Computers for Libraries: An Introduction to the Electronic Library

Citation

Guha, M. (2005), "Computers for Libraries: An Introduction to the Electronic Library", Library Review, Vol. 54 No. 7, pp. 437-438. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530510611956

Although I have, on various occasions, tried to learn bits of what is covered in this book, and on various other occasions have tried to teach some of it to other people, I had never really thought how difficult writing a basic textbook like this must be. In order to write it effectively, you must know your subject so thoroughly that it is ground into you, and yet you must be able to put yourself in the position of a learner who knows practically nothing. You must know enough of the history of the subject to understand how we got to where we are today [and, in a field like this, if you know the subject thoroughly you have probably lived through quite a lot of the history anyway] and yet you must not clutter your training programme with irrelevant details of obsolete methods. You have to remember that the logical way of approaching a subject, starting with the fundamentals and working up to practical applications, is not the best way to arouse a beginner’s interest. Finally, you must know when to stop. As a single‐minded expert specialising in the field you have to remember that most of your trainees simply want to use the techniques you are teaching as part of an overall range of skills, and may not need the depth of technical detail that you have acquired.

On the whole it seems to me that the authors of this Australian textbook have succeeded admirably. Obviously they have slipped here and there over the margins I have outlined – I find it hard to believe that any current library school trainees are ignorant enough to need some of the basic detail given here; those of us that struggled with BASIC in the late 1960s may think we need to know about first generation languages, but most people don’t; and I am sure that the average newly‐qualified librarian does not really need to know so much about semiconductor technology. These are minor quibbles, however. Most of the book is accurate and relevant, and the structure – starting with internet applications and working backwards to the technology, is excellent. Obviously the Australian basis detracts from its usefulness in other countries, where Kinetica, OZLine and KIWINET are not likely to be held up as examples. In general, however, I would be happy to recommend this book to any current library school trainee.