Scientific Libraries

Dr. Tomas Lidman is currently leading a National Committee on Literature at the Ministry of Culture in Sweden. Until 2010 he was a national archivist in Sweden, and prior to this he was University Librarian in Stockholm. Dr. Lidman has overseen a variety of endeavours including project-leader in EU, IFLA, UNESCO, and Vice President of ICA (2005-2009). Since 2003 he has held the Presidency of the Royal Institute of Fine Arts in Stockholm and between 1995 and 2003 he was a national librarian. He took his PhD in History in 1979 and has written several books in History, Librarianship and Library history. In 2008 he wrote Scientific Libraries: Past development and future changes, for Chandos.

• Not like the old days – the dawning of a new era: The 1970s; From cards to computers: The 1980s; A decade of optimism: 1990–2000; Harvest time: 2000–2007; The challenges for libraries in the future.

The reader could not have a safer pair of hands to lead libraries on that particular journey., LCRIt is refreshing to read a book with a distinctly European flavour and citing examples of European libraries and developments within the European library field., Library ManagementI heartily recommend the book to my colleagues in libraries and in professional education. It is a thoughtful review of modern academic library development written from within, but with the very keen understanding of a knowledgeable outside observer., Information Research