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British librarianship and information work 1976–1980. vol. 2. special libraries, materials and processes
Book reviews
316
interests and lives generally even if this can only result in a qualitative, rather than quantitative, understanding of what we profess to do’. Another neglected area of research. As a result librarians have no convincing answer to the question-what are the consequences to staff and students of a 10 per cent (20 per cent or whatever) cut in the budget? It might be possible to present the issue in terms of intermediate measures such as fewer monograph titles or periodical subscriptions, but not in personal effect terms suggested by Revill. This is a serious weakness when arguing the case for libraries. The wide range of users and uses of public libraries encourages the belief, demonstrated in M. Broome’s library service, that assessment of library performance is not a matter simply for librarians. Not only should all major library projects have an in-built capacity for assessment, they should be assessed through a ‘partnership approach’. Broome’s contribution illustrated the co-operation of librarians, social workers, county treasurer’s staff and a social science researcher. Once stated the prescription seems obvious and invested with shrewd political sense. Why should it seem so novel? In industrial libraries the constant need to review performance as a routine activity is stressed. Have some measure rather than none would appear to be the advice. However, there are many other information communication processes in [an environment including formal industrial] operating communication via reports, memos, gatekeepers, invisible colleges and others. The truly vital performance measurement of the total industrial information service lies in this area, but is as yet, largely uninvestigated. Given the central role of information in industry why should this be the case? M. Moffat introduced current work on inter-library comparisons and appears to have encountered criticisms for, apparently, wrongly simplifying aspects of library work and inappropriate comparisons of activities. Such outcomes would seem inevitable when matters of consequence to insiders are monitored by outsiders. Perhaps librarians should less rail against the results than question why such important work should be in the hands of an organization largely ignorant of their business. P. Topping’s helpful contribution on methodological problems of assessing library performance, five presentations of current research projects and linking material by the editor, J. Blagden, complete the proceedings. The whole may be recommended as a useful, readable, sometimes lively, practitioner orientated, introduction to performance measurement issues. N. Roberts
Department of Information Studies University of Sheffield
L. J. Taylor
(Editor).
British librarianship and information work 19761980. Vol. 1. General libraries and the Library Vol. 2. Special libraries, materials and processes. London: profession. Association,
1982-83.
Each
volume
529.50
(523.60
to members).
The 41 different topics that are covered by these impressive evidence-if such evidence were needed-of
two volumes provide the ever-increasing
Book reviews
317
range of subjects and activities that are the proper concern of present-day library and information work, and it would need a library and information polymath-which this reviewer certainly is not-to do full justice to them. What he can say with certainty, however, is that in times of rapid change, such a review and appraisal is of special value and importance. To provide this review the editor has assembled a first-class panel of specialist contributors who, so far as can be judged, have produced not a poor chapter between them. The period covered, 1976- 1980, was a formative one for many trends and developments that are now established elements in the library and information scene. In this category, for example, can be placed community information and audiovisual materials, on which there are excellent chapters by Bunch and Pinion, respectively. Important progress was also being made at this time in the burgeoning fields of user studies and user education, with the creation of the Centre for Research on User Studies at Sheffield and the appointment of a User Education Officer at Loughborough. These areas are covered in a single chapter by Harris, who has been closely involved with both of them, and whose comprehensive survey is rounded off by a noteworthy bibliography. In a contribution on ‘Government and libraries’ Arthur Jones not only tells a story that is important in its own right, but sets the scene for the significant changes and developments-such as the creation of LISC-that were to take place very soon after the completion of the period under review. In this chapter and, indeed, in others, one can see clear signs of the increasing concern with national information policy that is very much with us as we move towards the mid- 1980s. Very much with us, too, are the implications of the Paulin Report, which is a major feature of Derek Jones’ contribution on ‘Education and training’. In a very different area, it is to this 1976-1980 period that we must turn for the beginnings of the great ESTC, well covered by Maxted in a very thorough review of ‘Historical and non-current bibliography’ (a field which was clearly not only alive and well but buzzing with activity). Scattered through the two volumes can also be found pointers to a rising concern with conservation and preservation-a topic which may well provide a major chapter in any review which may appear in respect of the 1981-1985 quinquennium. The wide-ranging-dare one say unifying?effects of the computer and its