Library and Information Work Primer

Citation

Morgan, S. (1999), "Library and Information Work Primer", Library Review, Vol. 48 No. 6, pp. 49-49. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.1999.48.6.49.7

This textbook has been published with the recognition that the education and training of LIS professionals and paraprofessionals in the UK has been subject to considerable change in recent years. It therefore represents a development of, and replacement for, Beenham and Harrison′s Basics of Librarianship. The authors ‐‐ one of whom manages one of the largest provisions of paraprofessional library education and training in the country ‐‐ have tried to be both comprehensive and also to counteract the negative image which the profession has tended to attract. On balance both of these objectives have been achieved.

The ten chapters cover the main areas of interest for the intending librarian. These include the different types of library, their management and financial administration, education and training opportunities, cooperation, stock and services, marketing and public relations, information technology and, finally, evaluation. Inevitably, each topic is treated in a fairly concise no‐nonsense fashion except for Chapters 6 (The stock of libraries) and 9 (Information and communication technology) which quite rightly get a more thorough treatment. The latter chapter contains a very helpful list of IT‐related jargon whose usefulness is diminished by being embedded between pages 181 and 189 rather than alongside the glossary of abbreviations and acronyms at the end of the book. Otherwise, these are the two strongest sections of the book.

As an introduction to students undertaking a first degree in library and information work it provides an excellent overview. However, I found the list of recommended reading and professional journals at the end disappointingly thin ‐‐ 42 book titles and five journals (Why no mention of Managing information for example?). Clearly, those who are eager enough will search out other titles to supplement their areas of particular interest but a more ambitious list at the end of each chapter would have been helpful in pointing the way. Maybe this can be corrected in a second edition which will surely be needed within the first few years of the new Millennium.