Reviews

Overdue: Reckoning with the Public Library by Amanda Oliver

alisonrcscheide's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

4.0

mdegraffe's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

4.5

jennicajackson's review

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

jen_jacob's review

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2.0

I wanted to like this book, and there were parts that I really got into. I wish that Oliver had focused more on her time at Northwest One and the issues that surrounded the branch and its patrons as well as how the staff at the branch helped those patrons. How, with the limited time allowed, did the hired social worker make any progress? What has the DC Public Library System done since to address these issues. Maybe this is a wish because this is my specific area of interest.

To me, the entire book seemed disjointed. Something that could have been written in a journal and that Oliver was almost using to unpack her time as a librarian. While I can empathize with her and have needed to take time to decompress, I don’t think that writing a book with this particular format is the way to go.

It could have been productive on so many levels. But I think that one topic should have been chosen and stuck to.

purplepierogi's review

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lot of interesting food for thought, but not sure it was well executed. Author was all over the place.

blueberrymilk's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

3.0

just_justine's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

hafsa97's review

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reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

rachelmp's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

libwinnie's review

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4.0

This book was recommended to me by a customer and after the first chapter or two, I was prepared to hate it. There was quite a bit of self-indulgent back-patting throughout, but the author is also not wrong about the challenges faced by library staff. I landed on 3.5 stars, but rounded up due to my bias around her limited public library experience and my desire not to minimize someone else's trauma. Also, I have to acknowledge that she wisely chose not to prolong a career that was causing her harm.