Working for patients: what future for libraries?

^* The Government White Paper and the eight working papers which have followed it, despite the lack of detail, constitute the most radical in the recent series of NHS reorganizations, 1974–88. Each of the papers covers a major issue. A good summary of all eight was published in The Health Service Journal, 1989, 2 March, 254–7.
is likely to have a number of implications for library services in the National Health Service once the proposals are implemented. Here three librarians—Michael Carmel ^{? ?} Michael Carmel's paper first appeared in the BPMF Medical Library Bulletin for May 1989.
, Roy Tabor ^{? ?} The papers by Roy Tabor and Anne Willis are based on papers presented at a meeting of LAMHWLG at LAHQ, London, 8 June 1989.
, and Anne Willis ^{? ?} The papers by Roy Tabor and Anne Willis are based on papers presented at a meeting of LAMHWLG at LAHQ, London, 8 June 1989.
—describe the ways in which they feel libraries and librarians may be affected by the changes and highlight the issues which will be of increasing importance for both, such as medical audit, performance indicators and quality measures. The common themes which emerge are an acknowledgement that the changes herald risks as well as opportunities, and that it is essential for librarians to adopt a positive and constructive approach to them and ensure that they are fully involved with developments.

     

Planning for the future?

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Brazil: Has the Country of the Future Become the Country of the Present for Book Publishing?

This article analyses the growth of the Brazilian book market in the decade from 2004 to 2013 and compares it to Brazil’s GNP growth. It also studies the recent developments of three factors that should contribute to the performance of the Brazilian book industry: the growth of the middle class, the decrease of functional illiteracy and the higher number of college institutions and college students in the country. This article shows that despite these factors, the Brazilian book industry is underperforming and not living up to its potential.     

Reading the Signs: What is Really Happening with Digital Publishing in China?

Based upon a recent review of the relevant literature in both English and Chinese, this paper assess the current state of and future prospects for digital publishing in China. It addresses developments both in the context of ongoing technological and organizational change and with regard to the wider social and cultural dimensions. Embodying a simulated SWOT exercise it considers the current and likely future state of digital publishing in China through the eyes of western publishers seeking to do business in that country. Digital publishing in China is still in its infancy, while perhaps remaining more opaque to western observers than was expected. Issues around ownership, industry structure, operating platforms, stakeholders, piracy and intellectual property remain critical. Perhaps more than anything, and certainly much more than in the West, the issue of culture, not only in terms of national values and perspectives but also in terms of how things are done, remains a potent influence on business relationships with foreigners. In the West this continues to feed perceptions of legal and commercial uncertainties, risks to intellectual capital and obstacles to the production and distribution of knowledge and ideas. Whatever the perceived downside to such phenomena however, China is still regarded as a major growth market for western publishers. It concludes that whereas there are many opportunities for both parties, and that both can learn from each other, the learning curve is likely to be much steeper on the western side, owing to the significance of the social and cultural dimension.     

What Is Reference Publishing?

No abstract available for this article.     

21st‐century rights management: why does it matter and what is being done?

‘The answer to the machine is in the machine’ – but what is the answer? At the end of the first decade of the 21st century we are seeing an explosion of rights management issues, as well as the emergence of many products and services that may provide all – or at least some – of the solution for publishers. International standards are also in place. Strong intellectual property protection is the cornerstone of an orderly digital marketplace. That market is for content + rights. Are our rights management practices fit for purpose? In this paper we provide an overview of rights management in publishing at the start of the 21st century, a summary of what is at stake, and an overview of the challenges and opportunities that await publishers.     

Error 404: or, what is the shelf-life of printed Internet guides?

Many publishers are producing books loaded with directions for finding useful Internet sites in a particular subject area. The moderate costs make them seem to be attractive additions to a collection. However, given the ephemeral nature of the World Wide Web, can a print resource be published with sufficient shelf life to justify purchase? This study evaluates some of these Internet guides for post-publication accuracy. In evaluating nine books published between two and three years ago, the researchers checked 3,941 URLs. In reviewing the data, the authors found that some books retained their value quite well, whereas others did not. The article presents the details of this study and offers selection criteria for identifying those web guidebooks that will increase the value of the collection.     

Digital Publishing in Developing Countries: The Emergence of New Models?

In developing countries, where traditional publishing faces enormous challenges, digital may work as an accelerator that could help local actors to skip a stage and position themselves at a much more advanced level. However, for domestic players to really benefit from the electronic era, it will be essential for them not to adopt systems implanted from outside on an as is basis, but rather to invest in new models better suited for the local people’s expectations and requirements.     

What does the British Library do for medical librarians?

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Who is Publishing Diverse Books Best?

Small independent publishers are frequently lauded as the bastions of diversity while the Big Five are vilified as the primary contributors to the overwhelming whiteness of book publishing—yet no statistical data has been offered to support either claim. Moreover, the overall percentages of authors of color have remained the same year after year (Low in Where is the diversity in publishing? The 2015 diversity baseline survey results. Lee and Low (blog), 2016). The following study is a comparison of the Big Five publishers and small independent publishers with respect to author diversity. As social media outlets are now claiming to change the landscape of publishing by making diverse books more accessible to readers, data was sourced from an independent, reader-driven list to determine which publishers—if any—are promoting authors of color and whether their books are making it into the hands of readers.