Information Technology in Librarianship: New Critical Approaches

(Paperback)

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In the last 15 years, the ground - both in terms of technological advance and in the sophistication of analyses of technology - has shifted. At the same time, librarianship as a field has adopted a more skeptical perspective; libraries are feeling market pressure to adopt and use new innovations; and their librarians boast a greater awareness of the socio-cultural, economic, and ethical considerations of information and communications technologies. Within such a context, a fresh and critical analysis of the foundations and applications of technology in librarianship is long overdue.

Reviews

The new edition, subtitled New Critical Approaches, examines six types of critiques, among them feminist technology analysis and technological utopia, in a series of chapters by prominent scholars. Required reading for anyone interested in critical theory relating to technology. * American Libraries *
Because this volume focuses on the issues and implications connected to technology, it will be accessible and useful for readers who are already familiar with critical discussions of technology as well as readers who are new to the conversation. . . . Because of the complexities and interconnections for each of the chapters, the volume as a whole is stronger than any of its individual parts. The individual sections and chapters, however, are also of considerable merit albeit on the more local level addressed in each. Any of the components, especially if supplemented by the introduction and conclusion, would be excellent reading for both students and professionals. * College & Research Libraries *
In this second edition of the 1993 classic, the authors present an insightful and thought-provoking sequel on information technology in librarianship from a critical perspective. . . it is in Part II that the practical application of information technology will be of interest to most readers. * Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship *
will interest librarians, as well as those in government, industry, research, and education. * New Library World *
Although it may appear that this book is aimed at academics and researchers in the field of information and library science, as well as practising librarians, anyone with an interest in the impact of technologies on society should find a number of relevant chapters and passages in this volume. An example is Chapter 9 about children and information technology that should be of interest to parents and teachers. * Library Hi Tech *

Author Bio

Gloria J. Leckie is LIS program coordinator, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. She attained her MLIS and her PhD from the University of Western Ontario. Her research interests include information seeking behavior, the work of scholars and professionals, academic librarianship, information technologies, information literacy and libraries as public space. Gloria is currently on the Board of the Canadian Association for Information Science as well as on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Academic Librarianship and the Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science John E. Buschman is associate university librarian, Collections, Preservation & Scholarly Communication, Lauinger Library, Georgetown University, Washington, DC