applications emerge loud and clear from these volumes, with significant attention devoted to automation in chapters as different as those on industrial and commercial libraries, map libraries, the book trade, cataloguing and indexing, official publications, picture libraries and A/V. All this in addition to full-scale treatment of ‘Computer and networks’ in an authoritative chapter by Tedd-not just a review, but almost an introduction to the subject, with a bibliography of 96 items. How to handle this particular field in a five-years review must have posed thorny problems for the editor and it is criticism laced with understanding when I say that to combine computers and networks in this way is not an ideal solution. For the next volume the situation may well not arise, for by that time the pervasiveness of the computer may well have rendered separate treatment both unnecessary and inappropriate. Pervasive too, and still of fundamental importance, are ‘Cataloguing and classification’ (Bakewell) and ‘Indexing’ (Hunter and Rowland). The authors have brought well-established expertise to these contributions and the fact that all three of them are from the same institution-the Liverpool Library School-must have been helpful in achieving a degree of integration in dealing
318
Book reviews
with topics which should not really be the subject of separate treatment. At a time of much talk-and not a litle evidence-of the blurring of boundaries between the traditional library sectors, it is interesting to note that the main substance of this live-yearly review continues to be provided by separate chapters on the principal types of library-and that this is still undoubtedly the most effective form of treatment. Bourne in a very wellwritten chapter on ‘National libraries’ reminds us of much that we now take for granted about the progress of the British Library towards its role as ‘hub’. In dealing with Public Libraries, Broome makes some trenchant and wellinformed criticism of government policies during the period in question and his chapter is illuminated by some very useful statistics. The important area of public library reference and information services is admirably dealt with by Allott, whose chapter concludes with a noteworthy list of sources. Shepherd on ‘Children’s librarianship and school library services’, Lewis on ‘Users with special needs’, Jamieson on ‘Local studies’ (a welcome new addition), Pyle on ‘Publicity and promotion’ and Bunch on ‘Community information’ (already referred to)-all of them very competent contributions-round out a full and valuable review of our many-faceted public libraries. libraries’, In the chapter on ‘University by Phillips, the Atkinson Report looms large, as might be expected. The author also notes the general unawareness of changes in management structures which undoubtedly took place during this period, and it is a curious and regrettable fact that university library staff are strangely reluctant to take up their pens and chronicle change and development-often of considerable interest-that is taking place in their sector. The virtually complete lack of statistical information is a weakness in this contribution-even a few orders of magnitude would have been of value. This chapter is usefully complemented by one on ‘Polytechnic and college libraries’ by Cowley. It relates a story of progress and very rapid development on the Polytechnic front, and one of mixed fortunes for the colleges. The statistical illumination is lacking and the narrative is excellent but, again, bibliography is very thin. A chapter by Ayres on ‘Stock control’, though not concerned exclusively with academic libraries, adds a useful extra dimension to this sector. With the contributions on special libraries one is struck, as always, by the fierce dedication of these librarians to their particular fields of interest. It is of course from this expertise, applied over a narrow field, that their libraries derive much of their individual strength; and collectively, these specialized collections and services contribute incalculably to the richness of our national infrastructure. Contributions range over ‘Government and public authority libraries’ (Wormald), ‘Medical libraries’ (Whatmore), ‘Art libraries’ (Pacey), ‘Picture libraries’ (Lee), ‘Industrial and commercial libraries’ (Sants), ‘Music (Miller), ‘Map libraries’ (Ferro), with an excellent chapter by libraries’ Bloomfield on a relatively neglected, but important group, ‘Learned, With these chapters on specialist professional and other independent libraries’. libraries may be linked those on specialist materials, and again the editor has been very well served by expert contributions: from Johansson on ‘Official publications’, Auger on ‘Patents and reports series’, Teague on ‘Microforms’ and Pinion on ‘Audiovisual materials’ (referred to earlier). the means by which these disparate interests and ‘Library cooperation’, separate sectors come together for mutual advantage, advanced on many fronts during the period 1976-1980 and is expertly dealt with by Sewell. The range of
Book reviews
319
