I was very intrigued over the concept behind This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All because I recently started read through all of the children’s picture books at my local library. (You can journey my progress with me at Reading My Library.) Author Marilyn Johnson spent a good while researching the effect that librarians have and continue to have on society. In this book she focuses on the importance of librarians, while also discussing their changing role in today’s society.
Johnson isn’t so much passionate about the topic, I’d say, as she is intrigued by it. In fact, she started researching and writing this book in response to the work she did for her previous book, The Dead Beat, which is about obituaries. (She’s kind of writing off the beaten path, wouldn’t you say?) When writing The Dead Beat, she came across a few obituaries for librarians that really sparked her interest and curiosity in this peculiar breed of folk. She wanted to know more about them, where they’ve come from and what they are doing now.
This Book Is Overdue! is definitely off beat. Johnson seems especially fascinated by librarians who probably were not your grandmother’s type. Johnson finds librarians with pierced noses, ones who talk loudly and use foul language when they are off the job and particularly librarians who blog, most fascinating and somewhat amusing. I wouldn’t necessarily say that Johnson was irreverent in writing this book, because she is just reporting her findings. But I do think that the language and subject matter sometimes discussed is going to be a turn off to more conservative readers (as it was, in fact, to me).
I liked the strong points that Johnson made on behalf of librarians who work to preserve information so that we can find it when we need it. One of my favorite paragraphs in the book reads as follows:
“If we are helping build or create something, save a town landmark, fight for freedom, launch a field of study; if we survive a disaster or witness a miracle – if we do anything with our life besides watch television – we might want to document it somehow and save the evidence. Then again, forget that qualifier; someone who did nothing but watch TV might be able to tell us a great deal about the history of television in the twenty-first century. We are all living history, and it’s hard to say now what will be important in the future. One thing’s certain, though: if we throw it away, it’s gone.”
In Johnson’s research of librarians and what they are about, she seems to have developed a fondness and admiration for the men and women who save history for the rest of us. Instead of This Book Is Overdue! being a writing project about a curiosity, although it began as that, it turned into a healthy respect and I enjoyed the journey she herself went on.
One thing that was pointed out in this book is that people rather enjoy the idea of their grandmother’s librarian. I know that I enjoy taking my son to the library where my husband went when he was growing up. I also have very fond memories of librarians who cared about me and my interests when I was growing up. My favorite librarian was named Michelle. She saved an American Girls poster for me from a book fair that she went to. She saved a Hank the Cowdog poster for my brother. My brother still has that poster! We loved our library and we loved our librarian. Some things are worth preserving and fighting for – libraries and the people who live in and through them are one of those things.
Would you like to read a copy of this book? We are pleased to announce that the publisher has offered a copy to one of you (U.S and Canadian residents only). To see what all the fuss is about, (or to further secure your opinion on the importance of libraries and librarians), leave a comment below.
The winners of last week’s contests are:
Sea World Library: #15 – Marj McClendon
S for Shamrock: #27 – Nanci K
Oh Joy! stationery line: karen k
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Care to join me in supporting your library by reading through it? Come visit Reading My Library and see where the journey takes you!
Carrie comes by her love of the library honestly, having been loved by librarians from an early age. Michelle the librarian being someone responsible for Carrie’s continued love of reading, she blogs in honor of Michelle through the books she talks about at Reading to Know and Reading My Library.
Kirsten T. says
Sounds interestiing…especially given the quirkiness of the librarians I know. Thanks!
Annette W says
I have two librarian friends I’d love to share this with! Love it!
Chris K says
This sounds like a fascinating read!
Amy says
I would love to read this book!
Rita says
I really liked the quote you included in your review, maybe because I am writing memoirs. I needed that reminder now.
I would share this book with the librarian who is helping me find resources for my writing project.
Julia says
I used to work for a college library…would love to read this.
edj says
Ooh! I want to read this one, and I have several librarian friends to share it with too 🙂 (including one that uses bad language! 😉
Jody says
It sounds interesting. I use to work in the library during college as part of my work/study program.
Jody
Kelly Holt says
I love my library and try to take my kids there every week, when I was little I used to want to get stuck the library or a book store overnight so I could just browse everything at my leisure. Will definately have to add this book to my “to read” list, thanks for the chance to win a copy.
katklaw777 says
My son has been working at the library for 3 years now and he loves it. I used to volunteer when I was in HS…library’s are cozy. Thanks.
Sheri says
I am a school librarian aka “media specialist” and would love to read this book. I have always loved libraries!!
Heather (Page Turner) says
This looks intriguing! Please enter me!
Wendy says
Count me in! Sounds wonderful!
DanaB says
Count me in, too…it’s on my list in the event that I’m not the lucky winner!
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Callista says
I love libraries and librarians so I would totally be interested!
Michele Anne Jaquays says
My librarian friends are great…would love to share this with my book club…we meet in the liabrary
Amy says
As a librarian, I’d like to read this book! You know, people think we’re b-o-r-i-n-g! 😉
Sarah E says
I’m a library and information science grad student and would love to read this book. Please enter me in this giveaway!
Judy Dudley says
Hi, Carrie! I’d love to win this book. I am a librarian (no, I do not have a bun in my hair!) and I’d like to read what others observe about us.
Thank you!
Stephanie's Mommy Brain says
I toyed with the idea of majoring in library science but opted for history instead.
Pam says
As a library assistant I’m anxious to read this book. It’s already on my tbr list. I’d love to win a copy.