Overdue: Reckoning with the Public Library

I’m conflicted by this book. On one hand, it’s supremely good at showing what burnout in librarianship can look like, particularly in large cities. Libraries are being asked to shoulder an enormous burden that’s only getting larger, without getting the support it needs to do so. It’s no wonder that librarians everywhere are experiencing a great deal of burnout and disillusionment with the field they started in, and it’s unfair of other librarians to shame them for doing so. I thought a lot of points the author brings up about the unhoused and the constant struggle between helping them where they need it most and being unable to do so from a lack of funding, training, or general inability were great points. I remember this topic coming up oh-so-briefly during my own MLIS experience, and I think it gets glossed over entirely too much for up-and-coming graduates to get a real sense of the full picture.

On the other hand, though, as a book and a narrative carrying a cohesive thread, this book falls flat. The thought thread from one chapter rarely carried over into the next, and so I had a hard time figuring out where this book hangs out. It talks about the history of librarianship–is it a history book? It talks about the author’s personal experiences at Northwest One in DC–is it a memoir? It segues into the lack of support for the unhoused, drug abuse, violence within the community, and general crime within libraries–is it a social sciences thought piece? It meanders into the evils of social media, the lack of information literacy, the unaddressed racial issues everywhere–is it an op ed? I don’t know, and I can’t tell you either. There’s good points everywhere in this book, but I don’t think the author carried any one of them very far before hopping to the next. It gave the book kind of a disorganized feel. I also felt like the author, with her nine months spent in an actual library setting at Northwest One, maybe isn’t the best voice for speaking about how it is everywhere. She undoubtedly experienced more than any one of us can say, as I know I haven’t gotten PTSD from working at my library for six years, but I hate when people paint issues like these with broad strokes. It’s rarely accurate for anywhere outside of your own experience.

All that said, it’s clear the author cares deeply about these issues, and they’re real topics that need to be addressed for libraries to continue doing what they do for the public, for free. Resources are not infinite, and libraries need support from the community in order to keep their doors open.

Vote local, support your local libraries.

The audiobook was fine, I did speed it up and still sounded good! I got it at libby from my library! ;)

I think this hits a very specific library audience, but I would still welcome anyone wanting to read it to read it. It addresses focuses on libraries in 2020-2021+ era, with focus on wanting to connect people without housing to resources, trauma (personal and vicarious), and society expectations of libraries to pick up the slack. This is not a “we all love libraries and let's only say great things about them” - I think a lot of people were surprised by this, but libraries have their own problems/battles that they must face. BUT, I wouldn't call this book unflattering and I hope it creates stronger library advocates.

These are pretty real in the library world, since 2020 i've attended multiple webinars of mindfulness to trauma in the library. And I think no matter what size library you are in - when you work with the public, at some point you will be in situations that will stick with you. I think the levels/rate will be different based on community. You may also experience vicarious trauma from what other employees experience or what has been reported in the news. For example, multiple library stabbings, stalking, being run over, being yelled at about masks/wanting material removed...and more. I've been reading some harsh comments about her trauma experiences and you don't get to decide what traumatizes other people.

I feel the burnout/society issue that Amanda addresses with people who are unhoused. The library has supplied a lot of resources, but not enough...while there is not a dedicated facility that really meets all their needs/being closed/already filled/ then it falls to the library to pick up this responsibly. And it hits hard when you can help...but not enough! I think of a library in 2020-2021 that was picking up/navigating pandemic conditions and the city wanted them to provide covid tests to hand out in the facility to the public. The director said no to protect their staff from patron medical questions they don't have the knowledge to answer, enforcing people so no one takes all the tests, staff being stretched thin and stressed! The city pushing it upon the library without asking them about the capability of achieving this goal. Amanda talks a lot about lacking programs or even libraries not being taking seriously with individual problems because other libraries don't have those. Each community will be different with different needs, something that makes each library so unique.

Def. a little older. I think this book would have had much more of a punch about a year ago. Now, i feel like the huge threat to libraries are people/groups that have worked together to destroy or remove materials from libraries, threatened libraries and patrons, have suggested throwing librarians/teachers in jail for allowing people to read materials that they don't like.
It can be a scary time for libraries and schools right now!

Anyway, the book itself I see more of a talking point- it brings up a variety of recent topics that librarians are chatting about. It also includes personal stories and experiences from Amanda's 9 YEARS! (I keep also seeing months? Where did people get that? I heard it was months for a public library branch - maybe? If someone has the resume let me know!) I think the book's writing is good enough, I think the personal stories sometimes are a hit or miss. Some subjects of writing I wish would be discussed more than others.