topics covered by this five-yearly review is in itself a recognition of interdependence and interconnections on a wider front, with chapters on ‘Archives’ (Reed), ‘Information science’ (Gilchrist) and the ‘Book trade’ (Astbury); but what a pity that the creation in 1980 of the Joint Consultative Committee of Aslib, IIS, LA, SCONUL and the Society of Archivists should somehow have escaped notice. It is also sad that Professional Associations was a topic which had to be omitted this time-particularly since this was the period which included the tripartite conference of LA, IIS and Aslib, and the LA’s own centenary. As would be expected, the impact of diminishing resources looms large in both volumes. Thompson records a substantial diminution in building activity in his chapter on ‘Buildings, equipment and conservation’, but even so, he can point to one major breakthrough: the authorization of Stage 1 of the new British Library building in Somerstown. A casualty of financial stringency was identified by Wallis in her chapter on ‘Library manpower’ when she noted the failure to follow up and implement the important research carried out in this at Sheffield. A more beneficial confield by LAMSAC and by Sergean, sequence of financial pressures may have been to heighten the concern with exemplified by the 113 references which append library management, Stewart’s article on that subject. Very substantial activity is also reported, by a subject on which a chapter appears for the Field, in ‘Library publications’, first time. He speculates that this whole trend may be just a product of the 197Os, but the current emphasis on revenue-earning activities gives cause to doubt this. A field which clearly flourished in the 1976-1980 period was library history and Hoare’s excellent contribution on this subject is rounded off by a fine bibliography. Layzell Ward, too, was able to paint a very encouraging picture and it is significant that a story of in her chapter on ‘Library research’, successful and often important research activity runs like a thread through both of these volumes. Much of this is attributable to funding and support from the British Library Research and Development Department-surely one of the major, if all too rarely acknowledged, contributors to the position of preeminence which so many branches of British librarianship and information work have now enjoyed for many years. Any reader of these two volumes must also be struck-and impressed-by the extent to which the Library Association itself, through the activities and initiatives of its specialized groups and sections, through its working parties, its guidelines, its meetings and conferences, emerges time after time as a major contributor to the enormous amount of professional activity which marked the period 1976-1980. At the level of detail, it is a pity that alphabetization of the list of contributors to Volume 2 has slipped up in three instances; more importantly, it is a weakness in the index that it should omit the names of individuals, and of some of the organizations, referred to in the text (I am not referring here to individuals who appear as authors in the bibliographies). But in general one must congratulate the editor on an excellent production, one which like its predecessors is indispensable to any serious study of library and information work. At first sight the price may seem high, but for over 300 000 words from 40 specialists in 1984 it represents good value by any standards. Emeritus Professor W. L. Saunders Uniuersity of Sheffield
316
interests and lives generally even if this can only result in a qualitative, rather than quantitative, understanding of what we profess to do’. Another neglected area of research. As a result librarians have no convincing answer to the question-what are the consequences to staff and students of a 10 per cent (20 per cent or whatever) cut in the budget? It might be possible to present the issue in terms of intermediate measures such as fewer monograph titles or periodical subscriptions, but not in personal effect terms suggested by Revill. This is a serious weakness when arguing the case for libraries. The wide range of users and uses of public libraries encourages the belief, demonstrated in M. Broome’s library service, that assessment of library performance is not a matter simply for librarians. Not only should all major library projects have an in-built capacity for assessment, they should be assessed through a ‘partnership approach’. Broome’s contribution illustrated the co-operation of librarians, social workers, county treasurer’s staff and a social science researcher. Once stated the prescription seems obvious and invested with shrewd political sense. Why should it seem so novel? In industrial libraries the constant need to review performance as a routine activity is stressed. Have some measure rather than none would appear to be the advice. However, there are many other information communication processes in [an environment including formal industrial] operating communication via reports, memos, gatekeepers, invisible colleges and others. The truly vital performance measurement of the total industrial information service lies in this area, but is as yet, largely uninvestigated. Given the central role of information in industry why should this be the case? M. Moffat introduced current work on inter-library comparisons and appears to have encountered criticisms for, apparently, wrongly simplifying aspects of library work and inappropriate comparisons of activities. Such outcomes would seem inevitable when matters of consequence to insiders are monitored by outsiders. Perhaps librarians should less rail against the results than question why such important work should be in the hands of an organization largely ignorant of their business. P. Topping’s helpful contribution on methodological problems of assessing library performance, five presentations of current research projects and linking material by the editor, J. Blagden, complete the proceedings. The whole may be recommended as a useful, readable, sometimes lively, practitioner orientated, introduction to performance measurement issues. N. Roberts
Department of Information Studies University of Sheffield
L. J. Taylor
(Editor).
British librarianship and information work 19761980. Vol. 1. General libraries and the Library Vol. 2. Special libraries, materials and processes. London: profession. Association,
1982-83.
