Table of contents: issue47

Book Review: The Institutional Repository

editor — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 23:00:00 +0000

Sally Rumsey recommends a new book about institutional repositories.

This timely publication has arrived at a point where a number of UK Higher Education (HE) establishments have set up, have started, or have at least considered setting up their own institutional repository (IR). This is a new area for all involved, many experiences so far have been ground-breaking and there are few (if any) IRs which would describe themselves as mature. Not only is the technology developing rapidly, but user needs are continuing to be determined and institutions are expanding the ways in which an IR can serve their needs.

Book Review: Understanding and Communicating Social Informatics

editor — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 23:00:00 +0000

Sheila Corrall reviews a new landmark book which explains and promotes a distinctive approach to information-related research spanning traditional disciplinary and professional boundaries.

Social Informatics (SI) is a relatively recently named field of research, which has evolved from earlier studies of the role of computers in society and the social impacts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which were often conducted as separate, unconnected discussions by computer scientists, information systems researchers, sociologists, educational researchers and others. Rob Kling, the lead author of this book, who died in 2003, is generally regarded as the prime mover and founder of this new domain.

Book Review: The Virtual Reference Desk

editor — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 23:00:00 +0000

Lina Coelho feels that digital reference has come of age and that this work is one of its adornments where reference information professionals are concerned.

Digital reference has come of age. Starting with tentative 'Ask us a question' e-mail services, it is now available in public, academic and specialist libraries. This dynamic area, which has already undergone major developments in the past few years, continues to grow and evolve.

Book Review: The Successful Academic Librarian

editor — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 23:00:00 +0000

Stephen Town finds this US multi-author work may not meet the needs of readers in the UK, and offers some ideas which a UK version might incorporate.

Never judge a book by its cover? In this case the cover contains some apt symbolism for what one might expect from this US multi-author text. Presumably the picture on the front is supposed to be the eponymous 'successful academic librarian', well-groomed and smartly suited, climbing the rungs of the career ladder. The aluminium ladder itself looks more suitable for DIY, but perhaps this is also accurate, as this work is very much a positive view of how to take your career in hand and develop it.