Library Research Guides: National Library Week: Books About Libraries

Circulating Books

America's Library: The Story of the Library of Congress 1800-2000 by James Conaway; Edmund Morris (Introduction by); James H. Billington (Foreword by) The Library of Congress, considered by many to be the greatest library on earth, holds over 110 million items--books in 450 languages, irreplaceable national documents, priceless art works, and objects of cultural fascination. From a modest collection of 740 books purchased by the Congress in 1800, the Library has grown to house hundreds of miles of bookshelves. Laid end to end, they would stretch from Washington, D.C., to Chicago. This book tells the continuously interesting story of the first two hundred years of the Library of Congress. It is a vast history, filled with an immense cast of characters ranging from presidents, poets, journalists, and congressmen to collectors, artists, curators, and eccentrics. James Conaway centers this history around the thirteen men who have been appointed by presidents to lead the Library of Congress. The author investigates how the Librarians’ experiences and contributions, as well as the Library’s collections, have reflected political and intellectual developments in the United States. Each Librarian confronted great challenges: the entire Library collection was lost when the British burned the Capitol in 1814; in the 1940s, a backlog of one and a half million objects waited to be catalogued; the gigantic task of replacing the card catalogue with a computerized system was undertaken in the 1980s. Yet each Librarian also enjoyed the excitement of acquiring unique treasures--from Walt Whitman’s walking stick to the papers of the Wright brothers, from the Civil War photographs of Mathew Brady to the archives of Leonard Bernstein. This lively account of the Library of Congress and those who guided its progress over two centuries is the history of an American institution that today is truly a library to the world, serving readers and researchers everywhere.
Call Number: Z733.U6 C595 2000
ISBN: 0300083084
Publication Date: 2000
The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer To save ancient Arabic texts from Al Qaeda, a band of librarians pulls off a brazen heist worthy of Ocean's Eleven in this "fast-paced narrative that is...part intellectual history, part geopolitical tract, and part out-and-out thriller" (The Washington Post). In the 1980s, a young adventurer and collector for a government library, Abdel Kader Haidara, journeyed across the Sahara Desert and along the Niger River, tracking down and salvaging tens of thousands of ancient Islamic and secular manuscripts that were crumbling in the trunks of desert shepherds. His goal: to preserve this crucial part of the world's patrimony in a gorgeous library. But then Al Qaeda showed up at the door. "Part history, part scholarly adventure story, and part journalist survey....Joshua Hammer writes with verve and expertise" (The New York Times Book Review) about how Haidara, a mild-mannered archivist from the legendary city of Timbuktu, became one of the world's greatest smugglers by saving the texts from sure destruction. With bravery and patience, Haidara organized a dangerous operation to sneak all 350,000 volumes out of the city to the safety of southern Mali. His heroic heist "has all the elements of a classic adventure novel" (The Seattle Times), and is a reminder that ordinary citizens often do the most to protect the beauty of their culture. His the story is one of a man who, through extreme circumstances, discovered his higher calling and was changed forever by it.
Call Number: Z659 .H22 2016
ISBN: 9781476777436
Publication Date: 2016
The Card Catalog: Books, Cards, and Literary Treasures by Library of Congress Staff The Library of Congress brings booklovers an enriching tribute to the power of the written word and to the history of our most beloved books. Featuring more than 200 full-color images of original catalog cards, first edition book covers, and photographs from the library's magnificent archives, this collection is a visual celebration of the rarely seen treasures in one of the world's most famous libraries and the brilliant catalog system that has kept it organized for hundreds of years. Packed with engaging facts on literary classics--from Ulysses to The Cat in the Hat to Shakespeare's First Folio to The Catcher in the Rye--this package is an ode to the enduring magic and importance of books.
