New books by the Information Management School

Published in 2008:

Digital Information Culture: The Individual and Society in the Digital Age
by Luke Tredinnick
Chandos Publishing, 2008

This book is an introduction to the cultural, social and political impact of digital information technologies. It aims to explore how digital information technologies have changed our lives in the early twenty-first century. Digital Information Culture is organised into two sections. The first part of the book, "culture and technology", explores the representation of technology in the discourse of culture, and the kinds of narratives that emerge in response to the anxiety of socio-cultural change. The second part, "digital information culture", examines key themes in the developing socio-cultural landscape of the digital age: textuality; authenticity; knowledge; power; identity, and memory. The book develops a central argument about how the impact of technology is experienced through its destabilising effects on the artefacts of culture and knowledge, and the conflict it introduces between our narratives of our social world, and the changing reality with which we are faced day by day.

"This is an impressive and very useful book. It is impressive in drawing on a wide range of relevant ideas (on history, society, culture, technology) to tease out the ways in which we can validly speak about the cultural aspects of digital information. It is very useful because it will almost instantly join lists of recommended reading wherever information, knowledge and library studies are formally taught […] Chandos have published one of their best recent books with this one. […] Certainly a winner here and, unusually for such a book, one that admirably stays this side of cliché and pomposity." Stuart Hannibus (2008), Ariadne, 55 (April).
Full review available at: http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue55/hannabuss-rvw/

"Digital Information Culture is, like its companion Digital Information Contexts, a thought-provoking book. [...] The book contributes much to the literature on digital culture as an emerging social phenomenon. It reads easily and is a must-read for all interested in digital culture and socio-cultural changes," Library Hi Tech, 26 (4): 688-689.

"Tredinnick's book is a fascinating read that explores the real impact of digital technology on our approach to print and on our traditional ways of working and thinking. It highlights many issues related to narrative and social discourse that capture the reality of the social system, and how this discourse reflects the experience of culture in the digital age," Online Information Review, 33 (1): 208-209.

"This is a book about the influence of information technology on our lives [...] What follows is a fascinating , erudite investigation into the impact of the digital technologies we use daily [...] I know no other book discussing these fields in such a coherent, logical, readible manner [...] Enjoy the book, argue with it - then buy another copy for your library!", Library and Information Update, March, 2006, p. 24.

"For this reviewer Tredinnick's text is the first to cover all the bases in exploring the pervasive cultural change that we have experienced through the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Tredinnick contextualises cultural change and digital technologies in a way that many authors writing on the same subject do not. His knowledge of transdisciplinary theory (across literary criticism, cultural studies, media and communications, information science) provides a holistic perspective on digital culture which offers real insight. Drawing on the legacy of literary criticism and cultural theory embeds Tredinnick's analysis in a broad historical context, which avoids the techno-euphoria of many authors on digital technology. Read it.", Library Review, 39 (3): 236.  

"It is a long time since I read a book as engaging as this one. Tredinnick offers a dynamic and fascinating discussion of the changing culture of information. He touches on many familiar themes – the origins of the digital world, information history, the change to material culture as a result of industrialization in the nineteenth century – but they are connected and discussed with such fluid and engaging prose it becomes a pleasure to rediscover them. [...] makes for fascinating reading and one that will certainly become an invaluable text on my bookshelf." Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 41 (Dec 2009): 249-51.

For more information, see the Digital Information Culture page.

Published in 2007:

Information Architecture for Information Professionals,
by Susan Batley
Chandos Publishing, 2007

This book covers the key aspects of information architecture: core elements of information management - indexing, cataloguing and classification - organising and recording information in the digital environment. The book also focuses on design - specifically user-centred design: designing information systems that support the needs of users, by providing attractive, intuitive interfaces that support a range of information tasks and accommodate a range of individual resources.

Published in 2006:

Digital Information Contexts: Theorectical Approaches to Understanding Digital Information,
By Luke Tredinnick
Chandos Publishing, 2006

"a must-read for all interested in the context of digital information and its place in information science", Online Information Review, 31 (2) 2007, 243-244.

"Contexts is an extremely thought-provoking work and an important one too. I challenge anyone to emerge from reading this book entirely unscathed (if not changed) - this is a work in which the reader will find many areas with which to agree or disagree but not remain neutral. [It] is recommended for graduate and postgraduate students on information management courses, information management professionals, as well as those involved in allied academic fields, such as cultural studies, communications studies, and media studies", Eric Jukes, Alexandria, 19 (2) 139-142.

"It is a most important task of information science to develop a theoretical framework, and a book such as this one, which provides critical analysis of current perspectives, is a most welcome contribution [...] The bredth and focus of this book is impressive. In the special issue of Journal of Documentation about 'Informaton science and the philosophy of science' (Hjørland, 2005) we had proponents of different philosophical approaches in informaton science presenting and discussing their views. In this book are many of the same views presented and discussed by the auther, in addition to other views such as semiotics and complexity theory. This is often done very well with a discussion of the imnplication for information science and also with fine critical evaluations of the presented theories [...] This book is no small contribution as it stands. We badly need insights of this nature in our field. The book would be very useful in a course about the epistemology of informatoin science/information management. I highly recommend it and I also recommend a further discussion and development of the theoretical basis of our field", Birger Hjørland, Journal of Documentation, 63 (5) 2005: 792-800.
Available at: http://dlist.sir.arizona.edu/2129/

"Digital Information Contexts does a fine job of making difficult theoretical concepts accessible to information professionals", Mary M. Manning, Journal of Web Librarianship, 2 (1): 91-93.

