Local Studies Librarianship: A World Bibliography

Citation

Gittins, L. (2002), "Local Studies Librarianship: A World Bibliography", Library Review, Vol. 51 No. 6, pp. 323-324. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.2002.51.6.323.19

Local studies, which encompasses the history, geography and culture of an area, provides a unique asset to a community. It has an important part to play in social inclusion and in the development of a cohesive culture. Local communities in many countries are seeking active partnerships with their libraries and are encouraging librarians to become more pro‐active in their approach. This is particularly significant in the field of local studies, where collection building has existed alongside promotion for many years. Work in this field demands a wide variety of skills and techniques, and librarians have a long history of adapting to the challenges of changing collections and user needs. The current climate of change, particularly in the field of new technology, is being embraced with enthusiasm. Card indexes co‐exist peacefully the world over with CD‐ROMs and the Internet.

This bibliography is arranged in broad sections, covering collection management, services and activities, materials, ICT and local studies, and partnerships and co‐operation. An introductory chapter outlines the history of local studies librarianship, and briefly examines the challenges it faces in the twenty‐first century. The bibliography is logically laid out, with brief annotation of each source and full citations. International in scope, this work aims at worldwide coverage from the middle of the nineteenth century to the end of the twentieth century. English language material is matched by the inclusion of material in all of the major European languages, particularly those with an established local studies tradition. The inclusion of relevant unpublished theses is particularly useful. The section on ICT, covering digitisation, the Internet and CD‐ROMs, will be of interest to many collection managers.

This work is attractively presented and is easy to access. With over 1,600 entries, it has valuable author and place indexes, making location of a particular source easier than in many bibliographies. Crossing the boundary of libraries to that of museums and archives, it would be useful in conjunction with other guides. It suggests up‐to‐date resources as starting points for research, and emphasises the vast range of activities within the field. This book should provide an invaluable resource for students, researchers and information professionals working with local materials.