Keywords
Citation
Hendry, J.D. (2002), "The Public Library Service", Library Review, Vol. 51 No. 8, pp. 424-424. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.2002.51.8.424.1
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Global warming in the world’s environment is a serious matter for concern. However, an examination of this publication signals a very different and positive kind of global warming. The public library profession throughout the world is growing ever closer together, with a resultant growth in co‐operation, shared ideals, ideas and experiences. This is, therefore, a very timely publication by IFLA’s public libraries section. It examines the current role and purpose of the public library, including a definition of a public library, freedom of information, cultural roots, and libraries with and without walls.
Thereafter it considers the management of such libraries, their relationship with government. Legislation and funding are also examined. There follows a long section on the needs of users, including market analysis, customer care, co‐operation and electronic and other access. Collection department standards are clearly set out, including the sometimes vexed question of acquisition and discard rates.
People in libraries, human resources, are addressed in a short succinct section covering skills of staff, ethical standards and career developments. Indeed, one of the attractions of this short book is that it condenses so much into a short, brisk and informative format. It will be an ideal tool for teaching public librarianship in all parts of the world. It is also a helpful reminder to all of us in this profession as to the value of public libraries, and the ideals which we share. I can do no better than cite Philip Gill’s introduction:
The United Nations Human Development Report 1999, while stating that the Internet is the fastest growing tool of communication ever, recorded that south Asia with 23.5 per cent of the world’s population has less than 0.1 per cent of the world’s Internet users … The risk of a growing gap between the information rich and the information poor has never been greater … The UN report states, “Determined efforts are needed to bring developing countries – and poor people everywhere – into the global conversation”.
I firmly believe that our professional global warming will contribute significantly to this global conversation.