Editorial

Citation

Broady-Preston, J. (2013), "Editorial", Library Review, Vol. 62 No. 1/2. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.2013.03562aaa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Library Review, Volume 62, Issue 1/2

Happy New Year to all our readers!

This first issue of 2013 is a double one, and showcases the work of three of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Sections. Commonly known by the acronym “IFLA”, it is generally regarded as “the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users […] [and] the global voice of the library and information profession” (www.ifla.org/). Thus, publishing papers from the annual World Library and Information Congresses is central to the scope and remit of Library Review, and also reflects the special partnership between IFLA and Emerald, which provides the opportunity for speakers at the congress to be published in one of its titles (see www.emeraldinsight.com/about/news/story.htm?id=4593 for details), and for these papers to be made open access nine months after publication. The papers published in this special issue result from first, a Satellite Program co-sponsored by the IFLA Library Services to People with Special Needs Section and Tallinn Central Library in Estonia, held in Tallinn, 10 August 2012. With the support and co-operation of the event organisers, authors and presenters were invited to review and revise their original papers for publication in this special issue. Six of the eight original papers were subsequently revised for publication, entered into the journal’s peer review process and are published here.

The Satellite Program has as its theme “The homeless and the libraries – the right to information and knowledge for all”, with authors outlining policies, theory and practice from a wide range of countries, including Croatia, France, Germany, India, Scotland and the USA, together with an equally wide variety of cultures and contexts, including not only public, but also academic and research library perspectives.

Addressing the general theme of how libraries around the world engage with issues surrounding homelessness, the Program examined specifically the policy and operational issues in relation to Policy No. 61 (or the “Poor People’s Policy”), approved in 1990 by the American Library Association (ALA). Full details of the policy and the program can be found at: https://liberty.wpunj.edu/library/IFLA/

The final two papers reflect the work of the IFLA Management and Marketing Section. The first of these is a paper originally presented at the session “Creating a culture for innovation and change”, IFLA 2012 World Congress in Helsinki, organised jointly with the Academic and Research Libraries Section. Written and presented by Martyn Wade, National Librarian and Chief Executive, National Library of Scotland (NLS), it is a fascinating insight into the strategic implications of the digital revolution, tempered by contemporary financial realities. Wade outlines how the NLS has “looked afresh” at its core role and purpose as both national library, and as one of the major public research libraries. Essentially a discussion of the change process, this review offers insights into the key lessons learned, together with an innovative four-step model for developing shared services, an exemplar of its kind, and as such, of global interest and applicability.

The final paper is a critical review and history of the IFLA International Marketing Award, organised by the IFLA Management and Marketing Section in collaboration with Emerald, and presented annually to three finalists, selected from organisations which have implemented creative, results-oriented marketing projects or campaigns. Dinesh Gupta evaluates ten years of this award, including the fascinating statistic that the award has attracted “278 applications from 57 countries” during the ten years of its existence. The growth in the quality and quantity of applications also serves to demonstrate the increasing perception amongst the global profession of the centrality and importance of marketing as a process underpinning the successful delivery of library and information services to their customers.

Finally, our new Books Reviews Editor, Amanda Cossham, provides six book reviews which highlight many of the themes addressed in the papers, again demonstrating positive approaches to meeting contemporary challenges for the profession.

People

As promised in my last editorial of 2012, I am very pleased to welcome two new members to the editorial team for the journal. Anne Welsh of the Department of Information Studies, University College, London, joins the team as the third Associate Editor, and Sarah Merry of the Department of Information Studies, Aberystwyth University, joins us as Editorial Assistant. For the first time since I began my tenure as Editor, we have a full complement on the editorial team, and this will give us the opportunity to develop new ideas and think creatively about the future direction and remit of the journal, so watch this space in issues to come!

We also now welcome two new members of staff to the journal management from Emerald – Ruth Glasspool as Publisher and Sarah Baxter as Managing Editor, following a reshuffle of responsibilities in journal publishing.

Judith Broady-Preston