Call Number: Z733.U6 C36 2017
ISBN: 9781452158587
Publication Date: 2017
The Case for Books: Past, Present, and Future by Robert Darnton The invention of writing was one of the most important technological, cultural, and sociological breakthroughs in human history. With the printed book, information and ideas could disseminate more widely and effectively than ever before--and in some cases, affect and redirect the sway of history. Today, nearly one million books are published each year. But is the era of the book as we know it--a codex of bound pages--coming to an end? And if it is, should we celebrate its demise and the creation of a democratic digital future, or mourn an irreplaceable loss? The digital age is revolutionizing the information landscape. Already, more books have been scanned and digitized than were housed in the great library in Alexandria, making available millions of texts for a curious reader at the click of a button, and electronic book sales are growing exponentially. Will this revolution in the delivery of information and entertainment make for more transparent and far-reaching dissemination or create a monopolistic stranglehold? In The Case for Books, Robert Darnton, an intellectual pioneer in the field of the history of the book and director of Harvard University's Library, offers an in-depth examination of the book from its earliest beginnings to its shifting role today in popular culture, commerce, and the academy. As an author, editorial advisor, and publishing entrepreneur, Darnton is a unique authority on the life and role of the book in society. This book is a wise work of scholarship--one that requires readers to carefully consider how the digital revolution will broadly affect the marketplace of ideas.
Call Number: Z116.A2 D37 2009
ISBN: 9781586488260
Publication Date: 2009
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks - A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence A librarian's laugh-out-loud funny, deeply moving collection of love letters and breakup notes to the books in her life. If you love to read, and presumably you do since you've picked up this book (!), you know that some books affect you so profoundly they forever change the way you think about the world. Some books, on the other hand, disappoint you so much you want to throw them against the wall. Either way, it's clear that a book can be your new soul mate or the bad relationship you need to end. InDear Fahrenheit 451, librarian Annie Spence has crafted love letters and breakup notes to the iconic and eclectic books she has encountered over the years. From breaking up withThe Giving Tree (a dysfunctional relationship book if ever there was one), to her love letter toThe Time Traveler's Wife (a novel less about time travel and more about the life of a marriage, with all of its ups and downs), Spence will make you think of old favorites in a new way. Filled with suggested reading lists, Spence's take on classic and contemporary books is very much like the best of literature--sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes surprisingly poignant, and filled with universal truths. A celebration of reading,Dear Fahrenheit 451 is for anyone who loves nothing more than curling up with a good book...and another, and another, and another!
Call Number: Z1003.2 .S64 2017
ISBN: 1250106494
Publication Date: 2017
Libraries and Google by William Miller; Rita M. Pellen Discover the benefits--and drawbacks--of Google® Google® has become a nearly omnipresent tool of the Internet, with its potential only now beginning to be realized. How can librarians effectively integrate this powerful search engine to provide service to their patrons? Libraries and Google® presents leading authorities discussing the many possibilities of using Google® products as effective, user-friendly tools in libraries. Google Scholar and Print are extensively explored with an eye toward offering an expanded view of what is and may be possible for the future, with practical insights on how to make the most of the product's capabilities. It seems certain that Google® is here to stay. Libraries and Google® comprehensively examines this "disruptive technology" that is seen as both a threat and an opportunity by both librarians and publishers. Both perspectives are explored in depth, along with practical applications of this and other Google® technology that may be new to librarians. Google® products and other more familiar research tools are compared for effectiveness and ease of use. The various unique needs of users and scholars are detailed and considered as a springboard for insightful discussion of the future role of librarians in today's world. Potential problems are closely examined, such as copyright issues of digitization, and privacy concerns sparked by its collection of personal information about its users. The book comprehensively explores the path libraries need to travel to benefit from the search tool, rather than being overwhelmed and destroyed by it. Topics in Libraries and Google® include: the viewpoint that Google® may make libraries obsolete new opportunities for libraries through using Google® products technical aspects of purchasing and implementing Google® search products with proprietary vendor databases testing the performance of Google Scholar and Print practical use of Google®'s products personal privacy issues making digitized library resources more accessible digitization of copyrighted materials much, much more! Libraries and Google® is horizon-expanding reading for all librarians, library science educators and students, library administrators, publishers, and university presses. Volume 2 of Libraries and Google® is in preparation. Google® is a Registered Service Mark of Google, Inc., Mountain View, California. Libraries and Google® is an independent publication offered by The Haworth Press, Inc., Binghamton, New York, and is not affiliated with, nor has it been authorized, sponsored, endorsed, licensed, or otherwise approved by, Google, Inc.
