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Managing information for research
Reviews its pictures on rather too broad a canvas, in attempting to provide ethical guidelines for such a varied grouping. Inevitably, perhaps, its discussion is impressionistic, rather than analytic, based on examples and case studies and quotes rather than emergent discourse. And, for those who are concerned about such things, its focus is strongly American. Nonetheless, we should not be overly critical. The authors deserve credit for bringing together stimulating views and examples across a wide crosssection of related concerns, and for basing their discussions around a realistic appreciation of the paradoxical qualities of information, particularly as expressed by Harlan Cleveland, and around the idea of 'Information Man'. This will be a valuable sourcebook, and provider of ideas and exampies, in an area so far u n d e r developed. There is, for example, an informative collection of codes of practice from a number of (exclusively US) professional institutes. The book is reasonably priced, and well produced. It will be valuable for teachers and students, and worth the attention of anyone interested in this area--as all of us involved in information management should be.
David Bawden City University London, UK
Managing Information for Research Elizabeth Orna with Graham Stevens Open University Press Buckingham (1995) 191 pp ISBN 0 335 19397 8 £8.99 (paperback) ISBN 0 335 19398 6 £30.00 (hardback) This excellent book is addressed primarily to first-time researchers; typically students working on a dissertation project, for researching towards a PhD. While it is ideally suited for this readership, it could be read with profit by a much wider group of people. The book deals with managing information in the broadest sense: transforming knowledge gained during research into written form; organizing
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information as it is collected; and transforming information from written sources into usable knowledge. Along the way, it also deals with such universal problems as managing time and coping with feelings of isolation and loss of confidence, as well as presenting interesting insights on such things as the relationship between information and knowledge. The integration of practical advice on the handling of information with authoritative suggestions on the best layout and design, and useful hints and tips on writing style, is unique in a book of this sort. This book can be confidently recommended to anyone involved in research in the broadest sense, including desk research and consultancy. It is exceptionally well written, and carefully designed and laid out, with clear illustrations and diagrams and an excellent index; it could be recommended simply as a good example of information presentation. Although of most use to novices and particularly to research students, it would be surprising if those with more experience did not learn something from it. And what an unexpected pleasure to find a book which one can truthfully claim to be good value for money! Anyone involved with the presentation of information, and the processes by which it is generated, should have their own copy. Anyone advising research students, or other novice researchers, should ensure that it is read from cover to cover.
Lyn Robinson British Postgraduate Medical Federation
Computer-related Technologies in Library Operations Keith C Wright Gower Aldershot (1995) 202 pp ISBN 0 566 07632 2 £16.95 This book describes itself as a practical guide for librarians seeking to use computer-related technologies in any library application and, to a limited extent, lives up to this description. This is, of course, a fairly well trod-
den path, with a number of competing volumes, written both from the US and E u r o p e a n s t a n d p o i n t , and, although Wright's book is well organized and well written, it does not have any particularly unique selling points over them. The core of the book is, in a sense, the usual material: descriptions of the main application areas for automation, ie circulation and cataloguing systems, acquisition and serials control, reference and information services, and management information systems. Commendable emphasis is given to a discussion of the automation process per se, on acquiring and implementing automation systems, and on the future of library automation. The balance between discussion of technical and human/organizational factors is well struck. There is, however, a slightly old-fashioned feel about the book; the discussion of the Internet, for example, while managing to avoid mention of the World Wide Web, newsgroups, etc, seems to suggest that its main usefulness is to give access to other library catalogues and for reference checking. The use of this book as a source of practical advice for European readers will be severely limited, however, by the exclusively US bias in all the detailed examples given, and in listing of system suppliers, sources of bibliographic records, details of conferences and meetings, journals and newsletters, etc. As against this, Wright provides commendably detailed lists of references and annotated further reading, taken from the international literature; despite the 1995 publication date, however, the great majority of these references date from the 1980s or early 90s, emphasizing the rather dated feel of the book. This book can best be recommended, for European readers at least, as a useful background text, which would have to be supplemented in detail by more up-to-date and locally relevant material, and as a sourcebook for students and teachers.
Lyn Robinson British Postgraduate Medical Federation
David Bawden City University London, UK
Managing Information for Research Elizabeth Orna with Graham Stevens Open University Press Buckingham (1995) 191 pp ISBN 0 335 19397 8 £8.99 (paperback) ISBN 0 335 19398 6 £30.00 (hardback) This excellent book is addressed primarily to first-time researchers; typically students working on a dissertation project, for researching towards a PhD. While it is ideally suited for this readership, it could be read with profit by a much wider group of people. The book deals with managing information in the broadest sense: transforming knowledge gained during research into written form; organizing
160
information as it is collected; and transforming information from written sources into usable knowledge. Along the way, it also deals with such universal problems as managing time and coping with feelings of isolation and loss of confidence, as well as presenting interesting insights on such things as the relationship between information and knowledge. The integration of practical advice on the handling of information with authoritative suggestions on the best layout and design, and useful hints and tips on writing style, is unique in a book of this sort. This book can be confidently recommended to anyone involved in research in the broadest sense, including desk research and consultancy. It is exceptionally well written, and carefully designed and laid out, with clear illustrations and diagrams and an excellent index; it could be recommended simply as a good example of information presentation. Although of most use to novices and particularly to research students, it would be surprising if those with more experience did not learn something from it. And what an unexpected pleasure to find a book which one can truthfully claim to be good value for money! Anyone involved with the presentation of information, and the processes by which it is generated, should have their own copy. Anyone advising research students, or other novice researchers, should ensure that it is read from cover to cover.
Lyn Robinson British Postgraduate Medical Federation
Computer-related Technologies in Library Operations Keith C Wright Gower Aldershot (1995) 202 pp ISBN 0 566 07632 2 £16.95 This book describes itself as a practical guide for librarians seeking to use computer-related technologies in any library application and, to a limited extent, lives up to this description. This is, of course, a fairly well trod-
den path, with a number of competing volumes, written both from the US and E u r o p e a n s t a n d p o i n t , and, although Wright's book is well organized and well written, it does not have any particularly unique selling points over them. The core of the book is, in a sense, the usual material: descriptions of the main application areas for automation, ie circulation and cataloguing systems, acquisition and serials control, reference and information services, and management information systems. Commendable emphasis is given to a discussion of the automation process per se, on acquiring and implementing automation systems, and on the future of library automation. The balance between discussion of technical and human/organizational factors is well struck. There is, however, a slightly old-fashioned feel about the book; the discussion of the Internet, for example, while managing to avoid mention of the World Wide Web, newsgroups, etc, seems to suggest that its main usefulness is to give access to other library catalogues and for reference checking. The use of this book as a source of practical advice for European readers will be severely limited, however, by the exclusively US bias in all the detailed examples given, and in listing of system suppliers, sources of bibliographic records, details of conferences and meetings, journals and newsletters, etc. As against this, Wright provides commendably detailed lists of references and annotated further reading, taken from the international literature; despite the 1995 publication date, however, the great majority of these references date from the 1980s or early 90s, emphasizing the rather dated feel of the book. This book can best be recommended, for European readers at least, as a useful background text, which would have to be supplemented in detail by more up-to-date and locally relevant material, and as a sourcebook for students and teachers.
Lyn Robinson British Postgraduate Medical Federation