Reader’s Roundup: Monographic Musings & Reference Reviews Column Editor: Corey Seeman (Director, Kresge Library Services, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan; Phone: 734-764-9969) <cseeman@umich.edu> Twitter @cseeman Column Editor’s Note: There are so many parts of being a book review editor for Against the Grain that I really enjoy. There are days when having a bit less work might be nice. Also, when you have a completely digital library, managing incoming and outgoing print volumes that are stacked in my office is a strange twist of irony. However, the reason I love doing this is when I get to work with an excellent group of librarians who span the country and beyond. I also love working with publishers as they are sending me information about new titles. So even during a year when nothing is normal, especially having participated recently in the virtual Charleston Conference, a series of book reviews that cover newer titles in library studies and library reference seems like a great way to find just a little bit of…say…2019. But this column is one that I am most happy with. We have a nice balance of books on the profession as well as library reference works. The reference topics seem to be everywhere you look: women’s health, United States Government, civil rights, global resources, and the intersection of comics and librarianship. The professional works explore how to conduct research and reference interviews, the history of our profession and programming for teens. All in all, a very nice a diverse set of works that we are happy to showcase for the Against the Grain readers. I am so appreciative of my great crew of reviewers. Participating in this issue’s column are return reviewers: Janet Crum, Presley Dyer, Julie Huskey, Joshua Hutchinson, Mary Catherine Moeller, Michelle Shea, and Steven W. Sowards. Joining the ranks of reviewers is Rachelle McLain. If you would like to be a reviewer for Against the Grain, please write me at <cseeman@umich.edu>. If you are a publisher and have a book you would like to see reviewed in a future column, please also write me directly. You can also find out more about the Reader’s Roundup here — https://sites.google.com/view/squirrelman/ atg-readers-roundup. Happy reading and be nutty! — CS
Buratovich, Michael A. (ed.) Salem Health: Women’s Health. Ipswitch, MA: Salem Press, 2019. 978-1-64265-046-4 (hardback); 978-1-64265-047-1 (eBook). 2 v. (978 p.), $275. Reviewed by Janet Crum (Director, Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ) <janetcrum@arizona.edu> Practically every library should provide resources on women’s health, especially for patrons trying to understand concepts at a basic level. As the editor’s introduction notes, “Women make 90% of household healthcare decisions” and “account for 93% of all over-the-counter pharmaceutical purchases” (ix). Women also have unique health care needs, and diseases and conditions may manifest differently in women than they do in men (ix). The internet is rife with misinformation and outright falsehoods about Against the Grain / December 2020 - January 2021
women’s health, so a reliable source of accurate, easy-to-understand information is most welcome. This two-volume encyclopedia from Salem Health partially fills that bill, covering a wide variety of health topics affecting women from childhood to old age. The information is generally current, accurate, and accessible — but with a few significant omissions and problems. The set contains nearly 300 articles (400-2000 words each) on female anatomy and physiology, reproductive health care, diseases specific to women, conditions with distinct manifestations in women, conditions more common in women, and psychological and sociological conditions and issues affecting women. Each article begins with the topic name and category and a glossary of key terms. Entries are signed with the author’s name(s) and credentials and conclude with a short list of further reading. The introduction and publicity material indicate that the target audiences are high school, undergraduate, and public library patrons as well as premed students. In keeping with the stated audience, entries use accurate, appropriate medical terminology that is accessible to educated lay readers but would be challenging for readers with lower education or literacy levels. A review of selected topics reveals some variation in the depth of coverage as well as some significant omissions. Topics covered especially well include: • Gender identity: Coverage is extensive, accurate, and affirming. The article on gender confirmation surgery is especially good, offering clear, detailed information on surgical options with a reassuring, patient-friendly tone. • Sexual assault: The topic is covered thoroughly and in a variety of contexts, including date rape and issues faced by women in the military. • Reproductive health: Topics covered include (but are not limited to) abortion, contraception, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, newborn care, and menopause. Information provided is generally accurate and nonjudgmental, though one article on breastfeeding somewhat overstates its benefits. Significant omissions include: • Sexual harassment is mentioned only briefly, with very little detail, and impacts to physical and mental health are not addressed. • Gender discrimination and health disparities based on gender are not listed in the contents or index. These seem like significant omissions, given the well-documented incidence of sexism and differential treatment women experience when seeking health care. • Race is also not listed in the table of contents or index, which seems like another significant and disconcerting omission, given the prevalence of race-based health disparities and the physical and mental health impacts of racism, including impacts specific to women (e.g., maternal mortality). Race is mentioned in some articles, continued on page 36
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