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Essential reading for those who want to pioneer change in the library
THERE has probably never been a more crucial time for libraries to take the lead in experimenting. Potential threats to many service sector jobs, from rapidly evolving AI and budget cuts make a flex- ible continuous learning mindset one of the most invaluable assets for all employees.
This book explores the author’s experiences and offers pragmatic advice in an engaging readable style. The first part of the book reassures librarians and information professionals are well placed to experiment with pilot projects. Introducing new services, digital resources and layouts are often car- ried out and supported with data in a similar way to data providing a key strand of evidence around the success or otherwise of an experiment. The core of the book explores how open-minded curiosity to reflect on how entrepreneurial start up businesses, and some large tech companies anticipate user needs, and experiment in fulfilling these can be adapted for experimenting based on IDEEA (ideate, design, ex- periment, encourage, assess). Chapter 7 on engagement is particularly enjoyable with interesting ideas around the benefits of promoting a library, listening to users and trying to find new ways to improve their experiences of using the services. The final section reviews how to develop a culture of experimentation into organ-
44 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
The latest in an important series of reviews going back to 1928.
Cooper, Cathryn, M. The Experimental Library: A guide to taking risks, falling forward, and creating change. London. Facet Publishing, 2024. 168pp. ISBN 978 1 7833 0698 5. £50. CILIP members: 35% discount at www.facet-
publishing.co.uk
isations. Encouraging the idea everyone has a role to play in experimentation, not only leaders, without denying how difficult cultural change can be. Practical tips such as framing something new as an experiment, freeing even resistant team members to try it out and using experi- mentation ambassadors are grounded on the author’s very honestly shared experiences. Crucially the author pro- motes the best failures as invaluable learning opportuni- ties and early iterations along the pathway to success. An inspiring and energising read, offering plenty of practical tips to open-minded library and information professionals.
Mandy Webster Browne Jacobson
FOLLOWING the publi- cation of British Librari- anship and Information Work 2011 – 2015, the editor had not planned to continue with further volumes; however, they felt that the impact of the worldwide pandemic in 2020 should be recorded. It should also be noted that previous volumes to 2011 had been published by the then Library Association and Ashgate. This volume has 26 chapters covering numerous aspects of librarianship and various sectors. They are of different lengths with exten- sive bibliographic references, many to digital resources, enabling the reader to analyse and explore the topic further and there is a useful index. It should also be noted that some sectors such as ar- chives, that were covered in previous editions are missing from this volume and there is a notable absence of univer- sity libraries due to lack of contributors.
Each chapter details the background to the sector and changes that have occurred during the period covered by the book; these are obvious- ly dominated by austerity, Brexit and the pandemic. In addition to mainstream areas of librarianship, such as public libraries, health services and local studies, many specialist libraries are featured including map, art and news libraries. The chap- ter on official publications contains some useful sources
Bowman, J. H. (ed). British Librarian- ship and Information Work 2016 – 2020. Published by the editor. ISBN 978 1 4717 9868 9; 357pp.
and that on research reviews any carried out during the period covered.
As a school librarian, I was disappointed in the lack of a chapter on school libraries with these being covered in “Library Services to Children and Young People”. This also encompasses public library services for children as well as School Library Services, both of which have very different aims from those of school libraries. Nevertheless, this is an interesting and informa- tive book, whether you have a general curiosity about librar- ianship, are studying for a LIS qualification or are undertak- ing professional registration and want to inform yourself about the wider sector.
Barbara Band
School Library Consultant and Trainer
Spring 2025
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