Reader’s Roundup: Monographic Musings & Reference Reviews

Column Editor: Corey Seeman (Director, Kresge Library Services, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan) <cseeman@umich.edu> Twitter @cseeman

Column Editor’s Note: Happy New Year from Michigan. As we start 2023, many of us have set up a series of resolutions for the new year. These might include things we wish to do better in the new year. These might include things we wish to do at all in the new year. These also might include stopping things that we regret doing year in year out. Whatever your resolutions are for the new year, be they written out or fluid, may you find happiness and success wherever you go.

To that end, I will share one of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2023. It is directed to my faithful and generous editor who often waits days, if not weeks, for my columns to arrive. Toni Nix is a fantastic collaborator who has helped with this column in ways that I likely cannot fully capture. So, it is to her that I set out my resolution to be a better column editor in 2023. I will get reviews back to my reviewers in a timely manner. I will get my columns in on time. I will get reviews out to the publishers when they are available. And while I will likely be distracted this year, I will keep this site up to date with all the information on this column — https://www.squirreldude.com/atg-readersroundup. While I am starting out a bit late, I do want to have some room to improve, right?

I have a brief column of works that provides both libraryfocused works and reference works that overlap a variety of areas where libraries make the world a better place. These works showcase the way that libraries support both writers and new immigrants into our communities. The reference works focus on two important areas of mental health awareness and immigration. Libraries have so many roles in our communities. Maybe the most critical role is the sharing of valuable and trustworthy information. And who couldn’t use more of that this year.

I very much appreciate the work of the reviewers who really dig into the work and provide context that may be missing elsewhere. Thank you to my reviewers for this issue: Carolyn Filippelli (University of Arkansas – Fort Smith), Steve Sowards (Michigan State University) and my colleague Sally Ziph (University of Michigan’s Kresge Library Services). As always, thank you very much for your work in bringing this column together.

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 (new site name) — https://www. squirreldude.com/atg-readers-roundup

Happy reading and be nutty! — Corey

Hanick, Riley, Bateman, Micah, and Pierce, Jennifer Burek. Mapping the Imaginary: Supporting Creative Writers through Programming, Prompts, and Research. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2019. 201 pp. Paper, 978-0-8389-1841-8. $60.99 (ALA Member $54.89)

Reviewed by Sally Ziph (Instruction/Reference Services Librarian, Kresge Library Services, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) <sweston@umich.edu>

Libraries are a natural destination and haven for writers of all stripes, from budding students to professionals. Many writers remember specific librarians with fondness, since they may have introduced them to the joy of reading as children through summer reading programs, and/or helped them with research for school projects and later, books and other publications. Writers inevitably start out as readers, and libraries nourish an early delight in books as well as later writing ambitions. Libraries foster this connection by events such as hosting readings for local authors, and provide a home for writing groups as well as workshops. Poetry has regained popularity in the last few years with the explosion of interesting and diverse young writers. Among the most notable example of this is Amanda Gorman, who famously read her stirring poem at President Biden’s inauguration.

This book provides an in-depth look at ways to support creative writing in the library’s community, whether that be public or academic. The three authors have expertise with both writing and library work. Hanick and Bateman have both directed creative writing programs at the undergraduate and master’s levels, and Pierce is a library school professor at the University of Iowa (home to the famous Iowa Writers Workshop.) There is also a foreword by novelist/ librarian Elizabeth McCracken.

The book is a treasure trove of ideas for any librarian interested in writing-related programming, and the book’s chapters often combine concepts in interesting ways that are designed to inspire. For example, the chapter on “Making and Manners” posits the notion that “we are what we make, but we are also how we treat one another.” Other chapters address topics such as ekphrastic writing (writing about visual art), “occupations,” and the role of “place” in writing. An appendix on poetic rhyme and meter provides a helpful overview, and the section on research strategies is perfect for librarians interested in instructing writers in the art of research. Each chapter also includes programming ideas, prompts, and suggested resources for the various genres. I found the prompts and suggested activities to be fresh and engaging (though of course there are also some old favorites), and the resources and suggested reading lists are extensive and inclusive. This book belongs in the collection of any public or academic librarian serious about creating inspiring and engaging creative writing programming.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this available somewhere in my shared network. (I probably do not need this book, but it would be nice to get it within three to five days via my network catalog.)

