Table of contents: issue37

Book Review: Joining Up the Dots

editor — Thu, 30 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Stuart Hannabuss seeks the tenor among the diversity of voices provided by Challenge and Change in the Information Society.

Any work on the information society attracts that ambivalent reaction that it might be trite and it could be seminal. But, with the logic that nothing that becomes cliché can be other than centrally relevant, above all when published by a professional body, (which should know these things), Challenge and change promises well.

Book Review: The Accidental Systems Librarian

editor — Thu, 30 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Eric Jukes takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of another book in the 'Accidental' series.

Surprisingly, it appears to be a fact that many people involved in systems work in libraries have fallen into the position accidentally. At least, this seems to be the case in America. The author of The Accidental Systems Librarian believes that "anyone with a solid foundation in the practices and principles of librarianship and a willingness to confront changing technology can serve effectively in a library technology position" without any formal computer training. I declare straight away that I am a sceptic!

Book Review: Implementing Digital Reference Services

editor — Thu, 30 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Ben Wynne reviews a collection of papers from the Third Annual Virtual Reference Desk Conference.

This book, first published in the United States by Neal-Schuman, brings together revised and updated papers originally presented at the Third Annual Virtual Reference Desk Conference held in Orlando, Florida in 2001. As such it has an almost entirely American focus although most of the issues addressed are equally relevant to libraries elsewhere.