decision-making, which means that this research, and other methods such as cost-effectiveness analysis, the work done by Rowena Cullen and myself on performance measurement, and many other attempts made to determine the impact and value of the public library all end up as gallant attempts to influence decision-makers that don't finally make up their minds but serve as attempts to point them in the right direction.

Philip Calvert
Victoria University of Wellington

Planning for Library Automation: A Practical Handbook. By John M. Cohn, Ann L. Kelsey and Keith M. Fiels. Revised and adapted by Graeme Muirhead. London: Library Association Publishing, 1998. 140 pp. �24.95 (�19.96 LA members) soft ISBN 1856042952

Not long ago library automation systems were discussed broadly under two headings: library management systems and information retrieval systems. Thanks to developments in computing, networking and communication technologies, the distinction between the two is gradually eroding, and there have been many efforts to integrate and synchronize them. As observed in this book, "today�s integrated system not only must provide modules automating the traditional library functions but also must be capable of connecting through the local system into systems of other suppliers, databases - bibliographic and full content, online and CD-ROM - and the Internet". It is a tedious task for the libraries to identify and procure such an integrated system without access to a book like Planning for Library Automation to offer some practical guidelines. As is noted on the back cover, this handbook is "written for any information service planning to introduce a new or replacement automated system. It focuses on planning for an integrated system which computerizes a multiplicity of library functions using one common database."

This paperback edition has 16 chapters spread over three parts: Creating a Basic Technology Plan, Selecting and Implementing Systems and Planning System Databases. The first part has four chapters describing existing library services and technologies, assessing needs and setting priorities, writing a technology strategic plan, and a model two-day process for developing a basic strategic plan. It is interesting to note that a model consisting of "four basic functions of libraries in an electronic age" is used as a base for the discussions in all four chapters. These four functions relate to provision of access to local resources, offering access to remote resources, facilitating off-site access to information and providing access to human assistance in locating the information required. Some useful and practicable hints have been provided in this part, including a worksheet for assessing basic needs and a quick guide to conducting a focus group. The authors suggest the librarians to set up the priorities among basic library operations such as cataloguing, circulation, acquisitions, public catalogue, and serials control and automate them accordingly. The example on page 19 tries to explain the decision-making process in this prioritisation exercise. In this reviewer�s opinion the issue before libraries is not to automate or not to automate but rather how to automate the basic operations of a library.

The second part of the book, Selecting and Implementing Systems, consists of a system implementation checklist followed by chapters on identifying technological options for automation, translating needs into specifications for networked systems, turning specifications into an invitation to tender, evaluating responses, putting the system into place, and training. Many of these chapters contain checklists. However, one has to be careful in adopting these checklists, as they are illustrative rather than comprehensive in nature. The sources and readings at the end of each chapter contain more elaborate and comprehensive lists that could be used as supplements to this book. This part, in particular, has simple but very useful hints in planning automated systems.

The third and last part of the book contains chapters on retrospective conversion, maintaining the bibliographic database, bar-coding, machine-readable cataloguing, standards and planning for the future. Most of the information in this part of the book would have gone well with a textbook of the early 1990s. Aspects like why MARC is so important, what bar codes are and so on sound very trivial for a book of this nature. Realizing this, perhaps the authors have tried to present chapters in this part in a succinct manner - as a result, one of the chapters (on machine-readable cataloguing) contain just three pages (excluding sources and reading list). The book also has an appendix on working with consultants and an index.

As a handbook for those who are planning to provide access to the content of local resources, the book has a great deal to recommend it. On the whole this is an easy-to-understand and simple-to-apply practical book on library automation. It is a valuable addition for all kinds of libraries in which automation texts are not well represented.

N.S. Harinarayana
Indira Gandhi National Open University

Planning for Results: A Public Library Transformation Process. By Ethel Himmel and William J. Wilson. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998. 2 vols. 126p (guidebook) + 109p + forms (how-to manual) US$40.00 the set (US$36.00 ALA members) soft ISBN 0838934889 (guidebook) ISBN 983893479X (how-to manual)

Planning for Results is one of an ongoing series of publications on planning from the authoritative Public Library Association (PLA) of the USA. It is largely the work of a committee of eminent public librarians and two consultants of the firm Himmell and Wilson. The committee has updated the earlier PLA document, Planning and Role Setting for Public Libraries (American Library Association, 1987). A study by Debra Wilcox Johnson in 1997 had found that there was considerable support for the use of "roles" by public libraries, but that there was interest in expanding the original eight roles used in the 1987 publication. This has led to the 13 "public library service responses" found in this publication. The concept of library service responsibilities is that they are more specific than roles, and "describe much more precisely what a library does, or offers to the public in an effort to meet a set of well-defined community needs". Planning is essential if the necessary resources are to be allocated to the service responsibilities so that the library can produce an identified public benefit or result.

