- Email: [email protected]
Cost justification of information services
548
Book Reviews
writes: “Basically the aim is to provide an education programme which gives high priority to management skills and information technology” (p. 40). It may be that this is what employers think they want. This reviewer, however, believes such employers are shortchanging themselves-they could do better. A few specifics of the book are worth comment. Cronin refers (pp. 24-25) to the new program at Syracuse University in Information Resources Management (IRM) and refers to the degree as MIRM (Master of IRM). It is a Master of Science in IRM (MSIRM). Though this may seem a small matter to non-Americans, in the U.S. there is a considerable difference in academia between a Master’s degree (MLS) and a Master of Science (MSIRM) degree, especially in the eyes of potential employers. A degree is an initial filter used by employers of the first position, and in many cases establishes salary patterns and career ladders for the future. A small but significant proportion of MLS holders go on after a few years of experience to get an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree, because they find the MLS too confining. The MS/ IRM degree is designed to preclude that necessity. It is interesting, and disheartening, to note that three of the U.S. institutions interviewed by Cronin have been, euphemistically speaking, phased out (killed, abandoned) in the three years since the interviews: the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Southern California: the Graduate School of Librarianship and Information Management at the University of Denver; and the School of Library and Information Science at Case Western Reserve University. All are private institutions (which ask harder questions than do public institutions) and all were experimenting with new approaches to the information field. Undoubtedly personalities and local politics had something to do with their demise. Nevertheless, they are no longer in existence. One final note: this reviewer has not discussed curricula, nor does the author do so to any extent. This is good because the real problems are not curricular, but are rather those concerned with changing a profession both internally and externally. This is not done by monkeying with the curriculum, but rather by changing the kinds of apprentices (i.e. students) who enter the field and by recruiting faculty of vision, substance, and quality, regardless of origins. People are what change a profession: curriculum will follow. Despite its briefness, this book is a good summary of disparate programs in different countries. The author isolates and discusses the problems of transition with insight and clarity. School of Information Studies Syracuse University Syracuse, NY, U.S.A.
ROBERTS. TAYLOR
Cost Justification of Information Services. K. H. PLATE. Pacific Information CA. (1983) 90 pp., $20.00. ISBN o-913203-03-3.
Inc., Studio City,
With the intense competition for scarce resources that exists in most organizations and institutions, information professionals are increasingly being placed in the position of having to justify the cost of information products and services. Justification, in this sense, is taken to be the process of persuading others (frequently management) that the negative effects (costs) of an information system, product or service, are warranted or justified by its positive effects (benefits). While Cost Justification ofInformation Services is timely, it falls far short of providing the information professional with either a conceptual understanding of the process of cost justification, or insight as to how the process might be effectively implemented in a working environment. The primary focus of this paperback book is a series of 33 illustrative examples of cost justification of information services, ranging from the information center as a whole to specialized information services such as interlibrary loans and SDI. Some of the examples are practical and reasonably well developed, while others are treated in a superficial manner and give the appearance of being contrived and artificial. Along with the cost justification examples, the author has included a list of software packages that he feels would be useful in the analysis and presentation of data. a selection of sources that provide comparative cost information, and a selected bibliography on cost justification. While the book may provide information professionals with some interesting ideas regarding methods and techniques that might be used in cost justification, it cannot be recommended as
Book Reviews
549
a thorough treatment of a subject which is becoming increasingly and information science. College of Library & Information Universio of Kentucky Lexington, KY, IJ.S.A.
