The New Professional’s Handbook: Your Guide to Information Services Management

Citation

Pierce, A. (2000), "The New Professional’s Handbook: Your Guide to Information Services Management", Library Management, Vol. 21 No. 5, pp. 271-278. https://doi.org/10.1108/lm.2000.21.5.271.6

Despite stating that the volume is aimed mainly at new professionals in the information services sector, any professional in this particular field would find this publication a useful working tool. The preface mentions that The New Professional’s Handbook is useful not only for new recruits working in the field, but for LIS students, lecturers, and those involved in LIS personnel management or with staff development duties. I would also recommend this to para‐professional staff, or staff undertaking vocational courses such as an ILS NVQ. The work introduces a broad range of topics which today’s professional information worker would require, from disaster management and security hazards to devolved budgeting and income generation, as well as covering the more traditional aspects of providing and managing an information service.

The publication’s thematic approach is particularly helpful and timesaving, and lends itself well to those wishing to use it as a basis for self‐directed training. Each concept is dealt with concisely, and includes references and extensive bibliographies, including Websites. The “activities” and “reflection points” are welcomed additions. It is visually easy to consult, with bullet points, figures, and lists of contents at the beginning of each chapter. This is one to keep on your desk rather than on your office bookshelves. The only drawback, I feel, is its price, particularly if its target readers are new professionals.

Your Successful LIS Career: Planning Your Career, CVs, Interviews and Self‐promotion has a more personal approach for LIS staff than The New Professional’s Handbook. As suggested by the title, rather than discussing aspects of information services management, Pantry and Griffiths have explored issues concerning self‐management and self‐development. Again, despite its focus on LIS, and on professional staff within that field, undergraduate students, or staff with a para‐professional role within other disciplines would benefit from browsing through this publication. As expected, aspects of self‐promotion and self‐development are dealt with, and attention given to basic elements such as compiling a successful CV, good interview techniques, and career planning. I found the first chapter on “scene setting” useful, particularly the section on employers’ requirements when selecting LIS staff. Although a plethora of general “how‐to” titles already exist, having a publication solely concerned with these issues in an LIS context is useful. This is a sensibly priced, welcomed addition to the The Successful LIS Professional series.