The 13 public library service responsibilities selected for inclusion in this guidebook are as follows: basic literacy (not only the need to read, but to perform essential daily tasks), business and career information, commons (i.e. the need of people to meet and interact with others in their community and to participate in public discourse about community issues), community referral, consumer information, cultural awareness (one�s own culture and that of others), current topics and titles, formal learning support, general information, government information, information literacy, lifelong learning, local history and genealogy.

Planning for Results includes a Guidebook and a How-to Manual. The planning process has been divided into six steps: prepare, envision, design, build, implement, communicate. Each of the six steps is the subject of a separate chapter in the Guidebook and the How-to Manual. The Guidebook explains what is involved in each step; then the manual explains in detail how to complete each step. As one can expect from the PLA, this is a very thorough publication. It is good to see an emphasis on scanning the community for its expectations of the public library as a part of the planning process. Any library manager using this as a guide to planning will need to look for more information on key aspects such as budgeting and evaluation/measurement, but they are in their due place in the process here.

There are not too many similar guides for the perplexed public library manager to use. Perhaps Annabel Stephens' Assessing the Public Library Planning Process (Ablex, 1995) is close, but the PLA manual is better for those who require a step-by-step guide.

Philip Calvert
Victoria University of Wellington

Promoting Reading to Adults in UK Public Libraries. By Margarte Kinnell and Jennifer Shepherd. British Library Research and Innovation Reports, 72. London: Taylor Graham, 1998. 126 pp. �22.00 soft ISBN 0947568743

Public libraries have played a key role in the promotion of reading for children and young people for many years. More recently adult readers have become their major concern, and public libraries in the UK take a significant role working with this group. This report addresses the findings of the British Library Research and Innovation Centre�s research into how the UK libraries are promoting reading to their adults users. It offers an analysis of the role of public libraries in reading promotion, literature on reading, the response to challenges posed by the book trade, marketing and reading promotion. It also provides up-to-date information on the present state of reading promotion policies and practices through a wide range of experts� views on the potential for improvement.

Although the text focuses on the UK public library environment, it reveals what public libraries throughout the world should do in reading promotion to adult readers. Therefore, this book is worth having for practitioners in public library arena.

Sujin Butdisuwan
Mahasarakham University

Recreating the Academic Library: Breaking Virtual Ground. Ed. by Cheryl LaGuardia. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1998. 291 pp. US$59.95 soft ISBN 1555702937

Alvin Toffler said it all nearly 30 years ago - change is a constant. Learn to live with change, because our societies have become so dynamic, so unstable, that nothing remains the same for long. We have to educate each new generation to accept that nothing they learn at school and university may last for even half their working lives; the survival of knowledge for 10 years seems a reasonable guess at the moment. This collection of essays adopts the theme of constant change and its impact on academic libraries.

There are five main sections. The first, An Implicitly New Paradigm, examines the implications of technological changes for libraries. Who better than Clifford Lynch to write a chapter on this topic, which identifies key issues (for example, the impact of intellectual property laws on electronic library services), and ask some pertinent questions, such as why do we want to provide public access Internet but we don�t provide free telephones or loan out video players? I also recommend Kupersmith's excellent essay, Technostress in the Bionic Library, which emphasises the need (lest we forget) of good interface design on all our computerized systems. The next section, Information�s Domain, covers leadership, building design, human resources management and ergonomics - a strange mix, but each chapter deserves its place on merit. The third section is the more obvious - In/finite Resources - and covers collection management, access and changes in technical services in the new electronic environment. The section on information providers is about improving access, either by better design or better instruction. The final section, on information seekers, looks at services to different customer groups, including remote students. Carrie Kent offers an essay that reminds us that the in-house customer must not be forgotten. Her ideas on improving service quality are innovative and challenging, including the notion of restricting access to qualified reference staff in order to ensure they are used to their full effectiveness. Possibly the only key topic not covered by this collection is that of the providers - the information professionals - us, in other words, and LaGuardia has promised that her next book will be about the crucial changes that need to be made in the profession itself.

