This Book Is Overdue!

By Marilyn Johnson
Harper Collins, $25.99, 272 pages

This is an amazing exploration of how libraries and librarians are changing in the age of internet information and digital downloads. Marilyn Johnson (a former staff writer for Life magazine) finds that librarians are not becoming obsolete remnants of a quieter, gentler time.

We are taken into the world of information science, where librarians, archivists, and technology specialists are working to organize and disseminate vast amounts of dynamically-updated information. Shifting technologies have not changed the core mission of librarians: to connect people with information. On the other hand, new possibilities have appeared. Library students in developed countries are furthering the cause of social justice using futuristic information technology.

In this book, librarians are portrayed as intelligent, dedicated professionals who love their work. Furthermore, they are eager to share their perspective with the readers they serve.

This is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of reading and the written word, and for those who organize, protect, and help us access our information. This review is dedicated to the many fine librarians out there!

Reviewed by Claude M. Ury