Librarianship and Information Work Worldwide 2000

Citation

Law, D. (2001), "Librarianship and Information Work Worldwide 2000", Library Review, Vol. 50 No. 9, pp. 468-476. https://doi.org/10.1108/lr.2001.50.9.468.2

To provide a review‐cum‐obituary of a hallowed institution is a daunting task. Librarianship and Information Work Worldwide 2000 is, as it says on its own cover and quoting the Library Association Record, “one of the landmarks of the professional literature”. Its regular arrival, like the snowdrops, had become one of the marks of each new year. Its presence on the shelf marked a comfortable umbilical into the best of the world’s professional literature. But no more. This is the ninth and sadly the last volume to appear. Of the three editors two are long retired and felt the need to pass on the editorship, while the third also found it impossible to square the burden with work commitments. Not only had new editors become hard to find, good contributors increasingly rarely had the time to commit to creating this peculiarly eclectic overview of world librarianship.

The formula for this volume is very much as before. An initial overview chapter by a distinguished figure – in this case Donald Riggs – is followed by chapters on National, Academic and Public Libraries, then by themed chapters on Document Supply, National Information Policy, Bibliographic control, Knowledge Management, Management and Copyright. Each chapter follows a standard pattern, which recites the issues in the area as reflected in the published literature, typically of the previous 18 months or so. Each chapter is then followed by a voluminous bibliography, typically of 200 or more references. No wonder that the breadth of reading required intimidates authors.

Nevertheless a cast of familiar worthies has been assembled to cover these areas, Graham Cornish, Ann Matheson and Philip Payne are local stalwarts, while other names such as Janette Burke, Michael Koenig and Giuseppe Vitiello need no introduction to those with any international connections. All of the authors perform the task as admirably and professionally as one would expect. However, it has never made for light reading; the constant referencing, the inevitable compression of topics and the global reach are as challenging to reader as author, but as the entry point to the world’s professional literature it has been incomparable. When updating or embarking on any topic it is both excellent and reliable, although the price almost inevitably makes it an institutional rather than a personal purchase.

The general editor, Maurice Line, suggests that online search engines might take on its role. But it is difficult to believe that a search engine will combine the breadth of knowledge with the understanding of issues that the authors have. Perhaps the best tribute to the volume, as to the series, is that when the snowdrops arrive next year, LIWW will be remembered with affection.