One of the advantages of collections such as this is that leading thinkers are given the chance to write essays of a style that would not be publishable in the average scholarly journal - the essays are too long for journals and do not contain a great deal of empirical research - but nevertheless they are valuable contributions to the literature and sometimes make ideal readings for LIS students. An example is James Rettig�s chapter "Designing Scenarios to Design Effective Buildings", which is a good summation of ideas on user-centred design of the recent past. He recommends the use of scenario planning to predict needs for the future up to thirty years from now.

There is a cumulated index, and each chapter has its own bibliography. This is a useful addition (but not absolutely essential) for the collections of libraries supporting LIS programmes.

Philip Calvert
Victoria University of Wellington

Researching for Business: Avoiding the �Nice to Know� Trap. The Aslib Know How Series. London: Aslib, 1998, 57 pp. price not reported soft ISBN 0851424082 According to the introduction, Webb has written this slim (57 page) volume to help the LIS professional "develop the necessary understanding and skills required" to take on a more detailed research role, in particular research that is used in strategic business decision making. He defines research as "the process of formulating good questions and then finding answers to them that reveal the truth about some aspect of reality", and then goes on to say that business research, while often said to be different to scientific or academic research, still requires a disciplined approach and a consistent methodology.

Chapter 2 outlines the steps involved in carrying out a business research project, and people familiar with social science methodology will recognise this approach, which starts with identifying the problem, and includes choosing a suitable methodology, gathering data, and analysing the results. Webb emphasises the need to have a model (or mental representation) of the research object, in order to be able to make predictions based on the research results. The third chapter, "Accepting a research brief" is a two-page discussion of the nature of the interaction between the researcher and the client, and Webb concludes that this is best handled as a "client-consultant" relationship.

In the next chapter, Webb discusses the process of modelling the research object in more detail, including the choosing an appropriate methodology. The types of methodologies described include case studies, surveys (described as small samples and large samples), and simulation. The book concludes with chapters on information quality; research techniques and skills (desk research, telephone enquiries, logic, statistical description and inference, and performing simulations); and assessing the success of research.

Review questions are included for the first four chapters, allowing the readers to check their understanding of key concepts. There is a table of contents, but no index. The book�s strength lies in its clear discussion of the benefits and limitations of different research methods, and in the emphasis on identifying the underlying assumptions the researcher makes about conditions and behaviour. Many concepts, however, are covered too briefly to be useful to a novice researcher, or are not mentioned at all, such as interviewing techniques and questionnaire design. The lack of any references to additional material (for example to supplement the brief discussions of statistical methods and simulations) is a major weakness, and this limits the book�s usefulness to people unfamiliar with these topics. When discussing simulations, Webb says "There is a plethora of methodologies, software and mathematical methods available", but does not name any specific examples "a reference to other material would allow the reader to follow this up if required."

This is recommended for researchers wanting a high level review of research concepts and techniques; people new to research may find a standard text, such as Leedy�s Practical Research: Planning and Design. 6th ed. (Upper Saddle River: Merrill, 1997) or Gorman and Clayton�s Qualitative research for the Information Professional: A Practical Handbook (London: Library Association, 1997) more useful.

Brenda Chawner
Victoria University of Wellington

Subject Indexing Systems: Concepts, Methods and Techniques. Ed. By S.B. Ghosh and J.N. Satpathy. Calcutta: Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centres, 1998. 397 pp. US$25.00 hard ISBN not reported

The Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centres (IASLIC) is the Indian counterpart of Aslib (UK) and SLA (USA). Though small in membership it has steadfastly been active as compared to the stop-start history of other library organisations in India. The book under review constituted the course material of a workshop on indexing held in 1996. This can be treated as a new version of a book on indexing published in 1980 (T.N. Rajan, ed. Indexing Systems: Concepts, Models and Techniques). Apart from a brief introduction the text has 15 chapters divided into nine sections (A-I). A/I. Section A presents a synopsis of the entire book. Section B (Chapters 2-4) dwells on the nature, types and features of an indexing language, and on the functions and construction of thesauri.

