K. R. Roberto

This is a mind-expanding and eye-opening book and a must-read for every cataloger. It will put your daily job into perspective and show you ways to serve your patrons by using unconventional cataloging methods (which some might consider "radical"). Topics range from classification (foreword by Sanford Berman and essays about subject headings for queer and latina) to descriptive cataloging of various types of material (film, serials). The contributions sometimes address very practical issues show more and ways to "tweak" cataloging rules so that user needs can be better accommodated, but there are also more theoretical essays (e.g. "Ubiquitous cataloging") that deal with traditional notions of cataloging and possibilities for change in order for libraries not to be marginalized by Google and the like. This collection of essays really changed the way I personally look at cataloging because it shows that rules (cataloging relies to a large extent on rules, and following them) must not be obeyed at all cost and that applying common sense can be a radical thing to do in cataloging. This was a freeing experience and is highly recommended! show less

Inspiring collection of "alternative" viewpoints. Like the annoyed librarian but with a social conscious. It felt good to finish it on MLK Day. It took me a long time to finish only because it consisted of many small pieces so I just dipped into it from time to time. Essential reading for those wanting to go to library school. Some of the links are old, but discovering which ones are still alive is part of the joy.

Did I say it was inspiring? It is also depressing in that a lot of negative show more trends called out within these pages have continued unabated. Particularly,the de facto corporate censorship of library collections by the elimination of local collections, small presses, and minority viewpoints. This is doubly true since the advent of DRM'ed digital content from third party vendors that libraries have embraced. This is an dystopian nightmare the likes of which even the cynics in this book could not have predicted. Or perhaps they did. From the introduction: "Be cyber-skeptic, while art-directed. Reward analog, anomaly, and high concept, high touch, low-cost anything."

Still, this volume has renewed my commitment to libraries, community, free software, an open internet, the elimination of poverty, and workers' rights. It also reminded me of Rory Litwin's indelible contribution to our profession. Rory is still going strong at Library Juice (http://libraryjuicepress.com/blog/). show less

I sought this out for two reasons, first, it's been a long time since I thought about activism and I miss that facet of my profession, which used to be so important to me; and second, because Jessamyn West was a co-editor. Like many anthologies it's uneven; I would single out the issue essays like Naomi Eichenlaub's gripping story of Sanford Berman and Tsang's essay about freedom of information post-9/11 as especially rewarding to read. The most practical and original essay about the state show more of the profession is Jess Nevins's, about what library schools don't teach--and should. And for sheer fun, something not seen in library literature since the original Revolting Librarians (1972), read Hendrix and Wilde's essay about the astrological signs of librarians (all of which, by the way, is baloney). There are a few comics in the spirit of the original. The introductory essays by the original contributors are full of tiresome baby boomer reproaches (Where did we go wrong? How did the revolution fail?) but it's reassuring to learn that Sanford Berman and Celeste West are still full of hope and fire. Flawed, and less playful than the original, but still a must read for all librarians. show less

I can tell I'm getting old and sliding toward conservatism when in my head I change the subtitle of this book from "radical librarians speak out" to "whiny librarians bitch & moan." Not to say I hated this book, as a collection of writings it was hit or miss with some authors very insightful and inspiring indeed. I appreciate that a diversity of voices are represented in the collection, sometimes even contradicting one another as promised in the introduction. I could live without the "we show more must" articles (as in "Librarians must do such-and-such to save the future!") though as this style of writing only encourages resentfulness or hysteria (or both), but rarely a productive solution to a problem. The best thing I got out of this book though is links to lots of librarian and library resources from the underground on up. show less