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> Visit him at https://www.squirreldude.com/

Column Editor’s Note: Another quick note to get you into the reviews!

We have a great group of reviews to share this issue, balanced between books on the library and information science with general reference works. Unfortunately, a common thread here might be intellectual freedom and the rights of libraries to offer their communities resources without fear of attack. We approach this key topic from a few different vantage points. Included in these reviews are books from the ALA on protecting the intellectual freedom of a library collection, the goals in building a children’s core collection for a library, and the issues associated with being a public library director. These issues do not seem like they belong in 2023 — but here we are. We have seen a heightened number of books challenged in our libraries (not to mention the return of diseases like the measles). I really wish we did not have to relive the 1950s.

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: Karen Evans (Indiana State University, Terre Haute), Sonnet Ireland, (Washington Parish Library, Franklinton, Louisiana), Colleen Lougen (SUNY New Paltz), Rebecca Michelson (Swarthmore College Libraries) and Steven W. Sowards (Michigan State University). In particular, I want to thank Steve Sowards for being a great reviewer for me and for the previous editor, Regina Gong (now at the University of San Diego). Steve is retiring and we want to send him off with our eternal thanks and gratitude.

As always, I want to thank them for 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

Evans, R. C. (Ed.). Critical Insights: The Brontë Sisters. Massachusetts: Salem Press, 2022. 9781637000731. 300 pages. $105.00.

Reviewed by Rebecca Michelson (Electronic Resources Specialist, Swarthmore College Libraries <rmichel1@swarthmore.edu>

Critical Insights: The Brontë Sisters is part of Salem Press’s Critical Insights series, that provides background and critical analysis on major works of literature and important writers. The Brontë Sisters focuses on all three of the Brontë women: Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, and their contributions to literary history. As subjects, the Brontës are intriguing, mainly because they seem to have lived such normal, albeit extremely short

(Emily and Anne were often ill and both died early) lives. Nevertheless, from their first publications, mystery swirled around them. Perhaps it was their pen names, or perhaps because their writing can be seen as such a departure from literature, and specifically literature by and about women, of the time.

This Critical Insights volume is divided into several sections — an introduction by a scholar, a brief biographical essay on the Brontë family, four “Critical Contexts” essays, and finally, numerous “Critical Readings.” The “Critical Contexts” essays focus on scholars’ historical approaches to the Brontës and their writing, a survey of past literary criticism, and some specific critical lenses — for example, one essay examines Charlotte Brontë’s Villette in the context of class and the travel writing genre. In the first “Critical Readings” section, scholars engage with specific works to explore the shifts in popularity of certain Brontës. Most notably Anne Brontë, whose fame has risen considerably since her death, and Branwell Brontë, the sisters’ brother, who was slated to be an artistic star but instead fell to alcoholism, with his three sisters gaining far more posthumous popularity than he ever would. The second “Critical Readings” section includes surveys of editorial introductions to scholarly editions of Brontë novels, and the third “Critical Readings” section compares various film and television adaptations of Brontë works.

Editor Robert C. Evans was a respected Professor of English at Auburn University until his retirement in 2021 and has contributed to and edited a variety of Critical Insights publications including The Brontë Sisters. Other contributors include English professors, independent researchers, and other academics with interests ranging from 19th-century literature to stop-motion films to the U.S. public education system. This plurality of research and expertise imbues in this Critical Insights volume a diversity of thought — although the core focus is the Brontë sisters and their legacies, the volume and the writers within make clear that one doesn’t need to confine oneself to a study of 19th century literature in order to find inspiration in the Brontës’ works.

Critical Insights: The Brontë Sisters is an excellent introduction to the lives and literature of the Brontës and an equally excellent scholarly companion for reading Brontë novels. Particularly of interest are the second and third “Critical Readings” sections which analyze editorial introductions to the novels as well as film and tv adaptations. Both of the sections would be helpful for use in instruction settings, allowing teachers to select the best scholarly edition of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights or to build viewing programs of adaptations that can support instruction. These sections are also immensely helpful to researchers who can use this single volume to narrow down the editions most useful to their research.

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.)

