The two books lead in somewhat divergent directions.Marshall and Rossman aim to provide the reader with practicalguidance in designing a generic qualitative research proposal,making their book best suited to the needs of students andnovice researchers. Flick's approach, while practical, also aimsto “complexify” the reader's appreciation for the implications ofresearch design choices. This recognition, that specific methods“start from different premises and pursue different aims,”provides added value for the advanced student or researcher.

Stefan KrugSchool of Social Work, Simmons College,

One Place Road, Boston, MA 02115-5898, USAE-mail address: stefan.krug@simmons.edu.

Qualitative Research for the Information Professional: APractical Handbook. By G.E. Gorman and Peter Clayton.London: Facet Publishing, 2005. 2nd edition (distributedby Neal-Schuman). 282pp. $95.00. ISBN 1-85604-472-6.

Qualitative Research for the Information Professional byG. E. Gorman and Peter Clayton is a second edition, revisingand expanding their well-received earlier work. The authors areboth faculty members in information management programs,with distinguished publishing records, and both teach regularlyin the area of research methods. Their familiarity with andunderstanding of a student audience is evident in this book,which is written in a very engaging manner. The authors ac-knowledge that the topic of research can be intimidating. Eventhough, as they point out, research is a critical component of thefield of library and information science (LIS), many practi-tioners are wary of engaging in it, often due to a lack of formaleducation. This text looks to encourage more active participa-tion in the field by introducing the topic in a clear, accessible,and informative style.

While in many cases this text simply updates the firstedition with additional examples and references, the currentwork also includes two new chapters: one on evaluation andone on human resources in knowledge management. Thesection on evaluation is particularly useful, and marks animportant addition. The authors present this chapter from theperspective of evaluating existing research, perhaps for aliterature review, and as such it could stand alone as anexcellent guide to assessing the professional literature ofLIS. At the same time, Gorman and Clayton make clear howthe same criteria apply to evaluating one's own originalresearch and thus place this chapter squarely within thecontext of the overall text. The chapter on human resourcesmanagement ends the book and is actually a case study,

presented as a sample of a finished product of a qualitativeresearch project. This unique chapter is an excellent way tobring closure to the subject by offering a fully developedexample of putting into practice the methods introducedthroughout the text.

The focus is on practical applications rather than theoreticalframeworks, as the text is meant as a how-to-do-it manual forpractitioners in LIS settings. The examples and anecdotes usedthroughout are specific to the field, thus introducing a degree offamiliarity. Further, the authors draw on examples from a vari-ety of information settings, from academic and school librariesto public libraries and archives, so that nearly any practicinglibrarian can find relevant and useful information.

The first five chapters lay the foundation with clear defini-tions of terms and concepts and introductions to methodologyand design. Each of the remaining chapters outlines a specificmethod, including topics such as interviewing, group discus-sions, and observations. The final chapters offer guidance onanalyzing and presenting findings. Each chapter follows anestablished format, beginning with focus questions that set thetheme for the chapter, then offering relevant scenarios andexamples, and ending with discussion questions and sugges-tions for further reading. Taken as a whole, this book serves anexcellent guide to qualitative research in LIS and could beused as a textbook. However, each chapter is self-containedenough to be read individually, allowing practitioners to movethrough the book at will and select areas that are relevant toparticular projects or interests. This book does assume somefamiliarity with research, especially quantitative research, andin fact frequently draws comparisons or points out differencesbetween methods for quantitative and qualitative research.Nevertheless, all terms and concepts are sufficiently defined sothat a novice could easily understand the material without anyprior knowledge.

Overall this is an excellent resource, accessible but not con-descending, and offering relevant and insightful examples. Chap-ters are detailed and yet concise, and the topics flow logicallyand easily. Gorman and Clayton maintain a sense of fun andeven recognize the occasionally absurd aspects of research,making this an enjoyable as well as an informative read. Usefulas either a course textbook or as a handbook for the practicinglibrarian, this resource is highly recommended for any infor-mation professional.

Laura SaundersSimmons College,

Graduate School of Library and Information Science,300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115-6898, USAE-mail address: laura.saunders@simmons.edu.

doi:10.1016/j.lisr.2007.08.003

doi:10.1016/j.lisr.2007.10.001

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