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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionseBook editionsThis Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us Allby Marilyn Johnson
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments: Buried in info? Cross-eyed over technology? From the bottom of a pile of paper and discs, books, e-books, and scattered thumb drives comes a cry of hope: Make way for the librarians! They want to help. They're not selling a thing. And librarians know best how to beat a path through the googolplex sources of information available to us, writes Marilyn Johnson, whose previous book, The Dead Beat, breathed merry life into the obituary-writing profession. This Book Is Overdue! is a romp through the ranks of information professionals and a revelation for readers burned out on the clichÉs and stereotyping of librarians. Blunt and obscenely funny bloggers spill their stories in these pages, as do a tattooed, hard-partying children's librarian; a fresh-scrubbed Catholic couple who teach missionaries to use computers; a blue-haired radical who uses her smartphone to help guide street protestors; a plethora of voluptuous avatars and cybrarians; the quiet, law-abiding librarians gagged by the FBI; and a boxing archivist. These are just a few of the visionaries Johnson captures here, pragmatic idealists who fuse the tools of the digital age with their love for the written word and the enduring values of free speech, open access, and scout-badge-quality assistance to anyone in need. Those who predicted the death of libraries forgot to consider that in the automated maze of contemporary life, none of us—neither the experts nor the hopelessly baffled—can get along without human help. And not just any help—we need librarians, who won't charge us by the question or roll their eyes, no matter what we ask. Who are they? What do they know? And how quickly can they save us from being buried by the digital age? Review:"In an information age full of Google-powered searches, free-by-Bittorrent media downloads and Wiki-powered knowledge databases, the librarian may seem like an antiquated concept. Author and editor Johnson (The Dead Beat) is here to reverse that notion with a topical, witty study of the vital ways modern librarians uphold their traditional roles as educators, archivists, and curators of a community legacy. Illuminating the state of the modern librarian with humor and authority, Johnson showcases librarians working on the cutting edge of virtual reality simulations, guarding the Constitution and redefining information services-as well as working hard to serve and satisfy readers, making this volume a bit guilty of long-form reader flattery. Johnson also makes the important case for libraries-the brick-and-mortar kind-as an irreplaceable bridge crossing economic community divides. Johnson's wry report is a must-read for anyone who's used a library in the past quarter century." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Book News Annotation:In witty and fast-moving prose, Johnson (whose writing career
includes obituary writer for Life) relates how and why librarians are
more indispensable than ever in the age of information, likening
their values and importance to Girl Scouts and classical heroes, as
they fight ignorance, keep the mountains of information in order,
ensure free access to their library's materials, and valiantly assist
every visitor who arrives at the library door. The names and stories
of many librarians are featured, including the Connecticut Four,
librarians who blog, librarians who teach computer skills, and
librarians who steadfastly fight for their patrons' right to privacy.
The volume is not indexed.
Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) About the AuthorMarilyn Johnson owns multiple library cards and uses them often. As a staff writer for Life, she specialized in writing obituaries of celebrities who weren't quite dead. Her first book, The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries, was a Borders Original Voices selection and a finalist for the Barnes &Noble Discover Great New Writers Award. She lives with her husband, Rob Fleder, and their family in the Hudson Valley in New York. What Our Readers Are SayingAdd a comment for a chance to win!Average customer rating based on 1 comment: 
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