When Oliver began work as a school librarian she felt qualified for the job. What she learned was that librarians are expected to serve as mediators and mental-health-crisis-support professionals, customer service reps and administrators of overdose treatment, fierce loyalists to institutionalized mythology and enforced silence, and arms of state surveillance. Here she highlights the national problems that have existed in library since they were founded:...

"Despite dire predictions in the late twentieth century that public libraries would not survive the turn of the millennium, their numbers have only increased. Two of three Americans frequent a public library at least once a year, and nearly that many areregistered borrowers. Although library authorities have argued that the public library functions primarily as a civic institution necessary for maintaining democracy, generations of library patrons...

Bookseller and New-Yorker-to-the-bone, Bernie Rhodenbarr rarely ventures out of Manhattan, but he's excited about the romantic getaway he has planned for himself and current lady love Lettice at the Cuttleford House, a remote upstate b&b. Unfortunately, Lettice has a prior engagement-she's getting married... and not to Bernie-so he decides to take best buddy Carolyn instead. A restful respite from the big city's bustle would be too good to waste....

"The Story of My Life, a remarkable account of overcoming the debilitating challenges of being both deaf and blind, has become an international classic, making Helen Keller one of the most well-known, inspirational figures in history. Originally published in 1903, Keller's memoir narrates the events of her life up to her third year at Radcliffe College." "Helen Keller's story of struggle and achievement is one of unquenchable hope. From tales of her...

The states decide to get together and put on a show featuring their particular talents. Also includes facts about the history and geography of the states.

Leading the Change: Libraries Breaking New Ground is a training program that highlights libraries that are using innovative methods to better serve their communities. The 57-minute program features the "Tower of Books Library" in Spijkenisse, The Netherlands, the DOK Library in Delft, The Netherlands, The San Diego County Library, and the Darien Public Library. In the Netherlands, the DOK Library uses creative thinking, multimedia displays, marketing...

A white child sees a TV news report of a white police officer shooting and killing a black man. "In our family, we don't see color," his mother says, but he sees the colors plain enough. An afternoon in the library's history stacks uncover the truth of white supremacy in America. Racism was not his idea and he refuses to defend it. "A necessary children's book about whiteness, white supremacy, and resistance. Important, accessible, needed." --