Gallimore, Alex:
Developing an IT Strategy for your Library.
London: Library Association, 1997.
ISBN 1-85604-261-8 £19.95 paperback.
Reviewed on 18th August 1997
Review by Geoffrey Ford
Although I would challenge the author's view that an information strategy, an information systems strategy, and an information technology strategy represent the three apexes of a triangle, this does not detract in any way from the value of this book. The IT strategy is an essential component which enables the overarching information strategy to be carried through and Alex Gallimore's experience and skill are combined in providing a clear and easy-to-use guidebook for senior and middle managers and for students. Open this at any chapter and you will find a useful check list against which to evaluate your own practice. Does your disaster plan provide for protection against power-failure, fire, theft etc? (see page 127). What questions should be asked when auditing the training policy? (see page 66). What is the potential range of responsibilities for an IT support service? (pages 114-115).
Despite the blurb on the back cover, this is not a "how to" book. It is an excellent description of the process, and outline of the many components of an IT strategy. It varies in its level of treatment: in some places it prescribes, in others it gives examples, elsewhere it identifies the questions which have to be answered in order to produce a strategy. It is well laid out for both browsing and serious reading. In 11 chapters it has more than 70 sections, many of which are further sub-divided. To people who think that an IT strategy is about hardware, it is worth pointing out that only 20 of the 192 pages relate to the physical infrastructure. Other chapters deal with needs, benefits, aims and scope as well as policy, management and there are 40 pages on the important areas of evaluation and review. The book is essentially a demonstration of how a strategic planning process can be applied in a specific area and scattered throughout are both practical tips and fundamental questions. The final chapter on future strategy for libraries should be read by every member of the library profession whether they are about to retire or about to start a course at a School for Information Studies: not because it provides any new insights, but because it brings together, in a convenient format, the 54 points which future libraries must and should address.
The range of topics illustrates that practical experience lies behind this book. In places this is valuable for identifying things that might be forgotten; in others it gives rise to a magisterial didactic style with which it is possible to disagree. I would not agree, for example, that all managers should always do their own word-processing, spreadsheets and file transfer: know how to, yes, and do when necessary, yes.
Each chapter is topped by a panel of objectives and tailed by a list of references. These last range over 2000 years and include a healthy salting of URLs. Pedants will find that the references to some of the chapter heading quotes are bibliographically incomplete.
The Library Association is to be congratulated on publishing in such an attractive format such an up-to-date book: the latest reference is dated March 1997 and the publication date was July.
Reviewed by: Geoffrey Ford,
University of Bristol
Email: G.Ford@bris.ac.uk
Material on this page is copyright Ariadne/original authors. This page last updated on 08-Sep-1997