Hall, Kate and Kathy Parker. The Public Library Director’s Toolkit. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2019. 9780838918593, 216 pages. $56.00 (ALA Members: $51.29)

Reviewed by Sonnet Ireland (Director, Washington Parish Library, Franklinton, La) <sonnet.ireland@yahoo.com>

Becoming a library director for the first time is overwhelming. Even if your predecessor leaves everything organized with meticulous and detailed instructions, it is a truly scary new world. In particular, it is rife with danger as you don’t always know what it is you don’t know. This is compounded exponentially when your predecessor is not meticulous or just left the position unexpectedly. Luckily, a book like this, however, breaks down the things a public library director needs to know in a way that is easy to understand and follow.

Kate Hall and Kathy Parker have 28 years of library director experience between them. On top of being a library director since 2010, first at New Lenox and now at Northbrook Public Library (both in Illinois), Hall has served on the Executive Board of the Illinois Library Association and also as President on the Reaching Across Illinois Library System, giving her a depth of experience with libraries across her state. Parker, with over 35 years of experience in libraries (16 of those years spent serving as director at Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library in Illinois), has also served as a library trustee at her own local library. Though she retired in 2018, she now has her own consulting business where she offers coaching to new directors, as well as helping library boards hire directors, which gives her the ability to understand both the perspective of the director and those who oversee the director.

Broken up into chapters covering topics such as finances, insurance, and emergency planning, the first part of the book outlines key areas that every library director should focus on. Each chapter starts with learning outcomes, so the reader knows exactly what to expect from the text. While the chapters themselves have a lot of information, the text is straightforward and not overwhelming. For example, under the Liability Insurance section of Chapter 7 on Insurance, there is a useful grey box of Liability Insurance Terms to Know. This is information that a library director needs to know, but it’s not something that most people think to explain to a new library director. With so much focus on the library part of the equation, we often don’t get the equally important non-library information we need. At the end of each chapter, the authors include a “Review and Reflect” section that offers key takeaways, a self-check list (to help you apply what you’ve read to your own library), and questions for reflection (for more in-depth consideration of your library and its needs). Additional resources are also included at the end of each chapter, including downloads of sample forms or policies that can be accessed at https://librarydirectorstoolkit.com/

The second part of the book is filled with sample documents, checklists, and other useful tools such as the Library Director Training Checklist. This checklist offers new library directors a way to get their bearing in a new position. These items are also on the website under Resources for easy downloading and printing.

This book can be a lifeline to any new library director (or even experienced directors who want to improve their work or policies). Readers should beware that the text cannot answer everything. It’s important for library directors to be familiar with state or local laws that affect them and their libraries, especially now. But this is an important first text that I would recommend to anyone interested in becoming a library director, or someone relatively new in the role.

ATG Reviewer Rating: 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.)

Issitt, Micah L. Opinions Throughout History: Law Enforcement in America. Grey House Publishing, 2021. 9781642658460, 548 pages. $226.77

Reviewed by Karen Evans (Chair of Public Services: Circulation, Research & Instruction, Cunningham Memorial Library, Indiana State University, Terre Haute) <karen.evans@indstate.edu>.

This illustrated work presents a fascinating history of law enforcement in North America, from its inception in the 1620s colonies to the COVID pandemic in 2020. The volume provides an understanding of the origin of policing and their power in the United States; touching on pertinent, watershed events in the history of law enforcement. The chapters are organized in a logical format, allowing the reader to follow the progression of law enforcement in the United States from the colonies at Roanoke and Jamestown all the way to the capitol insurrection on January 6th, 2021.

Each of the 28 chapters focuses on a specific law enforcement topic; from the slave patrols in the 1700s; to the private guns (detectives and detective agencies); and to protecting the country during the capitol insurrection. Some chapters focus on specific issues having an impact on law enforcement; legal cases (Mapp v. Ohio), Miranda warning, 911 system, citizen surveillance, Black Lives Matter and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot;” these chapters look at more than simply law enforcement; they look at issues that have shaped law enforcement in good and bad ways.

