Libraries and society : role, responsibility and future in an age of change / edited by David Baker and Wendy Evans.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

TOC Cover; Libraries and Society: Role, responsibility and future in an age of change; Copyright; Contents; Foreword; Note; Preface; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; List of figures, tables and case studies; About the authors; 1 Libraries, society and social responsibility; Introduction; Future environment; Technology push; Equity and equality of access; Education and digital literacy; Library as physical space; Value and impact; Re-thinking the library; Re-thinking librarianship; Conclusion; Notes; References; 2 I wouldn't start from here ... provision and use of UK libraries; Introduction. Library provisionLibrary use; Trends over time; The wider world; The wider context; Conclusion; Notes; References; 3 From people flows to knowledge flows; Introduction: a brief review of People Flows; The People Flows conclusions; Today's learning context; Working out alternatives; Collaboration for access; Knowledge flows --
the lifelong library; Library evolution in uncertain times; Conclusion: how might this happen?; Notes; References; 4 Scholarly communication and access to research outputs; Introduction; Journal prices; Academic library journal provision; Electronic information. Issues of accessLibrary access for external users; Open access; Open access journals; Self-archiving; Mandated deposit; Impact on libraries; Conclusion; Notes; References; 5 Free and equal access: a conundrum for the information society; Introduction; Free libraries --
for those who can afford them; The price of free goods; Freedom of access: rights and limits; Access: equity and equality; Conclusion; Notes; 6 The more they change, the more they stay the same: public libraries and social inclusion; Introduction; What problem?; What has changed?; What has influenced libraries? An international perspectiveA strategy of urgent relevance; Systemic and cultural change; Political change; Conclusion: or is it all a conspiracy ...?; Notes; References; 7 Widening access to information: the haves and the have-nots?; Introduction; The digital divide; Digital divide initiatives; Technological infrastructure; Uptake and use of ICT; E-accessibility and design for all; Education and training; Conclusion; Notes; References; 8 Tackling inequalities around the globe: the challenge for libraries; Introduction; The inequalities of information; Overlooking libraries. Bridging the divide: why information mattersNew opportunities --
but also new challenges; The technology gap; Managing, maintaining and keeping up; Access and use; Skilling users and skilling staff; Conclusion; Notes; References; 9 Islands in the cloud: libraries and the social life of information; Introduction; A world of experience; Taking apart architecture; Making Creative Cities flow; The social life of information; 100-mile information diets; Islands in the cloud; Conclusion; Notes; References; 10 From the passive library to the learning library --
it's an emotional journey; Introduction.

This book reviews both the historical and future roles that public, private, academic and special libraries have in supporting and shaping society at local, regional, national and international levels. Globalisation, economic turmoil, political and ethnic tensions, rapid technology development, global warming and other key environmental factors are all combining in myriad and complex ways to affect everyone, both individually and collectively. Fundamental questions are being asked about the future of society and the bedrock organisations that underpin it. Libraries and Society considers the ke.

ISLM

Sagar Shahanawaz