In Section C (of Chapters 5-7) three precoordinate indexing systems (chain procedure, Pr�cis and Popsi) have been explained in depth. Section D (of Chapter 8 only) discusses coordinate indexing manifested mostly in the dated uniterms method. Section E (Chapter 9) on file organisation is on the creation of electronic databases, and it deals with basics of computers rather than basics of indexing. Section F (Chapters 10-12) is on automation of keyword indexes, cluster formation and natural language processing.

Section G (Chapter 13), entitled Non-conventional Indexing, is on the theory and functions of Garfield�s citation indexes. Section H (Chapter 14) is on the evaluation of indexing systems in traditional terms of measuring relevance and recall. A printing error here describes both these ratios by the same equation. Section I (Chapter 15) is a resum� of selected international indexing and abstracting services.

The aim is to provide a well-illustrated textbook on subject indexing for Indian students. Unfortunately, the book is dated in its approach and hardly gives any view of the indexing needs and methods in the networked information environment. Emphasis is more on historical developments than on current issues, and references in most chapters are quite dated. Nevertheless, some of the systems described are worthwhile treatises in terms of detail. At best the book can be viewed as a record of India�s contribution to the art and science of indexing, yet the scope of indexing has been viewed in the narrow sense of concept formation and arrangement rather than in the wider sense of an instrument of navigating a text or collection of documents. There is no discussion of classification as an indexing tool. Nevertheless, for Indian students this is a handy one-stop shop for major traditional subject indexing systems of the world; and for other readers it is a useful introduction to Indian subject indexing methods sans facet analysis and the Colon Classification.

M P Satija
Guru Nanek Dev University

Teaching the Internet to Library Staff and Users: 11 Ready-to-Run Workshops That Work.. By William D. Hollands. Rev. and adapted by Phil Bradley. London: Library Association Publishing, 1999. 220 pp. pounds 39.95 soft ISBN 1856043576 (based on Teaching the Internet to Library Staff and Users: 10 Ready-to-Go Workshops That Work published in the US by Neal-Schuman Publishers ISBN 1555703496)

Libraries have new role in providing Internet access to customers. As Internet technology and services are quite innovative, Internet training is therefore necessary not only for customers but also for staff. As a result, libraries have to train their staff and users to use and exploit Internet services effectively, and librarians need some kind of handbook that will provide them with a practical issue to pursue when dealing with Internet training.

This book illustrates 11 workshops that came about as a result of the author�s experiences of Internet training in the USA. The first three workshops are dedicated to general training principles and practice which trainers can use with their customers. The rest are Internet-related issues, starting from WWW, search engines, books and literature on the Web, to colleges and universities on the Web and, finally, business information on the Web. The final three workshops comprise an introduction to HTML.

I found each workshop to be a "ready-to-run" session, as they all have an introduction, an objective, a timed lesson plan, tips, a sample script, and most importantly, reproducible handouts. This kind of information is vitally necessary when the instructor is about to run any workshop in which a number of research exercises and/or experiments have to be performed. The information is all here, and it can save a great deal of time and effort. Additionally, there are lists of resources related to each workshop for trainers to study further if they wish. I found it very useful as each list includes both a bibliography of printed materials, and a Webliography of electronic resources on the Internet. Even an example of evaluation forms for Internet workshops is included to assist the novice instructor in covering every aspect of good training.

I highly recommend this book for librarians and information professionals who are planning, or who are about to develop, Internet training programmes either for their librarians or for their users. Librarians, in particular, will save a great deal of time and effort in preparing their training materials. Additionally, guidelines and models presented in this book will assist them in developing their own workshops and tutorials for any group of customers. Furthermore, the hints and tips presented in the book will enable future Internet training programmes to be successful.

Nongyao Premkamolnetr King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi

Thailand. Rev. ed. Comp. by David Smyth. World Bibliographical Series, 65. Oxford: ABC-Clio, 1998. 226 pp. �43.00 hard ISBN 1851092544

This World Bibliographical Series volume on Thailand is a fully revised edition of the earlier volume compiled by Michael Watts and published in 1986. Seventy-five per cent of all entries are new. Other earlier entries for books and articles have been rewritten. This updated edition consists of 724 annotated entries of mostly English-language works on Thailand by both Thai and Western scholars. Some are in French and German, and there are a few translations from Thai, Japanese, French, and German.

