personal writing style, is compelling enough to overcome the as a vehicle of learning. A short, and careful, explanation of the case study approach to research is given, in the course of careless copyediting: A few sentences end without completing a thought, and there are numerous examples of awkward gram-which the nub of the approach is identified as the study of ''how'' and ''why'' questions in a context and setting where mar; an obvious mistake is the way that the header throughout Chapter 4 consistently misidentifies it as Chapter ''5.'' Perhaps control over events is not vested in the hands of the investigator. The role of the investigator is not to perturb the system being the hardbound edition, published a month after this paperback (i.e., January 1997) has corrected some of the editor's errors studied but, rather, to observe, to ask for clarification, and then to analyze. For even an expert researcher, this is something of found in this first printing.
Each chapter concludes with a list of ''readings,'' mostly a counsel of perfection, because the very nature of case study newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles; unfortunately, research depends on creating a reflective mood in the particithe lack of direct references to specific items, makes it difficult pants which might, in turn, serve to alter perspectives. In other to connect a claim with its source material. In contrast, the 14words, case study research is not a technique which should be page index is specific and complete.
used unless investigators are confident of their own ability to Its flaws being minor, Highway of Dreams is highly recomkeep out of the problems being studied without losing contact mended for anyone interested in the marketing and policy aswith feelings and behavior of the participants. Clayton is well pects of electronic services to the home and business. It is rare aware of this proviso and, in an Appendix, explains the methods when information highway books on this topic appear from used in the research. As an exercise in methodology, it offers knowledgeable authors in ''neutral'' positions; unlike many insights into surveys through interview, observation, and the other writers in this genre, Michael Noll has nothing to sell and study of documents, together with some practical guidance on holds a commercially unpopular viewpoint. Noll witnessed the coping with the problems attendant on these forms of data gathemerging infrastructure from both industry and government perering. It also considers how the validity of the data acquired spectives for most of two decades, and now has the luxury to from these sources can be determined and its reliability strengthcomment from outside of either camp. With our eyes glued to ened. This Appendix should be required reading for any student the future, Noll's book is a timely reminder of the last 30 years taking a research methods course. of experience with new ways of providing electronic informa-Four main case studies are described and analyzed, situated tion and entertainment.
in two academic libraries and one research library in Australia. Two cases are located in the Central Library of a ''new university''; the first case explores technological innovation, and the second the introduction of performance appraisal. The third case Donald O. Case concerns the restructuring of the Branch Libraries Division in School of Library and Information Science an older ''metropolitan university,'' and the fourth reviews or-University of Kentucky ganizational and physical restructuring of a large ''research Lexington, KY 40506-0039 library.'' In keeping with the usual conventions of case studies,