Ostman, Sarah. Going Virtual: programs and insights from a time of crisis. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2021. 84 pp. ISBN: 978 0 8389 4878 1. £33.


Dorr, Christine H. Profiles in Resilience: books for children and teens that center the lived experience of generational poverty. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2022. 190 pp. ISBN: 978 0 8389 3788 4. £51.


An understanding of policy for information professionals


THIS book addresses information policy as defined by governmental laws and regulations put in place to manage the information lifecycle, particularly in relation to the United States. Library information policies


are inevitably shaped by governmental policies and the authors argue that better understanding of these enables libraries to create best practice internal policies that fulfil the needs of their users. The authors present history


of information policies and the context in which they exist and highlight core policy areas such as data protection, privacy, consent, freedom of information, cybersecurity, copyright as well as overall national information infra- structure. The reader is left in no doubt that information pol- icies affect everybody directly and indirectly as well as shap- ing organisations and com- munities. The book examines information policies in specific spheres such as education, healthcare or commerce but it also explores a broader picture looking at polices affecting legal and social notions, for example social justice or civil rights.


This textbook includes plenty of examples and aims to stimulate reflective thinking by including “Questions to consider” at the end of each chapter. These questions challenge the readers to query the contents of the book, their own thinking and assumptions


January-February 2022


Jaeger, Paul T. and Greene Taylor, Natalie. Foundations of Information Policy. London: Facet, 2019. 212 pp. ISBN 978 1 7833 0451 6. £55.


and professional practice. Each chapter has notes at the end which tend to be enter- taining thus lightening the otherwise serious subject. The future of information policy is shown as precarious against the background of the increasing presence of misinformation, fake news, alternative facts, manipulated data or simply lies spread by social media users. Informa- tion professionals are best placed to influence the future of information policy through advocating information literacy to influence information behav- iour. Or, as this textbook repeats after Hermione Granger “When in doubt, go to the library”.


Margaret Iwona Katny London


Well-researched development of libraries throughout the ages


Yet another book on library history! However, this is a refreshingly different approach to a familiar subject.


It traces significant develop- ments in the troubled history of libraries from the earliest collections of inscribed tables in Mesopotamia to the 21st century age of Google and Amazon. The authors have deftly unravelled a history that is full of remarkable achievements, such as the founding of great libraries, to a story of shocking devastation and destruction throughout the world. It is a sad reflection on humanity that some of the most appalling destruction of both collections and library buildings occurred in the 20th century.


The formal opening of the new library in Alexandria provides a fitting basis for discussion as it links back to its ancient predecessor, while revealing that problems of insufficient funds, staffing difficulties and political issues have been a common theme throughout the history of libraries.


A chronological sequence is adopted in six main sections and the work ends with a thoughtful postscript entitled ‘Reading without books’. Here, while libraries have benefitted from the gener- osity of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in provid- ing digital access, a note of caution emerges. Books may be sacrificed to accommodate computers but the authors remain confident that despite


Pettegree, Andrew and der Weduwen, Arthur. The Library: a fragile history. London: Profile Books 2021. 518 pp. ISBN 978 1 7881 6342 2. £25.


this, both libraries and books have a bright future.


With such a wealth of infor- mation, it is fortuitous to find such a well-indexed book. A glance through its pages demonstrates just how much detail about people, places and above libraries and their donors is included. Eminently readable and based on prodigious research, as its extensive bibliography reveals, we are treated to an exploration of how libraries courted their readers and developed collections. A good book should stimulate the reader’s curiosity and this book succeeds admirably.


Diana Dixon Hon. Reviews Editor INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 51


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