Public Library Services for the Poor; Doing All We Can

摘要

As austerity bites ever deeper into our everyday lives perhaps the public library will come into its own. As publishers of this book note "for many the library is the only refuge for information, literacy, entertainment, language skills, employment help, free computer use and even safety and shelter". Noble sentiments, of which our Victorian predecessors would have warmly improved. Clearly, a whole raft of buzzwords are about to impact on the LIS profession: frugality, prudence, thrift, austerity, multi-functioning and "making do". One is reminded of the Bauhaus masters' priceless axiom: "Less is More".