To be studied, rather than read.

To be studied, rather than read. Roberts, Sue, and Rowley, Jennifer Managing information services See Information Systems. .London: Facet Publishing, 2004. 256p 29.95 [pounds sterling] soft ISBN ISBNabbr.International Standard Book NumberISBNInternational Standard Book NumberISBNn abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m1856045153 (available from James Bennett For other people named Bennett, see Bennett.James Bennett or Jim Bennett may refer to: James C. Bennett, writer on technology and international affairs and a founder of the American Rocket Company. PLy Ltd) This book is aimed at students of library and informationmanagement and is intended to be an introduction to management practiceand theory in the information services context. The two authors havecomplementary experience, one being a practising informationprofession al, the other an academic with a management background and along association with the information management field. Essentially a textbook, the work is well designed, with eachchapter comprising learning objectives, then a text which includes'reflections' in the form of questions which invite readers toreflect on the content at various stages during the chapter. At the endof each chapter there are review questions, a case study,'Challenges' (which are in-depth questions about the contentrequiring essay-type answers), and references and recommendations forfurther reading. The latter resources would certainly be needed bystudents in preparing answers to the Challenges and case studyquestions. The text includes many figures supporting the content. Following an introductory chapter on information organisations,there is wide coverage of management theory, chapters being devoted tomanagement and leadership, people in organisations, human resources The fancy word for "people." Th e human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. management, marketing and user relationships, quality management,finance and resources, and strategy and planning. Some chapters are moresuccessful than others in making a sufficient link to informationservices practice. The level of detail provided is occasionallyinconsistent. For example, the chapter on finance and resources drawsattention to changing funding models, with a text box outlining thecharacteristics of a good funding submission, but the chapter does notprovide the level of detail required to understand the thinking behindthe points made in the text box. Further on in the same chapter anexample of a line item budget is provided, but again not well supportedby corresponding information in the text. One would question why thisexample is provided when examples of other types of budget are not. The book does attemp t to be international in context, especially inproviding examples, although the references are dominated by British andAmerican sources. Library educators will find this a useful resourceboth to teach from and to recommend to students. It would also provide auseful revision for practising professionals returning to further studyin information services management at a post-graduate level. Janet Murray Janet Murray is a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she is the director of graduate studies in the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture. Before coming to Georgia Tech in 1999, she was a Senior Research Scientist in the Center for Educational , Murray Consulting and Training