Essential Law for Information Professionals (3rd ed.)

Citation

Calvert, P. (2012), "Essential Law for Information Professionals (3rd ed.)", The Electronic Library, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 561-562. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211252283

Since the first edition was published in 2003 this has been one of the most essential books on my shelf. Although rarely popular with information managers the importance of knowing the relevant laws, or at least, knowing the principles behind them, is absolutely crucial and no other book that I know of renders the acquisition of those principles so easy for the layperson and yet covers the territory so thoroughly. If you only purchase one book on law for information professionals, let it be this one.

Most of the specific law referred to is from the United Kingdom and its component parts, plus some law from the European Union, so readers in the UK will find this book particularly useful. Readers from elsewhere can still use it, as I do, because the author explains the principles behind the laws so clearly, and often that is really all that matters. After all, the same laws apply in many countries with only some details setting them apart. The chapters in this book tell the story: copyright, legal deposit, breach of confidence, patents and trade marks, contracts and licensing, data protection, privacy, freedom of information, human rights, the reuse of public sector information, defamation, professional liability, cybercrime and computer misuse, and finally disability discrimination. Other chapters are an introductory one on general law, one on The Information Commissioner, and a final chapter on other legal issues relevant to librarians that introduces cloud computing and its complex issues of data protection and escrow agreements.

The lengthy chapter on copyright was very readable and should answer any questions you have about the principles behind the law, though each country has its own legislation. By contrast the chapter on privacy seemed rather short. Topics covered in the book include some that are rarely dealt with in other books on law, such as legal liability for information providers, which while a rare issue for many librarians and archivists nevertheless looms large for some, especially those who provide services on contract. The new edition includes commentary on the Digital Economy Act 2010 and the Open Government Licence, both important developments in the UK and likely to be followed in some other countries. Highly recommended.