Chapters include a variety of primary and secondary documents — accompanied by “expert commentary and analysis,” that provide the reader with an opportunity to understand how law enforcement has evolved in this country. Chapters begin with an introduction to the topic and segue into topics covered in the chapter. Source documents are an attractive feature of each chapter and offer a window into American society at that time and help readers understand the context of the topic; the chapter on “The Slave Patrols” uses “Appointment to a Slave Patrol,” January 1856 as its source document. Chapters end with a conclusion, discussion questions, and a list of works used. Chapters can be read independently. Additional resources are available for readers, including notes, primary & secondary sources, glossary, historical snapshots (1880-2021), bibliography, timeline (Antiquity to 2021), and an index. The volume is easy to read, avoiding discipline specific language.

The author Micah L. Issitt is an independent scholar, historian, journalist, and editor. He has authored previous volumes for Opinions Throughout History, including national security vs. civil right, and immigration.

Looking at a specific chapter can help the user understand the unique resources and readability of the volume. Chapter nine on “The Rise of the G-Men: Policing During Prohibition and in the Era of Organized Crime (1920s)” starts with a short introduction and lists the topics covered in the chapter: prohibition, organized crime, Chicago, Al Capone, and Elliot Ness. Discussing prohibition and the Volstead Act, the chapter paints a vivid picture of that timeframe in America, highlighting the factors at play, including women, religion, the black market, and the industrialization of the liquor industry. Illustrations, including a prohibition map of the United States, help readers understand the political and public views of the time. Gangster Al Capone is portrayed as a family man in a newspaper article from The Bismarck Tribune, June 1929 entitled “Chicago’s Al Capone likes to wear apron, cook spaghetti.” The article discusses Capone as a family man who loves his mother and talks with his son every night, while shielding him from his father’s activities. The article provides an interesting side to Al Capone that few probably saw during his illegal activities.

The chapter conclusion discusses how the G-men (FBI) were viewed as heroes against organized crime — and helped illustrate the value of federal law enforcement.

One can pick this book up and read any chapter, learning about law enforcement history in the United States. A valuable work for criminal justice students or arm-chair enthusiasts.

ATG Reviewer Rating: 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.)

Garnar, Martin and Trina Magi, eds. (American Library Association. Office for Intellectual Freedom). Intellectual Freedom Manual. ALA Editions, 2021. 9780838948187, 327 pages, $69.

Reviewed by Colleen Lougen (Serials and Electronic Resources Librarian, SUNY New Paltz) <lougenc@newpaltz.edu>

Public debate and discussion surrounding intellectual freedom and book challenges in libraries has intensified in recent years. Intellectual freedom refers to an individual’s right to seek and access information from all perspectives without restriction. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom has published an updated edition of its definitive work, the Intellectual Freedom Manual, to assist library personnel in navigating these complex issues.

In its tenth edition, the manual summarizes the most recent ALA guidelines and policies regarding intellectual freedom and provides comprehensive essays covering the most pressing matters in libraries today. The editors, Martin Garnar and Trina Magi are distinguished academic librarians and recognized leaders in their fields. The manual also includes contributions from several top intellectual freedom experts.

To offer a proactive starting point for those introducing themselves to the topic, the manual outlines five strategies one can implement to promote intellectual freedom in their library. An introduction to the publication contains an overview of its scope and format and describes the new features added since its last edition. This volume has been enhanced with several notable additions, such as discussions of politics and religion in libraries; user-generated content in discovery systems; censorship in programs, displays, and databases; and when to contact law enforcement.

A chapter describing intellectual freedom and its relationship to academic, school, and public libraries was written by former directors of the Freedom to Read Foundation and the Office for Intellectual Freedom, Barbara M. Jones and James LaRue. Another chapter contains the text of ALA’s core intellectual freedom policies, including its Library Bill of Rights and Code of Ethics. The book also provides practical suggestions for creating library policies, as well as handy checklists for simplifying the process. The following six policies are covered and deemed essential for ensuring the protection of intellectual freedom in libraries: collection development and resource reconsideration, internet use, meeting rooms and exhibit spaces, privacy and confidentiality, social media, and library use and user behavior policies. Having a list of the most important policies assists libraries in focusing their efforts.

In the second part of the book, ten chapters address such topics as access, collection development, copyright, and workplace speech. These chapters present a summary of the key concepts for each issue, legal information, guidelines for developing related policies, advice for various types of libraries, reflection questions, relevant ALA policy statements, and many chapters contain a “deeper look” section.

