Essential Law for Information Professionals

Citation

Freeman, M. (2007), "Essential Law for Information Professionals", New Library World, Vol. 108 No. 9/10, pp. 469-469. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800710824042

Wisely preceded by a Disclaimer that this is not a book giving firm legal advice but more an “awareness of key legal issues” primer, this is a well organised and timely book for librarians and information professionals to have on their desks. Produced to the usual high standards of CILIP, the book covers a wide spectrum of those legal topics impinging on a librarian's daily professional life and is thus a useful and practical work, rooted in everyday professional LIS practice.

As we live in an increasingly litigious society, it is wise for librarians to acquire a basic understanding of those current legal issues impacting on our professional work. Copyright, for instance, is well covered, giving good lucid explanations of the law regarding copyright (including EU legislation) and encompassing all those little corners such as Ordnance Survey and the internet, which can be so frustrating and confusing to LIS practitioners. Good, appropriate comments are made about professional liability and risk management for librarians and the need to keep up to date. Such issues as freedom of information, data protection and disability discrimination are well and clearly dealt with, complete with definitions and examples.

There is a useful and up‐to‐date Glossary of legal terms, containing such gems as “walled garden” “cyber squatting” and “pharming” and the book contains good, comprehensive Lists of abbreviations, references and appropriate illuminating cases and extracts of legislation.

Concluding, this is a helpful, clearly written and well indexed book which will be of considerable value to LIS practitioners and students. It is good to see CILIP and Facet Publishing responding so well to the current and pressing needs of practitioners with this well targeted and readable book. It is thoroughly recommended.