In today’s world where we can Google any subject, download oodles of information, and basically get anything we want to know about errrr…. anything we want to know…. the librarian may seem like an outdated concept. After all, who really needs to talk to a person when we can just find it out ourselves if we just invest enough time in researching and fact-finding and….
Let me share a story. Up until about a year ago I did not use my library. Sure, I have been a book lover since I was 5, but if a book was out there I wanted to read, I bought it. It was my love of books that eventually drew my back to the library but even then I had a vision of walking into a building that would be outdated and not appeal to me. What I walked out of the library with was a new way to find books I love…
and a library card.
Within the brick walls of our library I found librarians that were quick to help me… no longer was I digging through a card file to find a book… now there are computers that will not only give me the book information, but tell me if it is currently in house. If I had a question, the reference desk had people willing to help me that could talk books with me…. one of my favorite subjects!
Through wit and facts, Marilyn Johnson takes us the reader through the value of our Librarians chapter by chapter. In this quick and information bursting book I find it bursting with what it takes to a librarian – then and now.. and how these amazing people work hard to stay on the cutting edge. And lets not forget the libraries themselves… these buildings scream – or in this case whisper, “community”.
I used this book as a reference guide and enjoyed the different chapters. I found myself laughing out loud in the section on The Blog People. Librarian bloggers – now why had I not considered that before? I don’t want to give too much away but the content in this particular section was delightful and hilarious…. Librarians venting about their jobs in some cases… and you know (oh you know!) I have to look them up on-line for myself.
Chapter by chapter I became more aware of the incredible service our librarians provide. While this book wasn’t a quick read, some of the chapters felt a bit wordy, I did find the book as a whole to be interesting.
If you are a library frequenter… or have considered becoming one but think the whole concept is outdated, you will want to be giving this book a try. There is a whole lot more going on within the wall s of your library than you may think – and chances are like me – you may be pleasantly surprised.
“Remember,” the representative from the Library Association reminded the sea of librarians as they prepared to meet the politicians, “we aren’t asking on our behalf. We are asking on behalf of of those thousands behind us. We’re asking on behalf of the children, on behalf of the tens and hundreds of millions of people who use libraries to develop their skills and to find jobs…”
~page 261
For those of you who are in an area that has a library, I highly encourage you to support it. Walk in those doors, get a library card – and prepare yourself to be amazed.
Amazon Rating
The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map has been updated to include This Books Is Overdue
I received this book as part of TLC Book Tours
Book Journey 
This sounds like a wonderful book !
It was an interesting look closer at Librarians Rebecca! 😀
Great review! As a librarian I am glad to hear that you use and enjoy your library. I will have to check this book out. I remember reading about it in some library magazine or another. I didn’t realize there was a chapter on librarian bloggers. I look forward to reading that chapter too! I usually don’t vent though and keep my posts to my thoughts on books but I bet there is some hilarious stuff there. We have all kinds of stories to tell…
Christina – yes there is some pretty crazy stiff in that chapter including one librarian shutting down her blog due to the backlash she was getting from co workers.
I don’t remember where I first heard about this book, maybe it was this blog (probably). I’m very excited to check this book out!
Its worth a read Bonnie. 😀
I’m going to have to keep an eye out for this one. Maybe I’ll see if it’s at my local library.
You would think this book would be available at all libraries Elena – hope you find it. 😀
One of the first things I did when I moved to New York was sign up for a NYPL card. I’m always amazed more people don’t take advantage of the incredible (and free) services libraries provide!
Liz I dont know what took me so long! I use my library all the time now 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one Sheila! I think it would make a fabulous gift for a librarian as well, or maybe even someone in your book club? I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy for myself.
Thanks for being on the tour!
Thanks Heather- it was fun!
I enjoyed this book as well, my review will be published tomorrow here: http://manoflabook.com/wp/?p=989
I am excited to read your thoughts on this!
Sounds great! Putting it on my TBR, to get at my library, of course!
Oh good Joy! Hope you enjoy it!
One of the other aspects of current library usage (in this day of technological advances) is being able to request books online.
I’ve been doing this for a few years, which is better than going there and not finding what I want, or requesting it in person. Then I just sit back and wait for the e-mail telling me my book is in.
Just before I came to your blog now, I had an e-mail telling me that a book I requested just the other day is now waiting for me.
Isn’t that fun?
Another thing…when my computer was on the fritz a few months ago and while I was waiting for the technician to come out to fix it, I went to the library to use a computer. Our branch has a whole room full of computers with Internet access.
While it’s not as good as working on my own, it’s better than nothing in a pinch.
This book sounds great…I’ll have to check it out.
Greta points Laurel – I too use my online library reserve and love that I can check book availability form home.