Call Number: Z674.75.I58 L535 2005
ISBN: 9780789031259
Publication Date: 2006
The Meaning of the Library: A Cultural History by Alice Crawford (Editor) From Greek and Roman times to the digital era, the library has remained central to knowledge, scholarship, and the imagination. The Meaning of the Library is a generously illustrated examination of this key institution of Western culture. Tracing what the library has meant since its beginning, examining how its significance has shifted, and pondering its importance in the twenty-first century, notable contributors--including the Librarian of Congress and the former executive director of the HathiTrust--present a cultural history of the library. In an informative introduction, Alice Crawford sets out the book's purpose and scope, and an international array of scholars, librarians, writers, and critics offer vivid perspectives about the library through their chosen fields. The Meaning of the Library will appeal to all who are interested in this vital institution's heritage and ongoing legacy.
Call Number: Z721 .M43 2015
ISBN: 9780691166391
Publication Date: 2015
Part of Our Lives: A People's History of the American Public Library by Wayne A. Wiegand Despite dire predictions in the late twentieth century that public libraries would not survive the turn of the millennium, those libraries continue to thrive. Two of three Americans frequent a public library at least once a year, and nearly that many are registered borrowers. Although libraryauthorities have argued that the public library functions primarily as a civic institution necessary for maintaining democracy, generations of library patrons tell a different story. In Part of Our Lives, Wayne A. Wiegand delves into the heart of why Americans love their libraries. The book traces the history of the public library, featuring records and testimonies from as early as 1850. Rather than analyzing the words of library founders and managers, Wiegand listens to thevoices of everyday patrons who cherished libraries. Drawing on newspaper articles, memoirs, and biographies, Part of Our Lives paints a clear and engaging picture of Americans who value libraries not only as civic institutions, but also as social spaces for promoting and maintaining community. Whether as a public space, a place for accessing information, or a home for reading material that helps patrons make sense of the world around them, the public library has a rich history of meaning for millions of Americans. From colonial times through the recent technological revolution, librarieshave continuously adapted to better serve the needs of their communities. Wiegand goes on to demonstrate that, although cultural authorities (including some librarians) have often disparaged reading books considered not "serious" the commonplace reading materials users obtained from public librarieshave had a transformative effect for many, including people like Ronald Reagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Oprah Winfrey. A bold challenge to conventional thinking about the American public library, Part of Our Lives is an insightful look into one of America's most beloved cultural institutions.
Call Number: Z731 .W734 2015
ISBN: 9780190248000
Publication Date: 2015
This Book Is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson 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?
Call Number: Z716.4 .J64 2010
ISBN: 9780061431609
Publication Date: 2010
Torn from Their Bindings: A Story of Art, Science, and the Pillaging of American University Libraries by Travis McDade In 1980, an antique print dealer was going broke from competition and lack of supply. Then he discovered all the high-quality antique prints he could ever want--for free--on the shelves of American university libraries. Torn from Their Bindings tells the story of Robert Kindred's brazen theft of irreplaceable antique illustrations and maps from academic libraries across the country--a crime spree that left the irredeemable wreck of countless rare books in its wake. Travis McDade's account of Kindred's pillaging and the paper trail that led to his capture unfolds with the drama of a true crime page-turner--whose pages are replete with the particulars of archival treasures, library science, print preservation, and the history bound up in the cultural heritage plundered by Kindred. Along the way we observe the nature and methods of the book thief, defacer of priceless volumes and purveyor of purloined pages, and acquire a wealth of knowledge about the antique prints he favored. Told by an author devoted to the preservation of books, the story is propelled by an informed curiosity and just outrage from its suspenseful opening to its ironic conclusion--the ultimate fate of Kindred's spoils.
Call Number: Z702.K56 M38 2018
ISBN: 9780700626366
Publication Date: 2018
The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town-and the World by Jan Louch; Lisa Rogak "Not since George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life has someone so lifted the spirits of an entire community. That the 'someone' in this case is, in fact, two library cats makes this true tale of the love of literature combined with a fondness for nose licking all the more magical. This book, like a purring kitten who may also be a genie, should be welcomed into any home."--Francesco Marciuliano, New York Times bestselling author of I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats It all started with mice in the library. Assistant librarian Jan Louch and a coworker decided that what the library needed was a cat. Or, even better, two cats. Soon, they found a pair of Scottish Folds who were perfect for the job. Jan named them Baker and Taylor, and they took up residence in the library. But these cats were much more than mousers. Visitors to the library fell in love with Baker and Taylor and their antics just as Jan had. And then, after Jan let the cats be photographed for a poster, they became feline celebrities. Children from across the country wrote them letters, fans traveled from far and wide to meet them, and they became the most famous library cats in the world. In The True Tails of Baker and Taylor, Jan Louch looks back and tells the remarkable story of these two marvelous cats and the people--readers, librarians, and cat lovers of all ages--who came together around them.
