© Blackwell Science Ltd 2002

Health Information and Libraries Journal

,

19

, pp.185–186

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Blackwell Science, Ltd

Book reviews

The theme of libraries without walls is reflectedin a number of recent publications from FacetPublishing which, as the publishing wing ofCILIP, has replaced the former Library Associa-tion Publishing. While none of the books in thefollowing short notices are specific to health-carelibrary practice, the issues discussed are in manyrespects generic and equally relevant in anysubject field to those responsible for managing anddeveloping virtual library and information servicesto a dispersed community of users.

Libraries Without Walls 4: the delivery of library services to distant users. Proceedings of an international conference held on 14–17 September 2001

P. Brophy, S. Fisher, Z. Clark (ed.). London: Facet Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-85604-436-X. 320 pp £39.95 (£31.96 to CILIP members).

The proceedings of the fourth conference in the‘Libraries Without Walls’ series, held in Greeceand organized by the Centre for Research inLibrary and Information Management (CERLIM)at Manchester Metropolitan University, followthe same pattern as earlier volumes. While 15 ofthe 24 papers, grouped under seven theme headings,have UK authors, the remaining nine originatefrom six different countries. The emphasis isheavily on library support for distance learnersin higher education, but while some contributionsare largely theoretical and others are basedfirmly on service initiatives, they together providea helpful review of strategic and practical issuesconfronting any library serving distant users.

Attracting, educating, and serving remote users through the web: a how-to-do it manual for librarians

D. Curtis (ed.). Companion website for UK and European users prepared by I. Winship. London:

Facet Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-85604-461-0. 278 pp £34.95 (£27.96 to CILIP members).

This book provides a novel approach to its subject.It originated from the planning process for a newlibrary at the University of Nevada, Reno, andthe recognition that many users were now, fromchoice, accessing information resources remotelywhere possible via the web, with fundamentalconsequences for the design and managementof library services. The 10 contributors have builton this experience to provide a methodical guidethrough the process of identifying, training, andserving the library’s client community. While itsorigins give the book an inevitable US flavour,there is a valuable and innovative additional resourcefor UK and European readers in the form of acompanion website maintained by Ian Winship.

Digital futures: strategies for the information age

M. Deegan & S. Tanner. London: Facet Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-85604-411-4. 288 pp £39.95 (£31.96 to CILIP members).

The authors, based, respectively, at OxfordUniversity and in the Higher EducationDigitization Service (HEDS) at the Universityof Hertfordshire, are expertly qualified to reviewthis field. Their book focuses, not on the user,but on the electronic information resource that isfundamental to digital library development. Inparticular it examines the questions of strategyarising from those technical aspects, includingdigitization programmes, digital collectiondevelopment, and digital preservation, that will beencountered when a digital service is being built. Itwill be most appreciated by those grappling withthe subject for the first time—librarians, financemanagers, and institutional chief executives—whorequire an authoritative introduction, rather thanby experienced practitioners.

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Book Reviews

© Blackwell Science Ltd 2002

Health Information and Libraries Journal

,

19

, pp.185–186

186

Building an electronic resource collection: a practical guide

S.D. Lee. London: Facet Publishing, 2002. ISBN 1-85604-422-X. 160 pp £24.95 (£19.96 to CILIP members).

Collection development, one aspect of Deeganand Tanner’s book, is considered in much greaterdepth here. The author, who is head of theLearning Technology Group at OxfordUniversity’s Computing Services, has provided aremarkably detailed, step-by-step guide that leadsthe librarian methodically and logically throughthe essential selection, evaluation, acquisition,

installation, delivery and support processes. Eventhose who are not yet directly involved in buildingan electronic collection will find something ofvalue here, since many of the decision-makingprocesses are applicable, in part or completely, tothe acquisition of more traditional print resources.For those who are directly involved in electroniccollection development, this book’s ability tomake sense of a potentially daunting task willmake it a godsend.

Peter Morgan

Cambridge University Medical LibraryAddenbrooke’s Hospital

Cambridge

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