important
to the fields of library
THOMASJ. WALDHART
Science
Aslib Directory of Information Sources in the United Kingdom. Vol. 2: Social Sciences, Medicine and the Humanities. E. M. CODLIN (Ed). Aslib, London (1984). xiii + 1000 pp., f40. ISBN O85142-184-9. Volume 2 of the 5th edition of the Aslib Directory of Information Sources in the United Kingdom (focusing on Social Sciences, Medicine, and the Humanities) follows much the same format and coverage as the previous edition. Although the number of entries has decreased from the 4th edition (3583-3521), the pagination has increased over 100 pages (due to somewhat larger print, added information, and an expanded index). Coverage ranges from the small and specialized (e.g., British Spas Federation) to the large and broad-scoped (e.g., Leeds University Brotherton Library), including “commercial, scientific and research, learned and academic, service, governmental, negotiating, standardizing, qualifying, professional and amateur [institutions]; producers of data, statistics and abstracts; and experts in specialized areas. . . .” Entries are arranged alphabetically by institutional name with cross references from former and alternative names and to subordinate bodies. Each entry includes address, phone number, a brief description, subject coverage, and when appropriate, place in organizational system, alternative or former name, enquiry position, access limitations, special information services, special collections and publications. Five additions were put in a Late Entries section (which is not referred to in the Table of Contents but is covered in the Subject Index). An Abbreviation “Index” gives the full name for each abbreviation, although “organizations in this list are not necessarily allotted full coverage in the Directory.” In addition to its broad coverage, the strength of this directory is in its extensive subject index. With 1900 main subject entries and nearly 1600 subheadings, it is possible to find information sources on everything from abdominal diseases to the Zulu War. Five hundred cross references make the index easy to use. The index does have a few minor limitations. Since the reference to the main body is by entry number, large general entries have a large number of cumbersome entry numbers (e.g., Education has 114). Collection names are included in the index, but only as subheadings. This work provides good access to a broad range of subject-specific institutions in the United Kingdom (although it provides little background on those institutions). It is therefore an excellent subject guide for information seekers living in the UK, planning to do research there. or needing information that can be communicated by phone or mail. Reference University Lexington,
Department of Kentucb KY, U.S.A.
A Comparative
ROBERTA. AKEN Libraries
Guide to Classification
CASTONGUAY.Greenwood 24208-9.
Documents Collections. R. (1984). 144 pp., $35.00. ISBN 0-313-
Schemes for Local Government
Press, Westport,
Connecticut
Castonguay’s analysis of the classification situation with regard to local documents is “must” reading for any library professional who may be considering choosing a classification system for the first time or changing an existing system. Chapter 1 presents a concise and readable overview of the various issues involved in maintaining a local documents collection, from acquisitions to publicizing the collection. Chapters 2 and 3 focus in much greater detail on the cataloging/classification/indexing issues involved in maintaining a local documents collection. The author concludes his volume with an annotated list of all sources consulted and two indexes, one to the annotated list and one to the entire work. The strongest point of Castonguay’s book, however, is his much-needed inclusion of a discussion on comouter applications in controlling access to collections of local documents. This
Book Reviews
writes: “Basically the aim is to provide an education programme which gives high priority to management skills and information technology” (p. 40). It may be that this is what employers think they want. This reviewer, however, believes such employers are shortchanging themselves-they could do better. A few specifics of the book are worth comment. Cronin refers (pp. 24-25) to the new program at Syracuse University in Information Resources Management (IRM) and refers to the degree as MIRM (Master of IRM). It is a Master of Science in IRM (MSIRM). Though this may seem a small matter to non-Americans, in the U.S. there is a considerable difference in academia between a Master’s degree (MLS) and a Master of Science (MSIRM) degree, especially in the eyes of potential employers. A degree is an initial filter used by employers of the first position, and in many cases establishes salary patterns and career ladders for the future. A small but significant proportion of MLS holders go on after a few years of experience to get an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree, because they find the MLS too confining. The MS/ IRM degree is designed to preclude that necessity. It is interesting, and disheartening, to note that three of the U.S. institutions interviewed by Cronin have been, euphemistically speaking, phased out (killed, abandoned) in the three years since the interviews: the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Southern California: the Graduate School of Librarianship and Information Management at the University of Denver; and the School of Library and Information Science at Case Western Reserve University. All are private institutions (which ask harder questions than do public institutions) and all were experimenting with new approaches to the information field. Undoubtedly personalities and local politics had something to do with their demise. Nevertheless, they are no longer in existence. One final note: this reviewer has not discussed curricula, nor does the author do so to any extent. This is good because the real problems are not curricular, but are rather those concerned with changing a profession both internally and externally. This is not done by monkeying with the curriculum, but rather by changing the kinds of apprentices (i.e. students) who enter the field and by recruiting faculty of vision, substance, and quality, regardless of origins. People are what change a profession: curriculum will follow. Despite its briefness, this book is a good summary of disparate programs in different countries. The author isolates and discusses the problems of transition with insight and clarity. School of Information Studies Syracuse University Syracuse, NY, U.S.A.
ROBERTS. TAYLOR
Cost Justification of Information Services. K. H. PLATE. Pacific Information CA. (1983) 90 pp., $20.00. ISBN o-913203-03-3.
