Fidelia review5/10/2023 Why is only one respondent chosen for three rather different Nordic countries, while eight are interviewed in Spain? Having in mind the list of acknowledgements, one can presume that many more respondents could be available for interviews using online options. In this respect, the approach to the data collection is also raising doubts. One can understand the pragmatic underpinning of the differences between the chapters and the data, but this does not remove the evident deficiency of the study - the inconsistent and somethimes fragmentary treatment of the topic depending on the accessibility of data. However, this makes one feel that the book is composed of separate chapters based on rather different premises and data and does not consist a coherent study as the title would suggest. This also adds to the trust that a reader can feel towards the text and its author, especially, as she openly discloses her bias at the start of the book. This inconsistency of presentation is understandable and demonstrates the common sense approach of the author when the less know contexts are covered not as exhaustively as the ones that are close to her own research. On the other hand, some chapters, e.g., on French, Norwegian and Yougoslavic documentation and information science, include more material on conceptual approaches of particular researchers, while others are gliding through the descriptions of the events, institutions and people. The chapters on the countries are rather descriptive and the most analytical effort on examining the terminological and conceptual issues is moved to the Chapter 5: In search of the identity and the object of discipline. Having in mind that the author has mainly relied on English publications (except for France) and oral histories told by her interviewees, the accounts of each country are quite impressive, though not derived from traditional historical sources. Anyone who would like to get an overview of how library and information science has emerged and developed in any of the seven countries can get a reasonably good understanding of general trends and present situation as well as correct facts and plausible interpretation of them. On the other hand, the countries that she is exploring are quite different and it would be difficult to find a suitable umbrella term for a general explorative study of their library and information studies.Īll in all, the heroic deed undertaken by the author has been accomplished and the foundation for further development of the topic is laid. It has also allowed her to account for the limitation of the study: text of European origins of any area of study that does not include German and Russian traditions, let alone the United Kingdom, where the terms 'information scientist' and 'information science' were invented, does not exactly deserve the title. This experience and knowledge has helped her to identify the key moments and the most important features in the historical development of library and information science in the countries that she is focusing on. She is aware of differences in traditions and is good at spotting relationships and influences between them. Thus, she is acquainted with cultural differences within academia, library and information science institutions, and the development of libraries. She worked in different French universities and at present is a professor at Aix-Marseille University. Then she moved to France and completed her Master's and doctoral degrees in Information and Communication Sciences there. Fidelia Ibekwe's native country is Nigeria where she received a Bachelor's degree. The hero of the review is the author of this interesting study, which presents the review of the development of library and information science in France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and former Yugoslavia (or the Balkan countries). Thus, seeing the book on the European origins of library and information studies I immediately felt conflicting emotional response: admiration of a heroic attempt of the author and sceptic disbelief that it could be successful. Languages pose additional challenges for a bold researcher as the origins of these study areas usually are local, rather than global and foreign or international influences are interpreted in a very particular national context. (Studies in Information, 13).Īttempting research of the European origins of any study area may be challenging as it is quite problematic to account for historical, economic, political and social differences or variety of traditions in many diverse countries, especially, in any culturally bound area of social sciences and humanities. European origins of library and information science.
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