{"product_id":"overdue-reckoning-with-the-public-library-9781641609210","title":"Overdue: Reckoning with the Public Library","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"One part love letter, one part eulogy, \u003ci\u003eOverdue \u003c\/i\u003etells the story of America's public library system . . . Amanda Oliver proves herself a vibrant new literary voice . . . This is a book for all book lovers.\" --Reza Aslan, author of\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Who are libraries for, how have they evolved, and why do they fill so many roles in our society today? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Based on firsthand experiences from six years of professional work as a librarian in high-poverty neighborhoods of Washington, DC, as well as interviews and research, \u003ci\u003eOverdue\u003c\/i\u003e begins with Oliver's first day at an \"unusual\" branch: Northwest One. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Using her experience at this branch allows Oliver to highlight the national problems that have existed in libraries since they were founded: racism, segregation, and class inequalities. These age-old problems have evolved into police violence, the opioid epidemic, rampant houselessness, and lack of mental health care nationwide--all of which come to a head in public library spaces. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Can public librarians continue to play the many roles they are tasked with? Can American society sustain one of its most noble institutions? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePushing against hundreds of years of stereotypes, romanticization, and discomfort with a call to reckoning, \u003ci\u003eOverdue\u003c\/i\u003e will change the way you think about libraries forever.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Chicago Review Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/04\/2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781641609210\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 224\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.04lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.80d","brand":"Amanda Oliver","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43897165906101,"sku":"9781641609210","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_8e0e5d39-2bb1-4789-8d9d-9c1fdd49ce11.jpg?v=1712633397","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/overdue-reckoning-with-the-public-library-9781641609210","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}