REVIEWS+

Public Library Services for the Poor

Doing All We Can
by Glen E. Holt
Holt, Leslie Edmonds & Glen E. Holt. Public Library Services for the Poor: Doing All We Can. ALA. 2010. 168p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-8389-1050-4. pap. $48. PRO MEDIA
COPY ISBN
At a time when the news is full of stories of people resorting to their public libraries during the economic downturn and of libraries experiencing drastically declining budgets, this book could not be more useful or necessary, with its thoughtful theoretical and practical advice for providing public library services to the poor. Leslie Edmonds Holt and Glen E. Holt, both editors of Public Library Quarterly, bring together their combined 30 years of experience in the St. Louis Public Library system with research of poor and otherwise economically disadvantaged users of the library to offer advice on how to plan, create, deliver, and evaluate library services to the poor, while also addressing the biggest challenges and obstacles that libraries might face.
VERDICT This clear, sensitive, considered, and timely book, the first of its kind since Karen M. Venturella's Poor People and Library Services (1998), should be read by all concerned public library staff.
Reviewed by Jessica Moran, Metropolitan Transportation Commission-Assoc. of Bay Area Govt. Libs., Oakland , Aug 01, 2010
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?