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gadrake 's review for:
The Library Book
by Susan Orlean
This simply fascinating book blends a true-crime arson case, library architectural successes and mishaps, and perhaps most importantly documents the changing landscape of how regular people use libraries. Highly readable, this will appeal to all concerned with issues related to access to information and how libraries positively affect their communities.
When the Los Angeles Public Library tragically burned in 1986, many concerns needed to be reconsidered. Susan Orlean takes readers back to that library's earliest days and then over the ensuing decades describes the leadership, the changing landscape of Los Angeles, and the habits of patrons, some of which are downright amusing as in during Prohibition all of the home brewing books were stolen.
The profession has changed from mostly male librarians to mainly female. Tax dollars are always in high demand and often deficient, especially for aging buildings. Outreach to niche groups (homeless, job seekers, immigrants, teens, non-English speakers, and more) is growing exponentially. How patrons use libraries is all over the map. Yes, there is very poor behavior at times (librarians have lots of stories), yet as the LA library got on its feet again, there was clear evidence of the value that libraries provide to any community.
Inspiring!
When the Los Angeles Public Library tragically burned in 1986, many concerns needed to be reconsidered. Susan Orlean takes readers back to that library's earliest days and then over the ensuing decades describes the leadership, the changing landscape of Los Angeles, and the habits of patrons, some of which are downright amusing as in during Prohibition all of the home brewing books were stolen.
The profession has changed from mostly male librarians to mainly female. Tax dollars are always in high demand and often deficient, especially for aging buildings. Outreach to niche groups (homeless, job seekers, immigrants, teens, non-English speakers, and more) is growing exponentially. How patrons use libraries is all over the map. Yes, there is very poor behavior at times (librarians have lots of stories), yet as the LA library got on its feet again, there was clear evidence of the value that libraries provide to any community.
Inspiring!