nlw Archives - Awful Library Books

Librarian's Quick Guide to Internet Resources cover

NLW 2022: Internet Resources circa 2001

April 4, 2022 Mary Kelly Librarian's Choice 4 comments

Librarian’s Quick Guide to Internet Resources
2nd Edition
Semenza
2001

Since it is National Library Week, Holly and I usually feature some titles related to libraries and or librarians. Since both of us have been in library work from what seems like the beginning of time, this book was literally a blast from the past. I know that in 2001 both Holly and I would have embraced this book as a bible to the Internet.

Back in the day we constantly curated pathfinders/reference guides for our own use at the reference desk. At the time, Google was only a few years old and Web 2.0 wasn’t a thing. There was also a lot of resistance in the profession to embrace technology. The more tech motivated librarians at the time would have loved this book for it’s practical ready reference sources and it’s logical organization.

NLW-Libraries and how they work

Libraries and How to Use Them
Hardendorff
1979

Another library book about libraries. Although geared to kids, it is pretty text heavy and the illustrations are just okay. As much as I could appreciate some definitions of library jargon, this book probably has more depth in some pages than a library science textbook. All in all, it isn’t the worst, but it is woefully dated.

I also kept looking at the cover and thinking it was some kind of pattern, like a stained glass window. It took me a while to realize that the groovy cover really was a bunch of books on a shelf. In 1979, this book is decent but in 2021. Somebody should weed this and submit it as supplemental reading for an intro to library science course.

National Library Week 2021-Check it Out!

April 6, 2021 Mary Kelly For the Kids, Librarian's Choice 7 comments

Check It Out
The Book About Libraries”
Gibbons
1985

It’s time to let the kids know about how much fun it is at the library. This 1985 book is colorful does a nice job of library history and about the job of a librarian. Too bad this is about the library of the 1980s. Note the use of the card catalog and no computers. It’s a cute book, but it really needs an update.