I was originally planning to write a pretty extensive review of “This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All” by Marilyn Johnson, as a) it’s a book about librarians, and b) it’s been getting a significant publicity push, especially in the library community (though it was also featured prominently in a front-of-store display the last time I went in Borders). Here’s the problem: I really did not like this book. However, the tone is so darn chipper! and excited! that I would feel like a heel if I wrote a huge screed detailing all of its flaws. So instead, I’m going to try and lay out my problems with the book quickly and concisely.

The subtitle “How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All” implies some kind of grand overview of the importance of our field in the 21st century. Unfortunately, Johnson seems content to flit from topic to topic, focusing mainly on those that seem neat and shiny to her instead of those that are actually significant. For example, one of her longest chapters looks at libraries and librarians in Second Life. First of all, does anyone actually use Second Life anymore? Based on my (admittedly limited) usage of the program, it seemed pretty desolate. Second, Johnson writes a lot more about the fluidity of identity in Second Life than how libraries are using the program to further their missions. The chapters on blogs and zines are similarly superficial (and also obsessed with identity; maybe it’s because I’m from a younger generation, but the idea that people might not be what they represent themselves to be online isn’t particularly surprising to me). She recovers a little with chapters on the New York Public Library and archiving near the end of the book, but even these mainly consist of light character studies.

Overall, “This Book is Overdue” could be summarized thus: “Librarians sure don’t match up with the old stereotypes! Some of them are young! And sassy!  And have tattoos! They are using technology! They’re on the internet!” (If I wanted to be more concise, I could summarize the book in one word: “Golly!”) Johnson doesn’t seem to know very much about libraries or librarians. This perspective could actually be useful in terms of writing a book for other people who don’t know much about libraries or librarians, except she doesn’t seem that interested in learning more about these topics, beyond what’s flashy and new. However, her enthusiastic and ever-optimistic tone could make “This Book is Overdue” useful to people who are considering getting an MLIS or are in the process of getting their MLIS and need a reminder for why they should be excited about their chosen career.