“A Masterwork” on libraries today

A fascinating book review of Sam Popowich’s “brilliant” “masterwork” Confronting the Democratic Discourse of Librarianship: A Marxist Approach. The reviewer talks about the contradictory position of librarians in our capitalist world. During the pandemic, they have been further called upon to do so much, including risky work. Libraries themselves provide so much for us in our economically exploitative world. Among other interesting points, the review talks about Popowich’s use of:

Fobazi Ettarh’s concept of “vocational awe,” which refers to “the set of ideas, values, and assumptions librarians have about themselves and the profession that result in notions that libraries as institutions are inherently good, sacred notions, and therefore beyond critique.”

This vocational awe allows for the unviable and uncritical exploitation of these workers. A critical view of our love of libraries and our admiration of librarians is necessary especially within an economically exploitative world that simultaneously undermines and exploits librarians’ great work.

The book review: https://networks.h-net.org/node/11717/reviews/10374436/fisher-popowich-confronting-democratic-discourse-librarianship

Reading and Doing Research in the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress opened again to researchers a little over a year ago, on June 1st, 2021. It has been wonderful to have a great place to read, write, and do research. Since then, I've used the Manuscript Reading Room, the Newspaper & Current Periodicals Reading Room, and the European Reading Room (see photo of the ERR below). Now, researchers don't have to have appointments to use the reading room, just a reader/library card, which is easy and quick to get. I am in the European Reading Room today, and I didn't have an appointment. Here is all the info for researchers: https://research-appointments.loc.gov/