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Library by Stephen Akey
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June 10, 2017
Akey, Stephen. Library. Alexandria, VA: Orchises, 2002.
Stephen Akey did not plan on being a librarian. He graduated from college with a English major and could not find anything further to do. He was sitting outside the library in his home city and said to himself, "why not?" He went to Columbia for the MLS because they offered a partial scholarship.
He entered into the NYC library system. He worked as a cataloguer and as a reference librarian, but not at the same time or in the same library. He found cataloging dull. The hardest part of reference work was the "difficult" people. He tells some stories that made me laugh out loud.
For a time Akey worked at a library in a poor neighborhood. That library hardly had any books but provided a valuable service to the community because it was a safe place for kids and adults. Education, homework, entertainment, and a lot of social work happened in that library branch.
In the midst of his stories, Akey tells us how the library is changing. The advent of the computer and Internet was changing the way librarians thought about the library. Akey is not a Luddite. He embraces technology in the library. However, he argues for balance. The library should have both technology and paper books. And, the library should not lose sight of the reason for its existence. The purpose of the library is ultimately to allow anyone, regardless of age or income level, to get the education they never had or to strengthen the education they already had. He argues that libraries need both best sellers and the "classics" that don't circulate well. He witnessed management decisions that began to eliminate what does not circulate in favor of transforming the library into a community and entertainment center. He is alarmed.
Akey's frustration led him to write an essay for the New Republic (February 26, 1990) titled "McLibraries." This article generated passionate conversation. He was even interviewed on NPR. He followed that article up with another article titled "The Trivialization of the Public Library." He intended the article to be published in the NY Review of Books. But, alas, they turned down that opportunity. Here Akey's sarcasm shines through. He said that he would show them good. The article was published instead in the periodical Ohio Libraries. Observing that not everyone reading his book will have kept their copy of this influential publication, he reprints most of the article in the book. We thank Mr. Akey for this magnanimous gesture.
Another frustration that runs through the memoir is a certain disappointment with the intellectual engagement and depth of some of his peers and, quite frankly, what was expected of him on the job. As he tells the story, when he worked reference he did not get nearly enough intellectually challenging questions. He did, however, engage with far too many people who were a challenge of an entirely different sort.
Akey tells a good story. The book was published in 2002. The library world is still grappling with the advent of technology. In 2007 the first Kindle began to be distributed. Electronic books are now a significant part of the library collection. The Internet continues to develop. I would like to hear how Akey is getting along these days in the midst of the ever changing library.
Stephen Akey did not plan on being a librarian. He graduated from college with a English major and could not find anything further to do. He was sitting outside the library in his home city and said to himself, "why not?" He went to Columbia for the MLS because they offered a partial scholarship.
He entered into the NYC library system. He worked as a cataloguer and as a reference librarian, but not at the same time or in the same library. He found cataloging dull. The hardest part of reference work was the "difficult" people. He tells some stories that made me laugh out loud.
For a time Akey worked at a library in a poor neighborhood. That library hardly had any books but provided a valuable service to the community because it was a safe place for kids and adults. Education, homework, entertainment, and a lot of social work happened in that library branch.
In the midst of his stories, Akey tells us how the library is changing. The advent of the computer and Internet was changing the way librarians thought about the library. Akey is not a Luddite. He embraces technology in the library. However, he argues for balance. The library should have both technology and paper books. And, the library should not lose sight of the reason for its existence. The purpose of the library is ultimately to allow anyone, regardless of age or income level, to get the education they never had or to strengthen the education they already had. He argues that libraries need both best sellers and the "classics" that don't circulate well. He witnessed management decisions that began to eliminate what does not circulate in favor of transforming the library into a community and entertainment center. He is alarmed.
Akey's frustration led him to write an essay for the New Republic (February 26, 1990) titled "McLibraries." This article generated passionate conversation. He was even interviewed on NPR. He followed that article up with another article titled "The Trivialization of the Public Library." He intended the article to be published in the NY Review of Books. But, alas, they turned down that opportunity. Here Akey's sarcasm shines through. He said that he would show them good. The article was published instead in the periodical Ohio Libraries. Observing that not everyone reading his book will have kept their copy of this influential publication, he reprints most of the article in the book. We thank Mr. Akey for this magnanimous gesture.
Another frustration that runs through the memoir is a certain disappointment with the intellectual engagement and depth of some of his peers and, quite frankly, what was expected of him on the job. As he tells the story, when he worked reference he did not get nearly enough intellectually challenging questions. He did, however, engage with far too many people who were a challenge of an entirely different sort.
Akey tells a good story. The book was published in 2002. The library world is still grappling with the advent of technology. In 2007 the first Kindle began to be distributed. Electronic books are now a significant part of the library collection. The Internet continues to develop. I would like to hear how Akey is getting along these days in the midst of the ever changing library.
Displaying 1 of 1 review