The book concludes with an overview of how to develop messages that effectively communicate intellectual freedom principles to a variety of stakeholders. Furthermore, it provides resources for individuals seeking assistance and opportunities to become involved, as well as strategies for defending intellectual freedom and dealing with controversy. Among the book’s appendices are a glossary, a bibliography, and an index of official ALA policy statements.

A crucial point of this well-organized book is that libraries must maintain current policies to convey their commitment to impartiality, support a range of viewpoints in their collections, services, and programs, and render legitimacy to their actions. Because intellectual freedom and neutrality are guiding principles of the profession, this book can serve as an educational resource for staff and contribute to a culture that values intellectual freedom and explores its intricacies. It could also serve as a textbook for courses in library and information science. The availability of this book is essential, particularly in public and school libraries where challenges and issues may arise frequently.

ATG Reviewer Rating: 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.)

Spires, Kendal (ed.). Children’s Core Collection: Collection Development Recommendations, by Librarians for Librarians. 25th ed. Amenia, N.Y.: Grey House Publishing / Ipswich, Mass.: H. W. Wilson Co., 2021. 978-1-64265-804-0. xv + 2,370 pages. $240.00.

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

Available in print or e-book formats, this resource identifies 12,000 titles as a “best” or “opening day” collection for children from preschool through Grade six. Regularly updated, this volume is part of the Core Collection Series which includes other title lists for Middle & Junior High, Senior High, and Young Adult readers. Entries include bibliographic information, subject headings, a Dewey number, a summary, and notes including grade level suitability.

Selection of books for libraries serving K-12 students is (unfortunately) a contested process in America. Some interested parties seek to put books on shelves, others to remove them. Challenges around sexuality and race are widespread: titles dealing with anti-racism, same-sex relationships, gender identity, and reproductive rights are particularly targeted in a political phenomenon that places publishers and librarians in the middle.

Identification of “best” books is not self-evident. Collection development relies on the exercise of judgement and expertise. Librarians have a long history of sharing selection insights with each other, and publishers have taken part by disseminating “best” title resources (the first edition of this work appeared as early as 1909).

The editor’s goal is stated clearly in the preface to Children’s Core Collection: “to emphasize equity, diversity, and inclusion, representing and reflecting a varied community in which many voices can be heard” (page vii). The integrated author, title and subject index offers headings such as “Gay boys,” “Race relations” and “Sex education for children” — and all of these headings recommend books that have been frequently challenged.

The same book can appear on one person’s “best” list, and another person’s list of unacceptable titles. The American Library Association annually publishes a list of “Frequently Challenged Books” — see https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks (Banned & Challenged Books - shared by the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom). On the other hand, in 2021 a representative in the Texas state legislature sent a list of some 850 titles to school districts around the state, together with questions implying an intent to purge collections — the Texas Tribune has posted that list in PDF at https://static.texastribune.org/media/ files/94fee7ff93eff9609f141433e41f8ae1/krausebooklist.pdf. How do these lists compare: Children’s Core Collection, the ALA list, and the Texas legislative list?

ALA noted frequent challenges to 37 specific books or book series during 2016-2021 (some in multiple years): of these, 13 are works meant for Pre-Kindergarten to Grade six readers. Of those 13 challenged items, seven books and three series are listed in Children’s Core Collection. All seven books feature LGBTQIA themes, while the 3 series — Harry Potter, Skippyjon Jones, and Captain Underpants — are subject to other objections. Of these 10 books or series, five entries appear on the list from the Texas legislature.

We also can consider 30 titles noted in Children’s Core Collection under subject headings for “LGBTQIA+ Fiction.” 14 of those 30 titles appear in the Texas legislative list for potential challenge. One book appears twice, for both English and Spanish language versions: And Tango Makes Three / Con Tango son tres by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.

It is a sign of the times, that editors and authors making book recommendations are adding political and social justice elements to deliberations about “quality” and the appropriate audience for a book. In this case, Kendal Spires makes his intentions clear — opting for diversity, equity and inclusion — and then hits the target.

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.) — Better yet: I want access to an eBook version. (from the reviewer!)

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.)