The annotated entries have been numbered and organized under 33 subject headings, including The Country and Its People, Travel, Prehistory and Archaeology, Population, Religion, Women and Gender, Politics, Transport, Statistics, etc. Each entry contains details of title, author, publisher, place and date of publication, pagination, and one paragraph of annotation. Cross references to related works under different subject headings are added at the end of each section.

Separate author, title and subject indexes have been created to assist the user in searching the bibliography according to specific interests. A map of Thailand, glossary of Thai terms and chronology are also included in this book. This volume is a good source for those general readers and researchers who require English-language publications on various aspects of Thailand written from many perspectives. The compiler, David Smyth, has a PhD in Thai literature, has published a number of books and articles on Thai literature and has taught at Thai universities.

Surithong Srisa-ard
Mahasarakham University

Tools for Library Development: Proceedings of the Workshop Held in Martinique, March 10-13, 1997. IFLA/ALP Project Reports, 10. Uppsala: Uppsala University Library for the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Advancement of Librarianship in the Third World Programme, 1997. pagination varies price not reported soft ISBN 9185092479

The ALP (Advancement of Librarianship in the Third World) Core Programme functions as a catalyst within IFLA for the organization�s activities in developing countries of Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean. The areas of focus include assisting in continuing education and training, promoting the establishment and development of library and information services to the general public, and supporting library associations.

Tools for Library Development contains the proceedings of the workshop supported by ALP. The workshop was held in March 1997 in Martinique for librarians in the Caribbean region to learn how to write effective project proposals, especially for ALP. The book presents general information about ALP and country reports for librarians in the Caribbean region. This report can be used as a guideline for project proposal writing to ALP, since it provides a form and a clue for effective project proposal writing. In addition it serves as a means for getting to know problems occurred in libraries in the Caribbean region.

Sujin Butdisuwan
Mahasarakham University

What is virtual instruction? According to the editors, virtual instruction takes place through computer-mediated communication, typically at a distance. The four essential elements of virtual instruction are computer-mediated communication, active-learning type interactions, instruction taking place from a distance, and synchronous or asynchronous communication. Distance learning is different from virtual instruction since it lacks the key element of interaction and active learning. In addition virtual instruction is characterized by computer-mediated communication such as e-mail, Web-based instruction, Internet relay chat, CUseeMe, two-way videoconferencing, etc.

Because virtual instruction is a new international phenomenon, the authors attempt to examine the cultural factor that affects computer-mediated communication. The purpose of the book is to provide a blueprint for future instruction by connecting and grounding the concept of virtual instruction in the fields of education, communication, anthropology, economics and sociology. The focus of the book is to explore and explain how these technologies are adapted within cultures around the world to reach the same goal of providing increased access to learner-centred, interactive, communication-focused instruction through computer-mediated distance learning, and in doing so, to provide theoretical and practical guidance for educators.

Two methods of study are used in the book. The first approach is based on current theories of communication and education, especially constructivism. The second approach is based on empirical applications of new instructional design and delivery. It is the authors� belief that virtual instruction can create a multicultural learning community unlimited by space or time, and this new global learning community would enable people to access, produce and interact with information, and to collectively create knowledge using computer-based communications and global resources.

Sixteen authors contributed to a total of 10 chapters in the book. All contributors are from the world�s most industrialized nations - the US, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Japan and Singapore - where the computer and telecommunication technologies are in advanced stages of development. Viewpoints from developing countries� perspective are lacking, probably because most of them have yet to overcome the hurdles of technology. However, they probably will benefit most from this new development. The topics of discussion range from the education and communication theories to virtual instruction, to issues of technology applications and the assessment of cost-effectiveness of such programmes. The cultural and linguistic diversities, applications of virtual learning in kindergarten through high school education, and the future of virtual instruction are also explored in the book.

One can argue that more than likely virtual instruction will play a major role in education and learning in the 21st century. Still at the early stages of its development, the impacts of virtual instruction on education and learning are yet to be seen. Though some research has been conducted recently on this topic, this book provides unique and valuable insights from an international and multicultural perspective, and such insights will certainly facilitate understanding of the complexity of virtual instruction.

Wenxian Zhang
Rollins College

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