Freedman, Shin, and Freedman, James M. Becoming a Library Leader: seven stages of leadership development for academic librar- ians. Chicago: ACRL, 2020. 248 pp. ISBN: 978 0 8389 4767 8. £56.
Campana, Kathleen and Mills, Elizabeth. Create, Innovate and Serve: a radical approach to children’s and youth programming. Chicago: ALA Neal-Shuman, 2020. 473 pp. ISBN: 978 0 8389 1720 6. £42 (Kindle).
A comprehensive look at visual research and methodology
THIS book “comprises a collection of methods that incorporate visual elements such as maps, drawings, photographs, videos, as well as three- dimensional objects, into the research process” and is the first book published that focuses on these within Library and Infor- mation Studies. Visual Research Methods
(VRM) are methods in which the visual element is part of the research procedure of gathering data rather than it favouring written or verbal approaches. It is an anthol- ogy with contributions from international researchers and practitioners that acts as an inspiration and guide for those who want to know more as well as those who plan to apply these methods in their own situations. Discussions are well-balanced and bring together reflections and practical examples, advice on the use of VRM, and raise the point that the complexity of requests within the profession now requires diverse methods of response.
The book is in two parts. Part one covers the history, methods and terminology of VRM, an overview of the chal- lenges when analysing visual data, and a summary of the literature. There is discussion around the theory and philos- ophy of knowledge, and reflec- tion on practical and ethical concerns. Part two showcases a wide variety of techniques and methods in action. They
April-May 2021
An insight into an innovative academic publisher
THE name (and person) of Charles Chadwyck-Healey have been familiar to publishers, scholars and librarians for several decades. The slightly patrician air and the unfailing politesse could never quite disguise the very sharp-witted and knowledgeable bookman and acute business brain (and nor were they intended to).
Bedi, Shailoo and Webb, Jenaya (eds). Visual Research Methods: an introduc- tion for library and information studies. London: Facet Publishing, 2020. 272 pp. ISBN 978 1 7833 0456 1. £48.
include: draw and write technique; 3D laser scanning and visualisation; making as storytelling; the value of visual UX research methods; digital storytelling; visual literacy in university archives and special collections; and performance in action. Each considers a range of approaches and has a reflective element. Every chapter has a comprehensive list of references for further reading and there is an exten- sive subject index as well as an author index. This is a perfect reference book for those who want to involve VRM in their research practices or wish to expand their knowledge of this methodology.
Barbara Band
He was and is imaginative and highly original. He was a taker of measured risks and a thoughtful listener who absorbed what he was told. He was a true pioneer of academic publishing because he saw gaps in the market and he saw technology which could fill those gaps in innovative ways.
He was most active, to use his own phrase, ‘at the dawn of the digital age’, and his company’s digital products include some which are part of the day-to-day life of researchers and information providers throughout the world.
In this book, Chadwyck-Healey has written both a history of some of the critical changes of the last 40 years, combined with a typically modest autobiography. He admits to his failures as well as cele- brating the successes which far outweigh them. He largely leaves readers to draw their own conclusions about the achievements of his company. And he is discrete in telling the stories of quarrels and dis- agreements while not ignoring
Chadwyck-Healey, Charles. Publishing for Libraries at the Dawn of the Digital Age. London & New York: Bloomsbury Academic. 2020. 416 pp. ISBN 978 1 3501 2094 5. £68.
some of the key issues. But he leaves us in little doubt even if his comments on some of the people involved sometime stray beyond politeness into blandness. To try to write the history of a chain of events in which one was a key player is a difficult task. Some of what he writes will perhaps be challenged, although it will be for interpretation rather than accuracy. But he has given us a rare insight into the pro- fessional mind of a publisher and into a history of greater significance than the story of one firm and its creator.
John Feather Loughborough University
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