Libraries and Archives: Design and Renovation with a Preservation Perspective by SusanGarretson Swartzburg; Holly Bussey; Frank GarretsonReview by: Ellen Cunningham-KruppaLibraries & Culture, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Summer, 1993), pp. 369-370Published by: University of Texas PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25542585 .

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369

would classify seven as historical museums. In comparison, the city of Beaumont

supports a main public library and three branch libraries. But while Beaumont's

public library system has been around for a long time, most of its museums are less

than twenty years old. These museums represent a part of Beaumont's effort to di

versify its economy, in the case of museums through tourism. They also serve to

preserve some of Beaumont's unique role in the history of the Gulf Coast oil indus

try. All of this conforms nicely with the observations contained in History Curatorship and Beaumont is by no means an atypical case.

Kavanagh's professional background is British and so examples from British

museums dominate his book. At the same time, he is quite familiar with both the

history and current practices of museums in Sweden and the United States, which

also supply examples and case studies for the book. History Curatorship consists of

sixteen chapters divided into three parts. The first part contains five chapters and

is a brief summary of the history of museums in Great Britain since 1850 with some

reference to Swedish developments. Initially, British museums existed to preserve the supposed bucolic agricultural past that was being destroyed by industrializa

tion. Between the two world wars folklife museums appeared in Wales and Scot

land as part of efforts to preserve those regions' unique ethnic cultures. England

lagged behind in these developments, but interest in museums concerned with in

dustrialization and urban life has grown significantly since 1945. The early folklife

approaches have been replaced by more comprehensive regional studies and cul

tural or social historical approaches. Such changes reflect museums' efforts to start

serving a more broad-based and democratic clientele.

The second part of the book deals with the theories and methods of museum

curatorship. Why collect certain artifacts, how to collect them, how to record them, and how to preserve them are all discussed. Oral history and its importance to

history museums are also covered in these six chapters.

Finally, the third part of the book deals with exhibits and the relation of muse

ums to the public. Museums exist to serve the public, which includes making them

feel comfortable and welcome, entertaining them, and educating them.

Anyone familiar with the history of professional librarianship will see close par allels with the growing profession of history curatorship. Kavanagh's book will be of interest to those teaching in library schools that include or have connections

with graduate programs in public history and museology.

Ronald H. Fritze, L?mar University

Libraries and Archives: Design and Renovation with a Preservation Perspective. By Susan

Garretson Swartzburg and Holly Bussey with Frank Garretson. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1991. ix, 225 pp. $27.00. ISBN 0-8108-2420-5.

At some point in their career many librarians and archivists will be involved in the design of a new building or the renovation of an existing facility. And anyone

who has been involved with such a project will assert that there are a plethora of

issues and details that must be carefully considered. Building design is an essential element in meeting the service needs of patrons and the preservation needs of in

formation resources.

Though there is abundant literature on the topic of library and archive design and renovation, relatively few publications have dealt with collection preservation

This content downloaded from 62.122.76.48 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 06:24:54 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

370 LScC/Book Reviews

concerns. This book is therefore a needed resource, existing primarily as a selective

annotated bibliography to literature and resources concerning the design and

renovation of library and archive buildings and related preservation issues. Cita

tions range from historical to technical, emanating from the library, archive, mu

seum, engineering, architecture, testing and standards, and other concerned pro fessions. Key citations are marked with an asterisk throughout the volume.

The book is divided into three parts. Part 1, "The Design of Libraries and the Pres

ervation of Books?A Summary History," covers the history to date of library archi

tecture. The text focuses primarily on American and Western European libraries and

does not address the history of archival repository design. The extensive bibliography at the end of part 1 cites articles and books on areas not discussed in the text.

Part 2, "A Guide to the Literature," reviews the following topics in six chapters:

planning; design, construction, and renovation; the interior; the environment;

safety, security, emergency planning, and insurance; and preservation needs of li

brary and archival collections. Introductions to each chapter provide the reader

with background information and advice, punctuating the complexity of the re

sponsibility of those library and archive professionals involved in designing and

planning facilities. Each chapter concludes with numerous citations to general and

specific topical references.

Useful appendices include a bibliography of case studies, a bibliography of bib

liographies, a

bibliography of journals with information pertaining to planning and building library buildings, and a directory of organizations one might contact

for information and assistance during the planning process. While the authors do not advocate a routine approach to the design and reno

vation of library and archive buildings, the premise that the comfort needs of peo

ple and the preservation needs of collections are compatible pervades the text. A

discussion of the benefits of separate "comfort" environments for people and for

collections of permanent research value should have been included. Providing access

to information is the foundation of all libraries and archives. For libraries and ar

chives whose mission it is to ensure both current and future access to collections of

permanent research value, separate comfort environments for people and collec

tions will ultimately increase the longevity of collections and, therefore, better en

sure their long-term accessibility. This book is generally timely and useful, recommended for the library historian

researching the history of library building design and the practitioner involved in

planning the design or renovation of a library or archive building. The primary

value of the volume is in the annotated bibliographic citations to the wide variety

of resources available that are concerned with planning, design, and renovation of

libraries and archives.

Ellen Cunningham-Kruppa, University of Texas at Austin General Libraries

Big Science: The Growth of Large-Scale Research. Edited by Peter Galison and Bruce

Hevly. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1992. xi, 392 pp. $45.00. ISBN

0-8047-1879-2.

Yet one more volume on the history of institutionally based research in science and

technology has appeared that ignores formal information services and staffs, while giv

ing the impression that the "invisible college" (in Crane's phrase?individuals at the

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