Ndumu, Ana (ed.). Borders & Belonging: Critical Examinations of Library Approaches Toward Immigrants. Sacramento, CA: Library Juice Press, 2021. 978-1-63400-082-6. vi + 311 pages. $35.00. https://litwinbooks.com/ Shally-Jensen, Michael (ed.). Encyclopedia of American Immigration. 2nd ed. Ipswich, MA: Salem Press. 978-1-64265-688-6, 3 vols., xxvi + 1239 pages. $395.00.

Reviewed by Steven W. Sowards (Associate Dean for Collection Strategies and Preservation, Michigan State University Libraries, East Lansing MI) <sowards@msu.edu>

Here are two library books about immigration and the United States, a staple of both student assignments and public policy debates for centuries (and likely more centuries to come). The multi-volume Encyclopedia of American Immigration is a reminder of the capacity of formally edited reference publications to compete with the free-for-all of unverified internet content, for those who still believe in authority as an element in accurate learning. The edited volume of essays (Borders & Belonging) is a reminder that libraries (and librarians) are part of the society described in our reference collections, that we therefore are engaged with the same issues, and that we have a responsibility to think about what we do, why we do it, and how we can do it better.

Ana Ndumu’s book about how immigrants fare in libraries is the fourth title in a series on “Critical Race Studies and Multiculturalism in LIS.” In 2022, Critical Race Studies has been a hot-button issue for libraries, and already have been the basis of book challenges, so it pays us to be aware of concepts, purposes and vocabulary. When any of us in the library read about “interrogating the neoliberal superstructures in which library workers are implicated and embedded” (p. 64) it is safe to say that some will want to read more, while others will want to walk away. That negative reaction is unfortunate, because there is affirming as well as challenging content in this book that should resonate with most of us.

Two dozen authors from the United States and Canada have contributed to more than a dozen essays about diverse interactions between libraries (and librarians) and immigrants. Included are historical studies of the ambiguous role of American librarians during episodes that include the anti-immigrant era of the 1920s, and community activism in the South Bronx in the 1960s: situations in which the welcoming posture of libraries flirted with assimilation. There is a memoir about professional reinvention by an immigrant librarian. There is a revealing report about the contested effort to remove the term “illegal aliens” from the Library of Congress Subject Headings (a longrunning dispute that seems to have ended as of November 2021).

In a critique of the critique, Eungjung Choi notes that critical theory itself is prone to functioning inside the academic ivory tower. This caution is a sign of how difficult it can be for us to see and reflect on our own activities. There are stories in this volume that should educate and resonate with each of us.

There can be multiple approaches to thinking about American immigration: the Encyclopedia of Immigration concerns the role of “newcomers” in American history, that is, in the United States and in earlier colonial entities. To tell that complicated story, entries focus on key historical events and trends, legal matters including both case law and treaties, the experience of specific ethnic and national groups (including Native Americans as early newcomers), the impact and experience of immigrants in different parts of the United States (the contrast between say Boston and Texas can be instructive), and information about a selection of notable (although perhaps not representative) immigrants, with others noted in passing such as Andrew Carnegie.

It is not always obvious whether we need a new edition of a reference work, but the case for publishing is clear in this situation. Much has happened in American immigration affairs since the first edition of the encyclopedia appeared in 2010. This second edition is advertised as including 57 more articles (out of nearly 600). These additions include topics such as “Armenian immigrants,” “Amnesty” and “Asylum,” an updating segment for the “History of Immigration since 2008,” and coverage of more high-profile immigrants including Zbigniew Brzezinski and Elon Musk. Many articles have been updated, including that about the U. S. Supreme Court which notes relevant major decisions of the last decade, as well as offering a color photograph that includes the three recent Trump-era appointees … without noting the interesting immigrant-family origins of several of the nine justices. A good deal of post-2010 content has been folded into the several appendices: the Filmography, the list of Literary Works (which includes Young Adult titles), the Chronology, and the list of Supreme Court Cases. There is a substantial new article on the “Trump Administration” — also much expansion of topics like the “Border Fence,” and a new article about “Border Vigilantes.” The new edition is current enough to make passing references to the early days of the Biden administration, and the impact of COVID-19 on world migration. Of course, any work on such a dynamic topic falls behind as soon as it is published: so one already can anticipate some potential content in a future third edition that might appear in the year 2032: entries about the Biden presidency and what follows, the evacuation of pro-American affiliates from Afghanistan, and the full story of COVID-19 restrictions on global migration. The numerous contributors come from a wide range of American academic institutions: browsing their names is itself a reminder of the immigrant origins of Americans. Both the encyclopedia and the anthology are available in eBook formats.

