Joint-Use Libraries

Sarah McNicol is a research fellow at evidence base, a research and evaluation unit at the University of Central England, Birmingham, UK. She has worked at UCE since 2000 and during that time has been the lead researcher on numerous research and evaluation projects. She has published extensively in both the academic and professional press. As well as carrying out research into joint use libraries, she has established a ‘community of practice’ for those working in this area and, in 2006, edited a special edition of the journal Library Trends devoted to joint use libraries. In 2007, she is organizing an international conference to bring together researchers and practitioners in joint use libraries from around the world.

• What are joint-use libraries? Why a joint-use library? Joint-use library design; How does a joint-use library operate? Joint-use libraries and partnerships; Joint-use libraries and communities; Expanding horizons; How good are joint-use libraries? (And how do we know?); The future.

It has a good practical feel for professional issues and practice and is readable and succinct. …well produced, clearly laid out book., New Library World…a well organized and useful work suitable for practitioners and students who want a clear and up-to-date introduction to joint-use libraries., New Library World…a valuable book on a genuinely innovative and forward-looking type of library service. It is firmly recommended., Library Review