Inc., Studio City,
With the intense competition for scarce resources that exists in most organizations and institutions, information professionals are increasingly being placed in the position of having to justify the cost of information products and services. Justification, in this sense, is taken to be the process of persuading others (frequently management) that the negative effects (costs) of an information system, product or service, are warranted or justified by its positive effects (benefits). While Cost Justification ofInformation Services is timely, it falls far short of providing the information professional with either a conceptual understanding of the process of cost justification, or insight as to how the process might be effectively implemented in a working environment. The primary focus of this paperback book is a series of 33 illustrative examples of cost justification of information services, ranging from the information center as a whole to specialized information services such as interlibrary loans and SDI. Some of the examples are practical and reasonably well developed, while others are treated in a superficial manner and give the appearance of being contrived and artificial. Along with the cost justification examples, the author has included a list of software packages that he feels would be useful in the analysis and presentation of data. a selection of sources that provide comparative cost information, and a selected bibliography on cost justification. While the book may provide information professionals with some interesting ideas regarding methods and techniques that might be used in cost justification, it cannot be recommended as
Book Reviews
549
a thorough treatment of a subject which is becoming increasingly and information science. College of Library & Information Universio of Kentucky Lexington, KY, IJ.S.A.
important
to the fields of library
THOMASJ. WALDHART
Science
Aslib Directory of Information Sources in the United Kingdom. Vol. 2: Social Sciences, Medicine and the Humanities. E. M. CODLIN (Ed). Aslib, London (1984). xiii + 1000 pp., f40. ISBN O85142-184-9. Volume 2 of the 5th edition of the Aslib Directory of Information Sources in the United Kingdom (focusing on Social Sciences, Medicine, and the Humanities) follows much the same format and coverage as the previous edition. Although the number of entries has decreased from the 4th edition (3583-3521), the pagination has increased over 100 pages (due to somewhat larger print, added information, and an expanded index). Coverage ranges from the small and specialized (e.g., British Spas Federation) to the large and broad-scoped (e.g., Leeds University Brotherton Library), including “commercial, scientific and research, learned and academic, service, governmental, negotiating, standardizing, qualifying, professional and amateur [institutions]; producers of data, statistics and abstracts; and experts in specialized areas. . . .” Entries are arranged alphabetically by institutional name with cross references from former and alternative names and to subordinate bodies. Each entry includes address, phone number, a brief description, subject coverage, and when appropriate, place in organizational system, alternative or former name, enquiry position, access limitations, special information services, special collections and publications. Five additions were put in a Late Entries section (which is not referred to in the Table of Contents but is covered in the Subject Index). An Abbreviation “Index” gives the full name for each abbreviation, although “organizations in this list are not necessarily allotted full coverage in the Directory.” In addition to its broad coverage, the strength of this directory is in its extensive subject index. With 1900 main subject entries and nearly 1600 subheadings, it is possible to find information sources on everything from abdominal diseases to the Zulu War. Five hundred cross references make the index easy to use. The index does have a few minor limitations. Since the reference to the main body is by entry number, large general entries have a large number of cumbersome entry numbers (e.g., Education has 114). Collection names are included in the index, but only as subheadings. This work provides good access to a broad range of subject-specific institutions in the United Kingdom (although it provides little background on those institutions). It is therefore an excellent subject guide for information seekers living in the UK, planning to do research there. or needing information that can be communicated by phone or mail. Reference University Lexington,
Department of Kentucb KY, U.S.A.
A Comparative
ROBERTA. AKEN Libraries
Guide to Classification
CASTONGUAY.Greenwood 24208-9.
Documents Collections. R. (1984). 144 pp., $35.00. ISBN 0-313-
Schemes for Local Government
Press, Westport,
Connecticut
Castonguay’s analysis of the classification situation with regard to local documents is “must” reading for any library professional who may be considering choosing a classification system for the first time or changing an existing system. Chapter 1 presents a concise and readable overview of the various issues involved in maintaining a local documents collection, from acquisitions to publicizing the collection. Chapters 2 and 3 focus in much greater detail on the cataloging/classification/indexing issues involved in maintaining a local documents collection. The author concludes his volume with an annotated list of all sources consulted and two indexes, one to the annotated list and one to the entire work. The strongest point of Castonguay’s book, however, is his much-needed inclusion of a discussion on comouter applications in controlling access to collections of local documents. This