Knowledge and Knowing in Library and Information Science: A Philosophical Framework (review)

school (Tony Doyle), library support for the blind (David Faucheux), insensitivity to foreign libraries (Bruce Jensen), library resources in Third World countries (Gracelyn Cassell and Faye Reagon), and the lack of minority librarians (Barbara Bishop). If this is how the authors describe traditional library culture, perhaps we should all welcome the new technologies. As further evidence, Carla Stoffle, perhaps the best known author in the volume, titles one of her sections “New Technology’s Role in Reaching Those Who Have Been Traditionally Underserved by Libraries.” The good old days often become so only in retrospect. But I do not want to push this point too far because I hope, like Ms. Feinberg, that the profession will continue to support the positive elements of the traditional culture of print and libraries, especially reading for pleasure and a strong service tradition. Is this an essential book for the professional development of academic librarians? No. Does it provide an opportunity for a few hours of enjoyable reading while still feeling as if you are fulfilling your obligation to keep up with library literature? Yes, at least for the most part. The personal stories are refreshing, showing the human side of libraries and librarianship. My final point comes from the cynic in me, wondering whether stories such as these would do more to gain additional financial support for libraries than all the objective research studies, replete with statistics that have become the norm in the current business-oriented climate.