Ok…here is the thing…I worry about germs on library books…I just can’t get past it…I love my books to be brand new and clean…I don’t like opening the pages and finding grubby mysterious marks…Ick ick ick…I think that is why I love me my Kindle…no marks anywhere!!! I am sort of just teasing…but you make an awesome point and librarians are awesome…
LOL Patty! There is actually a part in this book that talks about the condition some of the books come back in… it was enough to make me make sure that any book I check out is clean 😀
Now my gravatar disappeared…I changed it and it won’t show up on your blog!!!
I see it Patty – it is here 😀
I’m on the tour for this one too and have just started reading it. After reading your review I’m excited to continue reading!
I hope you enjoy it Kathleen! I found some chapters more interesting than others but for the most part found it informative.
I love libraries though it’s been a while since I’ve actually gone. Sounds like a great book. I’ll have to look for this one. Do you know if it’s available in stores yet or only online ie. Amazon?
Yes Shirley – if you click on the picture of the cover it is linked to the Amazon page. 😀
I love my library! I try to go by every Saturday morning and just hang out for a while. Find some books, do some writing…two goals which sometimes conflict with each other as I keep jumping up from my writing to look at that intriguing title on that shelf over there…
Cheryl that is one thing I do not do but would like to! I am always running around and quickly drop in the library but need to take some time to hang out one of these days!
I’m reading this right now for the tour and enjoyed your review. i’m looking forward to the chapter on bloggers 🙂
Have fun Stacy!
As you may know, I’m a librarian (and blogger) and I never thought about how others may view the library who haven’t frequented one in a while. Libraries really are a great resource for people from all walks of life and to top it all off – free! Hopefully this book, and your post, will inspire others to visit their local libraries too! 🙂
I hope so Sami – I am a n example of a reader who did not use their library….
Now I use it all the time 😀
It was only about 3 years ago I began using my public library (I spent most of my time in a university library). I expected something dated and was surprised at how contemporary and full of life it is. I love books, using databases and helping people so it felt logical to to be a librarian. I’ m now going to school so I can be.
I liked Johnson’s book, too. I looked up the book cart drills on you tube. They’re pretty quirky and funny.
Really Chelle – I hadnt looked on you tube but now…. I have to 😀
Since I grew up using and loving the library, I’ve wanted to read this book since I first became aware of it. Maybe my library has a copy? :p
If your library does not have it Hannah – they should! 😛
Seems like it, yep. 😀
I adored this book!
It was a fun one Jill!
I’m the daughter of a school librarian and so I’ve always been very comfortable in librarires. In fact, when I got out of college, married and moved 1500 miles to a culturally deprived town in western PA, going to the library saved my sanity and probably my marriage. It’s been interesting to me to see how libraries and librarians have evolved in the digital age as this book described (although I did find the information about the librarians on Second Life to be a little creepy). I smile every time I think about the librarian who sat with me, my laptop and my Nook and helped me figure out how to download e-books from the library’s website. Definitely not my mother’s library!
Susan I love your comment here! Libraries, as you are saying here, are so much more than a place to get a good read. 😀
Alright, I need that book. I’m a librarian who blogs.. 😀 I must see what that chapter holds. What a fun book, how did you hear about it? Maybe your local library?
We have a library in every small town in the suburbs of Chicago and I often do the library version of bar-hopping, which can bring me home loads of books. I actually never used to buy books when I worked as a circulation clerk at a public library and really need to go back to that mantra. The 7 bookshelves in my apartment have started to overflow.
I love working in a school library now, it’s tons of fun. Alright, going to see which local library has that book…
I hope you find it Kristen!
I love libraries: they truly are amazing spaces. I work at the University library and frequent the local library when I can. Every time I enter the building, I am awe struck at the possibilities. There is so much knowledge and so many wonderful stories nestled in those shelves. Plus, for me, the library is an icon of productivity. I get so much done when I head over there with my books and plop down at a desk or, even better, a comfy couch/chair. Still, I think that this is definitely a book I’m going to want to read. I find libraries to be fascinating and this might be a good way to discover even more about libraries.
Jennifer awesome comment! Libraries are the unsung hero of the book world!
Although I do not check many books out of the library myself, the library is at least a weekly jaunt for Bebe Boy James and I; he will check out his weekly Reading Buddy book (the 4th graders read to the kindergartners each week), and usually some sort of atlas or reference or weird fact book (he has an obsession) and one or two readers. I do think librarians are under-rated; they are intelligent, educated, and they have to find a way to tactfully tell parents (and this is from a true article where the mom was complaining about it), “No; I CAN”T watch your child while you go into a different section”. (since when is it OK to ask a perfect stranger, even a librarian, to watch your child in a big public, anyone from anywhere can walk right in and out, space? Anyway, this book sounds great! I think it belongs on my shelf!
Juli e- I wonder if all boys have that obsession with facts? Both my boys loves trivia and the Guiness book of world records… every Christmas I would get them the latest version. 😀