Publisher's Synopsis
"British Librarianship and Information Work 1986-1990" continues a series which has run for more than 60 years. It began, in 1928 as the annual "Year's Work in Librarianship", changed from 1951 to "Five Years' Work in Librarianship" and, with the volume for 1966-1970, took on its present title.;The series has established itself as an important record of professional activity and thought, through its comprehensive reviews of most aspects of information and library work. It is valuable to those who wish to keep up to date professionally, noting current developments and trends. It will be equally useful for those researchers and students who in the future need to look back historically on the events and achivements of each quinquennium.;This issue follows closely the contents and style of its immediate predecessor "British librarianship and information Work 1981-1985", being in two volumes, one covering general libraries and the library information profession, and the other being concerned with special libraries, materials and processes. All the topics in the previous volume are included, except for the chapter on Buildings and Equipment, the contents of which have been incorporated into other chapters.;All the contributors were asked to describe the last five years' major events and publications in their fields, and, generally, to limit their contributions to about 7,500 words, with no restriction on the number of bibliographical references. All authors were requested to tackle their subjects thoroughly while conforming to their own personal and individual styles. No attempt has been made to impose an overall editorial style, or to avoid the duplication which results from writers covering specific, but inevitably overlapping, areas of interest. Cross references have not been inserted in the text from chapter to chapter, where duplication occurs, but a detailed subject index provides for readers wishing to approach the review with an interest in any specific area or topic. A separate list of acronyms and abbreviations appears in each volume, representing all such entries identified in both volumes.
