Review Article

Authors

  • Colette Coles
  • John Sumsion

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/lirg440

Keywords:

information technology, public libraries, Automated circulation systems, catalogues, aquisition systems, Community Information, Open Learning, CD ROMS, Internet, LMS, online searching, electronic information, charging policies,

Abstract

This is a remarkably successful enterprise and a splendid example of 'how to do it right' in so many ways. As a reference book it compiles a fantastic amount of information useful to IT practitioners and library managers' As a collection of statistics it provides solid evidence for the history of public library automation in the 1980s and 1990s. To keep policy makers' feet on the ground it provides essential information on which electronic materials and services have already been taken up by public library users' The combination of these three goals in a single volume works excellently: the whole is so much more valuable and exciting than would be a more 'logical' separation into parts. The fact that this is number six in a series of comparable data stretching back to 1984 makes it possible to see the historical context clearly. Chris Batt is personally responsible for this continuity: he deserves the gratitude and encouragement of the whole profession.

Author Biographies

Colette Coles

Currently the main researcher on the project 'Web of News" based at City University's lnternet Studies Research Group' She has been a Visiting Lecturer at, the University of North London since 1994 and is a member of the LIRG Committee' She has worked for a variety of library and information services, ranging from Amnesty lnternational to the Poetry Library.

John Sumsion

LIRN editor. Senior Honorary Fellow in the Department of lnformation Science, Loughborough University. After a long career in shoe manufacturing he spent ten years setting up the UK Public Lending Right operation. This was followed by a five year spell directing the Library & lnformation Statistics Unit at Loughborough. His research and consultancy has focused on library statistics, performance indicators and user research.

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Issue

Vol. 23 No. 73 (1999)

Section

Invited Contributions

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