Local Studies Collection Management

Citation

Freeman, M. (2003), "Local Studies Collection Management", New Library World, Vol. 104 No. 9, pp. 382-383. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800310493224

Under the seasoned editorship of Michael Dewe this collected array of articles covering the multifarious aspects of local studies collections work proves a useful and timely addition to the professional literature, and will be required reading for local studies/local collections specialists in particular. Lucidly written and well produced and with a good index this book sets out various chapters written by authorities in the specialism and covers the many aspects of local collections management and organisation. Michael Dewe writes a sound and clear account of the rise of local studies, boosted as it is by the burgeoning nationwide interest in genealogy and local history. He gives a good account of the professional infrastructure in the local studies arena and covers some of the more pressing issues such as co‐operation, use of ICT and user needs. He follows this with an interesting chapter on resource providers, covering well the plethora of sources of information, such as local history societies, national libraries, family history societies, archives and academic institutions.

pElizabeth Melrose’s chapter on the management of local studies libraries – covering such things as budgets, staffing, best value, planning issues – is well written and provides a good overview. Similarly, Jill Barber’s chapter on the great variety of materials, i.e. archives, registers, newspapers, photographs, acquired for local studies collections is concise and helpful. Nicola Smith writes an interesting and helpful account of enquiry work and the whole area of dealing successfully with the many disparate enquiries a local studies librarian receives in the course of a working day. A thoughtful, and wide ranging concluding chapter by Michael Dewe covers the international scene, ponders on the future and a possible national plan for local studies and thus rounds off an interesting and well presented book which also has the benefits of being readable and having good comprehensive bibliographies appended to each chapter.