ABSTRACT

The book does not need the man, the man needs the book. This is an aphorism-a clever statement that explains the general truth. The book contains what man needs; it stores all of human knowledge. Therefore, man must cultivate the culture of using the book. Over the years, man devised various formats to store knowledge, ranging from stone, clay, papyrus, parchment or vellum, paper to micro forms, culminating in all sorts of print and non-print materials. Today, the format is even virtualelectronic and digital. These sources ofinformation are there for the user, systematically arranged forhis use and stored forready retrieval and use. The book is largely no longer in print format only, the non-print (electronic/digital), and by implication, virtual information resources, have become the trend in this information age. Though many tilt towards these virtual information resources buthybridization is advocated because until society goes completely virtual, print resources are still indispensable. We need not close the book on books and put our whole trust on what is now called the virtual library, surely, the library userneeds the virtual library. He also needs the real not artificial storehouse of knowledge.

Perhaps, Google has become the library and the librarian ofthe future. But, this is not an exclusive statement. The book and the library still subsist, necessitating the production ofa book such as Library Services and Uses in theDigitalAge. The authoris a veteran librarian in the university setting who has painfully watched the almost consistent non-use oflibrary space created forthe user. The authorbeckons on the userto step forward again to use the store of knowledge to avail themselves ofthe services oftrained information-cum-knowledgehandler-the librarian in the information age. The book is sufficiently comprehensive and has an index with all acronyms fully spelt out. It is written in style, put in ten chapters, covering many areas oflibraries and librarianship; information, its concept and definition; ICT(use and application); intellectual property rights (their origin and concept). Information is seen in this book as a commodity that must be  marketed as an economic resource and as the essence of knowledge and wisdom. Library routines are treated undertechnical and readerservices. Technical services are behind-the-scene activities of the library while reader services are the very activities of the library that brings the library, the librarian and the user into perfect harmony. These areas are treated in great depth. Most fundamentally, this book treated serials in the context of their management, historical evolution, their format and methods ofsecuring electronic serials Material resources and their conservation and preservation were also the concern ofthis book. The scope and readership ofLibrary Services and Users in theDigitalAge can be quite extensive. It has materials to appeal to undergraduate and research students, for the professional wishing to get fine details in practice and forthe interested readerwho wants to know about library and information science.

I have read this book cover to cover with insight and appreciation and would naturally recommend it for students of library and information science at any level, the library users and the inquisitive reader who seeks the right orientation. This book is well written and I recommend it to everyone