Each
volume
529.50
(523.60
to members).
The 41 different topics that are covered by these impressive evidence-if such evidence were needed-of
two volumes provide the ever-increasing
Book reviews
317
range of subjects and activities that are the proper concern of present-day library and information work, and it would need a library and information polymath-which this reviewer certainly is not-to do full justice to them. What he can say with certainty, however, is that in times of rapid change, such a review and appraisal is of special value and importance. To provide this review the editor has assembled a first-class panel of specialist contributors who, so far as can be judged, have produced not a poor chapter between them. The period covered, 1976- 1980, was a formative one for many trends and developments that are now established elements in the library and information scene. In this category, for example, can be placed community information and audiovisual materials, on which there are excellent chapters by Bunch and Pinion, respectively. Important progress was also being made at this time in the burgeoning fields of user studies and user education, with the creation of the Centre for Research on User Studies at Sheffield and the appointment of a User Education Officer at Loughborough. These areas are covered in a single chapter by Harris, who has been closely involved with both of them, and whose comprehensive survey is rounded off by a noteworthy bibliography. In a contribution on ‘Government and libraries’ Arthur Jones not only tells a story that is important in its own right, but sets the scene for the significant changes and developments-such as the creation of LISC-that were to take place very soon after the completion of the period under review. In this chapter and, indeed, in others, one can see clear signs of the increasing concern with national information policy that is very much with us as we move towards the mid- 1980s. Very much with us, too, are the implications of the Paulin Report, which is a major feature of Derek Jones’ contribution on ‘Education and training’. In a very different area, it is to this 1976-1980 period that we must turn for the beginnings of the great ESTC, well covered by Maxted in a very thorough review of ‘Historical and non-current bibliography’ (a field which was clearly not only alive and well but buzzing with activity). Scattered through the two volumes can also be found pointers to a rising concern with conservation and preservation-a topic which may well provide a major chapter in any review which may appear in respect of the 1981-1985 quinquennium. The wide-ranging-dare one say unifying?effects of the computer and its applications emerge loud and clear from these volumes, with significant attention devoted to automation in chapters as different as those on industrial and commercial libraries, map libraries, the book trade, cataloguing and indexing, official publications, picture libraries and A/V. All this in addition to full-scale treatment of ‘Computer and networks’ in an authoritative chapter by Tedd-not just a review, but almost an introduction to the subject, with a bibliography of 96 items. How to handle this particular field in a five-years review must have posed thorny problems for the editor and it is criticism laced with understanding when I say that to combine computers and networks in this way is not an ideal solution. For the next volume the situation may well not arise, for by that time the pervasiveness of the computer may well have rendered separate treatment both unnecessary and inappropriate. Pervasive too, and still of fundamental importance, are ‘Cataloguing and classification’ (Bakewell) and ‘Indexing’ (Hunter and Rowland). The authors have brought well-established expertise to these contributions and the fact that all three of them are from the same institution-the Liverpool Library School-must have been helpful in achieving a degree of integration in dealing
318
Book reviews
with topics which should not really be the subject of separate treatment. At a time of much talk-and not a litle evidence-of the blurring of boundaries between the traditional library sectors, it is interesting to note that the main substance of this live-yearly review continues to be provided by separate chapters on the principal types of library-and that this is still undoubtedly the most effective form of treatment. Bourne in a very wellwritten chapter on ‘National libraries’ reminds us of much that we now take for granted about the progress of the British Library towards its role as ‘hub’. In dealing with Public Libraries, Broome makes some trenchant and wellinformed criticism of government policies during the period in question and his chapter is illuminated by some very useful statistics. The important area of public library reference and information services is admirably dealt with by Allott, whose chapter concludes with a noteworthy list of sources. Shepherd on ‘Children’s librarianship and school library services’, Lewis on ‘Users with special needs’, Jamieson on ‘Local studies’ (a welcome new addition), Pyle on ‘Publicity and promotion’ and Bunch on ‘Community information’ (already referred to)-all of them very competent contributions-round out a full and valuable review of our many-faceted public libraries. libraries’, In the chapter on ‘University by Phillips, the Atkinson Report looms large, as might be expected. The author also notes the general unawareness of changes in management structures which undoubtedly took place during this period, and it is a curious and regrettable fact that university library staff are strangely reluctant to take up