IN THE MODERN library profession, advancement and promotion often depend on selection interviews. It is argued that these favour candidates gifted with verbal facility and…
Abstract
IN THE MODERN library profession, advancement and promotion often depend on selection interviews. It is argued that these favour candidates gifted with verbal facility and militate against those without the ‘gift of the gab’. In defence of the system, however, it must be remembered that today's librarians are communicators—ranging from the junior explaining why a book cannot be renewed, to the chief arguing with the library committee for increased resources. A librarian is no longer a book‐loving recluse. Successful performance in his job calls for communication, whether he is acting as readers adviser, staff manager, or library school lecturer. It is therefore perhaps not entirely unreasonable that the final stage in most staff selection processes should be a demonstration of the candidate's ability to think on his feet.
The blind, of necessity, must receive all their information through their ears. So far as the sighted are concerned, psychologists believe that many us of find it easier to retain…
Abstract
The blind, of necessity, must receive all their information through their ears. So far as the sighted are concerned, psychologists believe that many us of find it easier to retain information which is aurally, rather than visually, perceived. When technology discovered the means whereby sound could be reiterated as conveniently as a book could be re‐read, audio learning became a practical proposition. For the Roman poet Horace, the spoken word could never be recalled. For us it can — on audio tape. The original music cassette gradually developed into a vehicle for teaching foreign languages, recognising bird song, or improving our skills in playing bridge or golf; with more serious purpose it has now taken its place in schools, colleges and training centres as an accepted instructional device in combination with such other media as slides, filmstrips and overhead transparencies.
I would like to begin by taking a general look at the official publications of local authorities, not only at what they are, but also at who uses them and what they are actually…
Abstract
I would like to begin by taking a general look at the official publications of local authorities, not only at what they are, but also at who uses them and what they are actually used for. In addition, I would like to try to make a rough assessment of the recent attempts to increase access to them, particularly emphasising the positive improvements that have taken place over recent years — and also to try to identify the shortcomings that remain. In examining the changing patterns of the publication of information recently, we should not only look at developments such as the Access to Information Act and the abolition of the Metropolitan County Councils, but also take a wider view, examining, for instance, whether increasing emphasis on value for money techniques in individual local authorities and the aim for objective decision making has altered the information and documentary requirements of local government and the value placed on them. Finally, and most centrally, I would like to look at the existing role played by local government information services in this area, and perhaps speculate on what can be achieved in the future. I would like to approach this by making a number of key points and then, hopefully, we can discuss those you feel of most value. My contribution has the broad title ‘Local government information services’. David Mort of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies will take a look at the information services provided by outside organisations for local authorities. The distinction between our contributions is, I hope, fairly clear and I will attempt to restrict myself to discussing the information services provided by individual local authorities while David will look at the wider scene. There is, of course, a grey area of information services which do not fall exactly within the boundaries of this definition and I will very briefly mention a number of these later, but first it might be useful to begin by having a very brief word about our sponsors. This seminar is a joint venture by the Aslib Planning Environment and Transport Information Group (PETIG) and the Standing Committee on Official Publications (SCOOP). SCOOP was formally set up at the beginning of 1983 and is a direct descendant of the Library Association/HMSO Services Working Party which was established in 1971. It might be helpful if I briefly summarise a number of the formal arrangements under which SCOOP operates in order to set the context for my contribution. The Committee's principal aims relate to UK national and local government official publications and these are to improve access and availability to such documents, to identify and propose solutions to problems of access and to provide mechanisms for the exchange of views between members of the library community on matters of common interest concerning UK official publications.
A HICCUP in the Library Association's plans for the new Record may be presumed from the appearance in late March of a ‘re‐advertisement’ for the post of Editor, coupled with the…
Abstract
A HICCUP in the Library Association's plans for the new Record may be presumed from the appearance in late March of a ‘re‐advertisement’ for the post of Editor, coupled with the advice that former applicants need not re‐apply (so much for my hopes of a sheltered haven when the economic deluge arrives!).
THE new chief in our parish, the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in succession to S C Holliday is to be Melvyn Barnes, Chief Librarian of Ipswich in East Anglia for the…
Abstract
THE new chief in our parish, the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in succession to S C Holliday is to be Melvyn Barnes, Chief Librarian of Ipswich in East Anglia for the last couple of years. The Kensington post offers a spacious central library of recent vintage, with particularly good reference services, though an over‐preponderance of student pre‐emption of table space. There is a strong local history interest in the borough, keenly fostered by Chief Assistant Brian Curle. We use central ref a good deal and have always found them very helpful, though some of the branches are a shade parochial. We look to the youthful Mr Barnes to blow a little fresh air into the system, and hope his salary covers the difference between the cost of houses in London and Ipswich.
The London Classiffcation of Business Studies (LCBS) has now been published for 3 years and is used by at least 17 British and 11 overseas libraries. Twenty‐eight users might not…
Abstract
The London Classiffcation of Business Studies (LCBS) has now been published for 3 years and is used by at least 17 British and 11 overseas libraries. Twenty‐eight users might not seem a great many, but for a specialist scheme it really represents a significant impact. The first impression of 400 copies was sold out within a year, and 200 copies of the second impression (June 1971) had been sold by the end of March 1973. It is reasonable to suppose that these 600 copies are having some influence on the organization of business literature throughout the world, and that more libraries are considering adopting LCBA than the six known to the London Business School.
THE Reference Department of Paisley Central Library today occupies the room which was the original Public Library built in 1870 and opened to the public in April 1871. Since that…
Abstract
THE Reference Department of Paisley Central Library today occupies the room which was the original Public Library built in 1870 and opened to the public in April 1871. Since that date two extensions to the building have taken place. The first, in 1882, provided a separate room for both Reference and Lending libraries; the second, opened in 1938, provided a new Children's Department. Together with the original cost of the building, these extensions were entirely financed by Sir Peter Coats, James Coats of Auchendrane and Daniel Coats respectively. The people of Paisley indeed owe much to this one family, whose generosity was great. They not only provided the capital required but continued to donate many useful and often extremely valuable works of reference over the many years that followed. In 1975 Paisley Library was incorporated in the new Renfrew District library service.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of assisted desistance from the perspective of women involved in the criminal justice system. It focusses on two community…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of assisted desistance from the perspective of women involved in the criminal justice system. It focusses on two community projects set up in the aftermath of the 2007 Corston Report, Northshire Women’s Centres (WCs) and the Housing for Northshire project.
Design/methodology/approach
Through analysis of a year of observation in these settings and 23 narrative interviews with staff and service users, the paper notes the differences between risk-focussed and desistance-focussed justice for women.
Findings
Neither projects are a panacea; however, they offer an insight into desistance-focussed practice. The findings would suggest that the projects provide social justice as opposed to criminal justice, particularly because of their flexible approach and awareness of the relational elements involved in female desistance.
Originality/value
The in-depth, qualitative data provided challenges the “payment by results” rhetoric which demands positivist research that promotes an understanding of desistance as a binary outcome. Implications for policy are considered.