Call Number: SF445.5 .L68 2016
ISBN: 9781466892972
Publication Date: 2016

E-Books

BiblioTech: Why Libraries Matter More Than Ever in the Age of Google by John Palfrey Libraries today are more important than ever. More than just book repositories, libraries can become bulwarks against some of the most crucial challenges of our age: unequal access to education, jobs, and information. In BiblioTech, educator and technology expert John Palfrey argues that anyone seeking to participate in the 21st century needs to understand how to find and use the vast stores of information available online. And libraries, which play a crucial role in making these skills and information available, are at risk. In order to survive our rapidly modernizing world and dwindling government funding, libraries must make the transition to a digital future as soon as possible--by digitizing print material and ensuring that born-digital material is publicly available online. Not all of these changes will be easy for libraries to implement. But as Palfrey boldly argues, these modifications are vital if we hope to save libraries and, through them, the American democratic ideal.
ISBN: 9780465042999
Publication Date: 2015
Front-Line Librarianship: Life on the Job for Today's Librarians by Guy Robertson Front-Line Librarianship: Life on the Job for Librarians presents a diverse range of observations, viewpoints and useful commentary on the current workplace experiences of librarians and their associates. The book's author presents an unrivalled portrait of front-line librarianship that is based upon his unique experience and voice. Chapters consider workplace matters, the fate of hardcopy books, speechmaking at conferences, the effects of recessions on libraries, continuing education, and corporate gift-giving programs. This book will make an excellent and useful addition to library collections in library science.
ISBN: 9780081027295
Publication Date: 2018
How Libraries and Librarians Help by Joan C. Durrance; Karen E. Fisher; Marian Bouch Hinton Being able to tell your library's story, illustrating how library services provide value and help the community and users, is the key to your library's future. The practice of measuring outcomes is becoming crucial to the library's ongoing mission: libraries are being called upon to address the value of library programs by assessing their effects on library patrons and the community as a whole. With funding under a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Durrance and Fisher have developed the How Libraries and Librarians Help (HLLH) Outcome Model, field testing it in six libraries over two years. In this practical reference, they share their findings, cutting-edge, step-by-step HLLH methods, and library success stories that bring the process to life with outcomes like, Empowering Youth and Strengthening Community. interpret data with seven easy exercises; Apply the four-step process to assess and present outcomes; Measure and report your library's contributions; Draw together all the pieces to communicate a compelling case for library services; To stay in the game, library directors, administrators, managers, and community leaders must prove the value of the library and its services using outcome measures. Here's how to quantify the contribution of your library's programs to individuals and communities to gain recognition and funding.
ISBN: 9780838908921
Publication Date: 2004
The Library Book by Kate Mosse From Alan Bennett's Baffled at a Bookcase, to Lucy Mangan's Library Rules, famous writers tell us all about how libraries are used and why they're important. Tom Holland writes about libraries in the ancient world, while Seth Godin describes what a library will look like in the future. Lionel Shriver thinks books are the best investment, Hardeep Singh Kohli makes a confession and Julie Myerson remembers how her career began beside the shelves. Using memoir, history, polemic and some short stories too, The Library Book celebrates'that place where they lend you books for free'and the people who work there. All royalties go to The Reading Agency, to help their work supporting libraries.
ISBN: 9781847658401
Publication Date: 2012
Not Your Ordinary Librarian: Debunking the Popular Perceptions of Librarians by Ashanti White When you picture a librarian, what do you imagine? An old white woman with glasses and a prudish disposition? That is the image that many people conjure up when asked to picture a librarian; with 82 per cent of the professional force being female and the average age of a librarian at 45, coupled with popular stereotypical images, it is difficult to dispute the perceptions. But there is more to librarians than meets the eye. This book will explore the origin of the image and popular media images of the librarian, in addition to the effects of the stereotype, and the challenges to the perception of librarians today.
