This
4th edition of Special Libraries and Information Centers has retained the same
goal sought for the previous editions, that of serving as an introduction to
the nature and operation of special libraries and information centers. The most
likely audience for which each edition has been written has been students, such
as those in schools of library and information science, who are considering
the benefits of employment in such organizations. Non-students, working on their
own employment goals, will also find this book helpful in that it offers a preview
of what to expect in this field.
Each edition of this book has included descriptions of how quickly innovations and new developments of all sorts have impacted the field. Although the titles of the chapters are the same, their content and emphasis have changed in dramatic fashion. Many terms found in this edition were scarcely even dreamed of when the first edition was published in 1983. For example, the third edition, published in 1995, described the Internet in terms of how it had recently taken a place of importance in libraries and information centers. Now the influence of the Internet is so strong that it would be difficult to find many chapters where some mention of the Internet would not be appropriate, so widespread have its importance and applications become.You may well wonder if this edition has been entirely taken over by the role of technology and new developments-the answer is no. Certain basic concepts, techniques, and practices remain in the book, not for old time"s sake, but because many of these practices and ways of operation are still very much alive and valuable.
You may well wonder if this edition has been entirely taken over by the role of technology and new developments-the answer is no. Certain basic concepts, techniques, and practices remain in the book, not for old time"s sake, but because many of these practices and ways of operation are still very much alive and valuable.
The previous edition included a section in which a dozen or so practicing special librarians and information center managers described their libraries and information centers, and a section containing accounts of several people who adopted alternative careers. This book follows the same pattern, see the Appendix.
We appreciate the time and effort these contributors spent in preparing their articles.
So, this book aims at describing the present and future status of special libraries and information centers, ready to show the value of new developments and practices, while at the same time drawing attention to certain traditional ways of operating that remain worthwhile components of modem practices.
As authors with many years of experience in this field, we urge you to think of this book as a guidebook to a profession which is both challenging and socially important in these days of constant change in all aspects of life.
Several people gave us help in preparing this book. In particular we want to thank Kathleen Kehoe and Robert Wolven for their assistance; both are librarians employed at Columbia University Libraries. Also we thank the KPMG community, especially Peter Suib, Robert Meade, David Kull, and Rita VerTone for their assistance.
We are also grateful for the support given us by our families in the months during which this book was being written.
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