Book Annotation: Examining Library-Museum Collaborations

Dilevko, J. & Gottlieb, L. (2004). The evolution of library and museum partnerships: Historical antecedents, contemporary manifestations and future directions. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

This book presents a thorough analysis of the nature of library-museum partnerships and the historical contributions that these alliances have made. Authors Dilevko and Gottlieb pose the argument that the most potentially productive next phase in the advancement of the library and museum collaborations is the library-museum hybrid within a joint-use facility. Housing a library and museum dedicated to a particular subject under one roof could provide a community with greater opportunities for information literacy and life-long learning. The authors make their case through a report on landmark library-museum partnerships, a synopsis of the history of library-museum collaborations and a concluding blueprint of how the 21st century library-museum could thrive. The charts that list the grant figures for successful library-museum projects are worth examination. Dilevko and Gottlieb have published extensively in the field of library and information science and they demonstrate a credible proposal for the next chapter in the story of library and museum productions.