| Two Web-based voluntary surveys---of librarians who write book reviews and of academic library administrators---reveal an array of opinions on such topics as: classification of book reviews as a "professional activity" within librarianship; how book reviews should be prepared and written; what the book reviewer's current role is; how that role fits into the hiring, tenure, and promotion process; and the future of that role in a world of online reviews. By analyzing the survey responses of librarian-book reviewers and academic library administrators, an understanding can be gained of how satisfied librarians and academic library administrators are with the role of book reviewing within librarianship and how, if at all, that role should change in an age of online and electronic content and reviews. |