Both are welcome additions to the library. While they share the common theme of immigration, they serve the library and the library communities in valuable and different ways.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need these in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab these books off the shelf, if not checked out.)

Mental Health Awareness. Reference Shelf. NY: H.W. Wilson, 2022. 9781637002926, 192 pages. $75.

Reviewed by Carolyn Filippelli (Reference Librarian, Boreham Library, University of Arkansas – Fort Smith) <Carolyn.Filippelli@uafs.edu>

Mental Health Awareness is an excellent introduction to social and legal barriers affecting mental health and to promising research on new mental health treatments. Conveniently organized into topical sections, the book is a source for credible and recent information on this timely topic.

Section 1, “Barriers to Access” focuses on tangible barriers to mental health services, such as the lack of parity between mental health and physical health services. Many insurance companies do not currently provide treatment options for mental health services at levels comparable to those available for physical health. Legislation to require parity of coverage is now in process. Reforms in Medicaid reimbursement and coverage have also been proposed. To combat geographic and staffing obstacles to availability, telehealth services have been used successfully.

Section 2, “Behavioral Health in a Time of Crisis” provides a look at how the COVID pandemic exacerbated existing mental health issues while also fostering a climate in which people began open discussions of issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicide. Mental health issues were no longer a stigma, hidden in the dark. National organizations such as the National Alliance for Mental Health, the Centers for Disease Control, SAMHSA, and the APA were also instrumental in promoting mental health awareness and literacy.

Section 3, “The Ultimate Consequence,” explores suicide through examination of statistics, fact sheets, surveys, and other documents. The effects of suicide on various groups such as adolescents, veterans, ethnic groups, health care workers, first responders, and incarcerated populations is discussed. Strategies suggested for suicide prevention are improved awareness, screening, and reduction in the means of suicide such as access to firearms. Detrimental effects of substance abuse, especially for adolescents, is identified as a contributing factor in suicide attempts.

Section 4, “The Politics of Behavioral Health,” begins with the historical treatment of mental illnesses, which usually resulted in imprisonment or in admission to psychiatric hospitals. Creation of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resulted in gradual improvements in mental health services. In addition, progressive legislation such as the Mental Health Justice Act recommended the use of trained mental health professionals for some 911 mental health crises as well as police training in de-escalation skills and crisis intervention. Some communities are currently experimenting with these options.

Research using psychedelics to treat mental health issues is one of the most compelling sections of the book. This topic is so important that it could easily have been expanded as a separate section to include other the use of other new treatments such as Virtual Reality. Psychedelics or sacred plant medicines have a long history of use by some indigenous groups. MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD are now being used to treat anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress (PTS). Research results using these psychedelic medicines have shown promising results for conditions for which traditional medicines and standard therapies have not proven effective.

Section 5, “Young People’s Problems,” details the responses of many school districts to mental issues brought about by the COVID pandemic. Current initiatives include approval of mental health days as excusable absences, providing greater availability of school counselors and psychologists, collaborating with social workers on mental health screening, and expanding suicide awareness programs.

Mental Health Awareness provides an excellent overview of this important topic. Its content is appropriate for the general public as well as for college students majoring in social work, psychology, and education. The bibliography is excellent, and the inclusion of websites of mental health organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America is useful for additional information.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.)

Guide to the ATG Reviewer Ratings

The ATG Reviewer Rating is being included for each book reviewed. Corey came up with this rating to reflect our collaborative collections and resource sharing means and thinks it will help to classify the importance of these books.

• I need this book on my nightstand. (This book is so good, that I want a copy close at hand when I am in bed.)

• I need this on my desk. (This book is so valuable, that I want my own copy at my desk that I will share with no one.)

• I need this in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.)

• I need this available somewhere in my shared network. (I probably do not need this book, but it would be nice to get it within three to five days via my network catalog.)

• I’ll use my money elsewhere. (Just not sure this is a useful book for my library or my network.)