"In Digital Information Contexts Tredinnick draws on the overlaps and intersections between information science, cultural and media studies to provide a provocative reconceptualisation of the way in which we think about information itself. [...] This is an ideal text for students of information science, providing a theoretical framework that has been lacking in some aspects of the discipline. For those working towards higher degrees, this text would be particularly helpful in developing overarching theory around research into the role that information plays in society or the practice of information management. For Masters programs this would make an ideal set text.[...] Information management as a profession and academic discipline needs to reflect, reshape and evolve. Tredinnick knows this, noting the changing information and cultural environments in which knowledge is formed. Digital Information Contexts provides a valuable step (perhaps a push) in the right direction" Library Reviews, 59 (3): 235-236.

Published in 2006:

Never be Silent: Publishing and Imperialism in Kenya, 1884-1963
by Shiraz Durrani
Vita Books, 2006

The struggle for independence in Kenya was waged at many levels. Never Be Silent explores how this struggle was reflected in the communications field. It looks at publishing activities of the main contending forces and explores internal contradictions within each community. It documents the major part played by the communications activities of the organised working class and Mau Mau in the achievement of independence in Kenya.

The book contributed to a reinterpretation of colonial history in Kenya from a working class point of view and also provides a new perspective on how communications can be a weapon for social justice in the hands of liberation forces.

Published in 2004:

Information Literacy: a Practitioner's Guide
by Susie Andretta
Chandos Publishing, 2004

Taking an international approach, this book explores two main models of information literacy (IL) : the SCONUL (Society of College, National and University Libraries) Seven Pillars of Information Skills and the IL competencies identified by the ALA (American Library Association). Practical examples for the development of IL skills identified by these models are illustrated using printed and web-based resources. The process of integrating IL provision within a programme of study is outlined to illustrate two strategies underpinning this integration at generic-skills level, the "plug & play" approach, and at subject-specific level, the "research skills approach". A range of diagnostic and assessment methods, to monitor the iterative process of IL skills development, are also presented within these frameworks.

Classification in Theory and Practice: Sorting Out Your Library
by Susan Batley
Chandos Publishing, 2004

This book covers all of the major library classification schemes in use in Europe, UK and US; it includes practical exercises to demonstrate their application. Importantly, the book includes classifying electronic resources. The aim of the book is to demystify a very complex subject, and to provide a sound theoretical underpinning, together with practical advice and development of practical skills. The book fills the gap between more complex theoretical texts and those books with a purely practical approach. The book concentrates purely on classification rather than cataloguing and indexing, ensuring a more in-depth coverage of the topic.

Why Intranets Fail (and How to Fix Them)
by Luke Tredinnick
Chandos Publishing, 2004

Why Intranets Fail (and How to Fix Them) is a practical guide to some of the common problems associated with Intranets, and solutions to those problems. The book takes a unique end-user perspective on the role of intranets within organisations. It explores how the needs of the end-user very often conflict with the needs of the organisation, creating a confusion of purpose that impedes the success of intranet. It sets out clearly why intranets cannot be thought of as merely internal Internets, and require their own management strategies and approaches. The book draws on a wide range of examples and analogies from a variety of contexts to set-out in a clear and concise way the issues at the heart of failing intranets. It presents step-by-step solutions with universal application. Each issue discussed is accompanied by short practical suggestions for improved intranet design and architecture.

"A truly excellent guide to understanding intranet failure", Information World Review, 213 (May 2005), p. 28.

"A very recommendable book", Intranets: Enterprise Strategies and Soluctions, May/Jun 2005, p. 3.

"Combines a mixture of practical experience and academic thoroughness", IntranetFocus.com.
Available at: http://www.intranetfocus.com/information/bookreview.php

"Why Intranets Fail looks at why intranets so frequently become difficult to use and why they fail to deliver what was expected of them" Library and Information Update, 4 (10) 2005, p. 42

"[an] exciting and very practical book [...] it has a very practical approach and can be recommended for those persons involved with the organisation and management of entire intranets", The Electronic Library, 23 (4) 2005, pp. 499-500.

"recommended to practioners involved in intranet design who are looking for a fresh take on intranet design", Online Information Review 29 (4) p. 440.

"an excellent and refreshing view from the perspective of an information professional [...] I often felt myself book marking a number of pages which were particularly relevant to our current situation", The Higher Education Academy
(http://www.ics.heacademy.ac.uk/Books/Reviews/Newreviews/Why%20Intranets%20Fail.shtml)

"the emphasis of this handy volume is not on technological solutions, but on addressing the human an organisational framework within which intrantes exist. The author takes a practical, end-user perspective on intranets, devoting considerable space to discussing different types of user, as well as their expectations and an organisation's needs", NATO Library, http://www.nato.int/structur/library/library-e.htm