The Library Book (2018)
Author: Susan Orlean
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Available in various formats at the following and additional outlets: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound
“In times of trouble, libraries are sanctuaries.” ― Susan Orlean, The Library Book
The Library Book by Susan Orlean is a tapestry of stories about public libraries. Spun around the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library, it tells a history of that and similar institutions. It details the trials, victories, and ongoing challenges experienced by the L.A. Public Library and its staff, as well as the people whose leadership proved pivotal to the library’s ultimate success. Through a harrowing tale of one library, The Library Book tells the story of libraries (and repositories) everywhere.
This book just absolutely enraptured me. Before I listened to it (audiobook available via Audible), I had no idea that the L.A. Public Library had suffered such a catastrophic loss.
Above: The Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, California, 1935. Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images.
“Our minds and souls contain volumes inscribed by our experiences and emotions; each individual’s consciousness is a collection of memories we’ve cataloged and stored inside us, a private library of a life lived.” ― Susan Orlean, The Library Book
Ms. Orlean conducts a thorough investigation of the disaster, including witness statements from those who were present on the day. She interweaves these interviews with a fascinating history of the L.A. Public Library, dating back to its beginnings in the late 19th century.
As a librarian entering a new facet of the profession, I can appreciate the attention she paid not only to the services provided by the library, but also the struggles that librarians went through (and continue to go through) to make those services available to their readers.
She approaches her investigation with an open mind and an altogether unbiased view of libraries. At times funny, at times sobering, she celebrates new discoveries and treats devastating moments with appropriate thoughtfulness. I came away from her book with a deeper love of my profession and a renewed inspiration to do whatever I can to keep it at the forefront of the public consciousness.
This book brings to light the amazing work that libraries do in, around, and for their communities. While it focuses primarily on public libraries, many of the themes presented, such as organizational resilience, disaster preparedness, and community engagement could also be applied to other library types (i.e. special libraries (including museums and archives), academic libraries, school libraries, and more). These themes are universal across all information repositories, and Ms. Orlean reminds us of the beauty of libraries. They are essential to any community and act as the beating heart for the populations they serve.
References
Orlean, S. (2018). The library book. http://www.susanorlean.com/author/books/the-library-book/
Articles featuring the 1986 LAPL fire, Susan Orlean, and The Library Book
Creason, G. (2012). Remembering the day the library burned: The anniversary of the day when a downtown treasure burned. Los Angeles Downtown News. Retrieved from http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/remembering-the-day-the-library-burned/article_4b7f9458-8b3e-11e1-93a8-0019bb2963f4.html
Kipen, D. (2018). Susan Orlean tells the long-overdue tale of the 1986 Central Library fire. Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/susan-orlean-library-book/
Kellogg, C. (2018). Must Reads: Who started the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Library? Susan Orlean investigates in her new book. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-susan-orlean-library-20181011-htmlstory.html
Scott, S. (2018). Mystery of a massive library fire remains unsolved after more than 30 years. National Public Radio (npr). Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2018/10/13/656896695/mystery-of-a-massive-library-fire-remains-unsolved-after-more-than-30-years
About the Author
Jayme Nelson holds a bachelor's degree in music education from West Texas A&M University and a master's degree in library science from Texas Woman's University, with a focus in archives and special collections. She plays bassoon in the Austin Symphonic Band and several other volunteer music ensembles in the Austin area. A former orchestra librarian and archivist in training, Jayme also serves as a collections volunteer at the Austin History Center, a local city archive. As part of her graduate studies, she recently helped to draft a collection development policy for the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History in Austin, TX.
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