The Evolving Virtual Library II: Practical and Philosophical Perspectives

Library Journal

Practical, yes, but virtual? Philosophical? Libraries are assuredly concrete things--cables, computers, books, budgets--if this collection of articles by noted library professionals is evidence. Like The Amazing Internet Challenge: How Leading Projects Use Library Skills To Organize the Web (Professional Media, LJ 3/15/00), these articles predominantly and helpfully report on existing projects and technologies: developing intranets and databases, reshaping school libraries, reaching remote users, building networks, and more. Some authors risk a speculation or two, but none ventures far from consideration of quotidian realities. Each chapter thus serves as a reminder that libraries dwell amid a struggle for institutional identity and competition for resources--funds, information, and infrastructure--leaving slight opportunity for any loftier musings hinted at in the volume's subtitle. This is regrettable because pondering a few untethered concepts and abstractions might prove intellectually productive and stimulating in a work aimed at "documenting trends" and "influencing the future." The editor has written numerous articles for LJ and Computers in Libraries and has edited a prior volume of similar articles (The Evolving Virtual Library: Visions and Case Studies, Information Today, 1996). Librarians will find this sequel a good starting point for a review of the present situation of the profession.--Dean C. Rowan, Whittier P.L., CA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\