The second edition of the International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science (IEILS) by Feather and Sturges has been substantially revised and updated to include rapid changes in technology since the first edition was published in 1997. However, the two editions follow the same basic format. The main body of the work is an alphabetical arrangement of subjects or terms found in the fields of information and library science. The entries vary in length from brief definitions of a few sentences to long, signed articles that are followed by numerous references and recommendations for further reading.
Liberal use is made of cross-references, which appear in capital letters in the text, as well as “see also” references. To illustrate the manner in which the various entries are linked, a short paragraph about “SPAM” defines the term and gives its probable origin. In the text, there is a cross-reference to “BANDWIDTH.” The entry for bandwidth has a cross-reference to “BROADBAND,” which in turn has a cross-reference to “INTERNET.” This entry is longer and gives references, a suggestion for further reading, and several “see also” references.
In the preface, the editors explain their viewpoint on the disciplines of library science and the larger field of information science. They state that in planning the IEILS as well as the revisions for the second edition, “We have taken information itself as the basic unit of currency in which we are trading” (p. xvii), with libraries and librarianship being only one part of the information world. The emphasis is on information science rather than librarianship. The theory of information and the ways it is collected, stored, processed, and retrieved form the basis of the publication. This theory along with the ways that information is communicated to those who seek it provide the foundation of the encyclopedia. Twelve major entries or articles (expanded from nine in the first edition) reflect what the editors consider to be the most significant topics for this work. The entries include communication, economics of information, informatics, information management, information policy, information professions, information society, information systems, information theory, knowledge industries, knowledge management, and organization of knowledge. These entries vary from three to fifteen pages and have extensive lists of references and suggestions for further reading. These twelve articles are the theoretical framework that link all the other entries. Many other articles written by specialists on specific topics as well as numerous cross-references and “see also” references support the twelve in-depth articles. These articles provide a general introduction or overview for those unfamiliar with the topic.
The index provides access to terms that might not have a separate entry. An example is the National Library of Medicine, which does not have its own entry but is mentioned by name only (four words) in the description of the Library of Congress. This rather surprises a reader in the United States until one recalls the British orientation of both the editors and the publisher.
At the beginning of the book is a list of abbreviations and acronyms used throughout the book. Illustrations include figures and tables. Many of the entries carried over from the previous edition have been augmented or updated by the editors, who have also made extensive revisions of some entries. Entries include brief biographical information about important people in the fields of librarianship and information science such as Tim Berners-Lee, Melvin Dewey, and Eugene Garfield. Both the old and the new are included. Entries such as the history of Islamic libraries are included with references and suggested further reading, as well as entries on informatics, electronic journals, and virtual libraries. More coverage is given to archives and museums in this edition, and geographic coverage is expanded with information on archives, libraries, and the state of information technology in different parts of the world, including developing countries.
Two hundred ten international contributors from the fields of information and library science are listed as collaborators for the International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science, and about 150 of these specialists contribute nearly 600 entries. Slightly more than half the contributors are from the United Kingdom, several are from various European countries, and there is scattered representation from other places such as Africa, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States.
This work will be very helpful for students of library and information studies and is recommended for large public libraries and academic libraries.