their pens and chronicle change and development-often of considerable interest-that is taking place in their sector. The virtually complete lack of statistical information is a weakness in this contribution-even a few orders of magnitude would have been of value. This chapter is usefully complemented by one on ‘Polytechnic and college libraries’ by Cowley. It relates a story of progress and very rapid development on the Polytechnic front, and one of mixed fortunes for the colleges. The statistical illumination is lacking and the narrative is excellent but, again, bibliography is very thin. A chapter by Ayres on ‘Stock control’, though not concerned exclusively with academic libraries, adds a useful extra dimension to this sector. With the contributions on special libraries one is struck, as always, by the fierce dedication of these librarians to their particular fields of interest. It is of course from this expertise, applied over a narrow field, that their libraries derive much of their individual strength; and collectively, these specialized collections and services contribute incalculably to the richness of our national infrastructure. Contributions range over ‘Government and public authority libraries’ (Wormald), ‘Medical libraries’ (Whatmore), ‘Art libraries’ (Pacey), ‘Picture libraries’ (Lee), ‘Industrial and commercial libraries’ (Sants), ‘Music (Miller), ‘Map libraries’ (Ferro), with an excellent chapter by libraries’ Bloomfield on a relatively neglected, but important group, ‘Learned, With these chapters on specialist professional and other independent libraries’. libraries may be linked those on specialist materials, and again the editor has been very well served by expert contributions: from Johansson on ‘Official publications’, Auger on ‘Patents and reports series’, Teague on ‘Microforms’ and Pinion on ‘Audiovisual materials’ (referred to earlier). the means by which these disparate interests and ‘Library cooperation’, separate sectors come together for mutual advantage, advanced on many fronts during the period 1976-1980 and is expertly dealt with by Sewell. The range of
Book reviews
319
topics covered by this five-yearly review is in itself a recognition of interdependence and interconnections on a wider front, with chapters on ‘Archives’ (Reed), ‘Information science’ (Gilchrist) and the ‘Book trade’ (Astbury); but what a pity that the creation in 1980 of the Joint Consultative Committee of Aslib, IIS, LA, SCONUL and the Society of Archivists should somehow have escaped notice. It is also sad that Professional Associations was a topic which had to be omitted this time-particularly since this was the period which included the tripartite conference of LA, IIS and Aslib, and the LA’s own centenary. As would be expected, the impact of diminishing resources looms large in both volumes. Thompson records a substantial diminution in building activity in his chapter on ‘Buildings, equipment and conservation’, but even so, he can point to one major breakthrough: the authorization of Stage 1 of the new British Library building in Somerstown. A casualty of financial stringency was identified by Wallis in her chapter on ‘Library manpower’ when she noted the failure to follow up and implement the important research carried out in this at Sheffield. A more beneficial confield by LAMSAC and by Sergean, sequence of financial pressures may have been to heighten the concern with exemplified by the 113 references which append library management, Stewart’s article on that subject. Very substantial activity is also reported, by a subject on which a chapter appears for the Field, in ‘Library publications’, first time. He speculates that this whole trend may be just a product of the 197Os, but the current emphasis on revenue-earning activities gives cause to doubt this. A field which clearly flourished in the 1976-1980 period was library history and Hoare’s excellent contribution on this subject is rounded off by a fine bibliography. Layzell Ward, too, was able to paint a very encouraging picture and it is significant that a story of in her chapter on ‘Library research’, successful and often important research activity runs like a thread through both of these volumes. Much of this is attributable to funding and support from the British Library Research and Development Department-surely one of the major, if all too rarely acknowledged, contributors to the position of preeminence which so many branches of British librarianship and information work have now enjoyed for many years. Any reader of these two volumes must also be struck-and impressed-by the extent to which the Library Association itself, through the activities and initiatives of its specialized groups and sections, through its working parties, its guidelines, its meetings and conferences, emerges time after time as a major contributor to the enormous amount of professional activity which marked the period 1976-1980. At the level of detail, it is a pity that alphabetization of the list of contributors to Volume 2 has slipped up in three instances; more importantly, it is a weakness in the index that it should omit the names of individuals, and of some of the organizations, referred to in the text (I am not referring here to individuals who appear as authors in the bibliographies). But in general one must congratulate the editor on an excellent production, one which like its predecessors is indispensable to any serious study of library and information work. At first sight the price may seem high, but for over 300 000 words from 40 specialists in 1984 it represents good value by any standards. Emeritus Professor W. L. Saunders Uniuersity of Sheffield