Information Policies and Strategies

Citation

Freeman, M. (2012), "Information Policies and Strategies", New Library World, Vol. 113 No. 3/4, pp. 225-226. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074801211218598

Another well‐produced and timely offering from the reputable stable of Facet Publishing – this time, a useful and readable book on the pressing problem of information policy and the whole raft of issues and difficulties surrounding that subject today. Governments, usually the greatest providers and greatest consumers of information, have a particular interest in keeping information and its flow under control – whether overtly or covertly. Globalisation and new communications technology are leading to a freewheeling, rapidly expanding loose system of worldwide instant communication. This generates attendant problems of control, provenance and authority and sheer overload of information.

Cornelius gives a good, lucid account and analysis of globalisation and the information society and its alternatives. He raises some good points about the public and private spheres of society and also raises the concept of “information rights” and clearly outlines Branscomb's pioneering work in this area. Censorship and freedom of speech and expression are covered well and the author has some good pertinent points to make about censorship and government. Issues such as Freedom of Information and intellectual property are lucidly dealt with and there is a good concluding chapter on government and non‐governmental information policies and strategies. There is a good Index and a useful references and reading list.

The possible audience for this work could well be LIS students and practitioners interested in developing their knowledge of information policies and their management. A useful, if at times rather theoretical, book on a theme of great importance to LIS practitioners everywhere.