An Introduction To Library Science

by Pierce Butler

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Genres: Nonfiction

140 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Introduction to Library Science by Pierce Butler

Deservedly lauded as a classic of the field, this book is a must read for the would-be librarian. Butler’s treatment of the subject is ambitious, yet well-rounded and succinct. The topical division of the study (i.e. scientific, sociological, psychological, historical, and methodological), although seemingly intuitive, was likely to have been a direct result of its necessity; a necessity, which could only be inherent in a work which attempts to establish the rudimentary core and theoretical basis for a [then:] nascent academic discipline.

Temporality is a key factor to consider when digesting its contents; in other words, as this is a text which was published during the early 1930s, it is beneficial for the reader to interpret its central thesis using a lens of period historicity, both social and intellectual. For one, it is crucial to understand that this inaugural, comprehensive survey was executed during a period in library history when the utilitarian-driven vocational facets of the field were only [at that time:] recently undergoing the complex process of mechanization which sought to ensure recognition of supremacy for patron services for posterity, at least in terms of its status as an issue with an immediate and tangible impact. Prior to this period, public accessibility for collections was in a state of developmental infancy and libraries were most often private, or at least in operation through the subscription model –library as privilege, not as right. Secondly, the text contains many of the tenet, attitudes, and tropes of the early twentieth century, so some of the ideas it presents may seem antiquated and out-of-touch with a number of our current sensibilities which have framed by political-correctness. Moreover, the [then:] rising intellectual reactions to the controversial theories of Darwin, Marx, Weber, Freud, and other titans of the late-modern philosophical atmosphere have left a palpable impression on the author’s treatment of the subject. Taking all of these factors into consideration, however, does not serve to discredit the work in slightest. It endures as a critical, thought-provoking book despite its unavoidable shortcomings and I would confidently endorse it as a first-class read for anyone interested in information studies, be they amateurs or professionals. Reading this book is definitely worth the comparatively minimal effort required to attain at least some measure of its lasting merit.