Encyclopedia of Libraries, Librarianship, and Information Science

Encyclopedia of Libraries, Librarianship, and Information Science, Four Volume Set is the definitive, essential, state-of-the-art reference work in this field. The last 40 years have seen a revolution in the way in which information and knowledge has been created, stored, disseminated, and exploited. Seismic shifts are set to continue, with COVID and climate change being but two of the most significant challenges to human existence and endeavor at the present time. The crucial role of library and information services has been recognized and revitalized during the recent pandemic.

This reference is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students, plus teaching staff and librarians who have an interest in this field. Coverage includes:, Types of Libraries, Information Media, AI, Informatics, Metadata, Collection Management and Development, Operation and Management, Information Access/Freedom, and Copyright/Intellectual Property.

• Provides a single source for key information in library and information science, and is the only publication of its type in the field
• Fully comprehensive, current, and truly global in coverage
• Incorporates proven forecasting techniques (e.g., Delphi)
• Underpinned by interdisciplinary approaches
• introduces new chapter templates to ensure content consistency

Professor David Baker has over 30 years’ experience in higher education, including as Principal and Chief Executive of Plymouth Marjon University, and as Deputy Chair of the UK’s Joint Information Systems Committee (Jisc).

He holds a Chair in Strategic Information Management from Plymouth Marjon University. His degrees include an MLS, a PhD and an MBA. He also holds fellowships from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, the Chartered Management Institute and the Royal Society of Arts.

He has written widely in the field of library and information management with 20 monographs and over 100 articles to his credit. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Major Reference Work titled Encyclopedia of Libraries, Librarianship, and Information Science (Elsevier, 2025)

Dr Lucy Ellis is Senior Associate of David Baker Consulting and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, UK. She is currently working as a consultant with a number of HE and FE institutions to transform their governance, research and scholarly activity. Along with David Baker she is Editor-in-Chief of the Elsevier Major Reference Work Encyclopedia of Libraries, Librarianship and Information Science (Elseiver, 2025) and Series Editor for two Elsevier book series dealing with information structures in HE titled Digital Information Reviews and Advances in Information. Her background is as a lecturer, research scientist and project development consultant