ISBN: 9781843346708
Publication Date: 2012
Our Enduring Values Revisited : Librarianship in an Ever-Changing World by Michael Gorman In the almost 15 years since "Our Enduring Values" was published, there has been a sea change in the way much of the world thinks about and uses libraries. Young librarians and seasoned LIS professionals alike are experiencing increasing pressure to adjust to new economic, societal, and technological demands amidst the often-dire rhetoric currently surrounding the future of our institutions. In this stirring manifesto, public intellectual, librarian, and philosopher Gorman addresses head on the "existential panic" among library professionals caused by the radical shift in how libraries are viewed. He reconnects readers with the core values that continue to inspire generations of library professionals and scholars-while making the case that these values are doubly crucial to hold on to in the brave new shifting world of librarianship. Destined to become another classic of library literature, this book explores such contemporary issues as The growing emphasis of the library as a cultural institution, placing libraries within their cultural context as gathering places for learning, access to information, and community The impact of technological innovations on core values such as access and stewardship Library places and spaces of the future How the mass digitization of books, archives, and other materials affects the purpose and function of libraries Intellectual freedom and privacy in the era of the PATRIOT Act, Wikileaks, and Edward Snowden The role of libraries as both champions and facilitators of social justice Inspirational yet clear-sighted, Gorman emphatically reaffirms the importance of libraries and librarians while proposing a path for future survival and growth.
ISBN: 9780838913000
Publication Date: 2015
Reinventing Reference: How Libraries Deliver Value in the Age of Google by Katie Elson Anderson (Editor); Vibiana Bowman Cvetkovic (Editor); Elson Anderson (Editor); Bowman Cvetkovic (Editor) Katie Elson Anderson is a reference and instruction librarian at the Paul Robeson Library, Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey, and the coeditor of Stop Plagiarism: A Guide to Understanding and Prevention. Publications include chapters in Teaching Generation M: A Handbook for Librarians and Educators, Sage's 21st Century Anthropology: A Reference Handbook, and Portrayals of Children in Popular Culture, A Handbook.
ISBN: 9780838912850
Publication Date: 2014
A Social History of Books and Libraries from Cuneiform to Bytes by Patrick M. Valentine While the importance of writing has often been recognized, the role of books and especially that of libraries has just as often been slighted. Knowledge, once generated, has to be communicated, preserved, and accessible. Books in their varying formats--from clay tablets to scrolls and manuscripts to pixels--have been instrumental in spreading knowledge, although relatively little attention has been given to the story of books themselves. A Social History of Books and Libraries from Cuneiform to Bytes traces the roles of books and libraries throughout recorded history and explores their social and cultural importance within differing societies and changing times. It presents the history of books from clay tablets to e-books and the history of libraries, whether built of bricks or bytes. Following an introduction that sets the theoretical basis for the historical importance of books and libraries, chapters alternate between the history of the book and the history of libraries. Included within the chapters are short excursions on some particular development, such as book emblems or cataloging. Case studies are given as thematic illustrations of libraries everywhere. Patrick M. Valentine argues that social and cultural forces have been more influential in determining the nature and status of information, books, and libraries than has technology. But A Social History of Books and Libraries is far from a jeremiad against technology; rather it presents history within the subtle yet shifting context of time and place. Although written primarily for librarians and library students, it will also be of interest to a wider audience of scholars and those interested in books, libraries, and cultural history.
ISBN: 9780810885707
Publication Date: 2012
So You Want to Be a Librarian by Lauren Pressley Librarianship is a great career. This book is for anyone who is attracted to becoming a librarian and who wants to know more about the profession: what librarians do, what librarians are all about, the different types of professional jobs there are in libraries, and how to get started.
ISBN: 9780980200485
Publication Date: 2009

E-Journals

International Journal of Library and Information Science by Dr. Cristina Restrepo-Arango, Dr. Alex Obuh (Editors)
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Publication Date: 2009 - current
International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS) is a peer reviewed open access journal. The journal is published monthly and covers all areas of the subject.

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