Our Enduring Values Revisited: Librarianship in an Ever-Changing World

by Michael E. Gorman

In the almost 15 years since Our Enduring Values was published, there has been a sea change in the way much of the world thinks about and uses libraries. Young librarians and seasoned LIS professionals alike are experiencing increasing pressure to adjust to new economic, societal, and technological demands amidst the often-dire rhetoric currently surrounding the future of our institutions. In this stirring manifesto, public intellectual, librarian, and philosopher Gorman addresses head on the “existential panic” among library professionals caused by the radical shift in how libraries are viewed. He reconnects readers with the core values that continue to inspire generations of library professionals and scholars—while making the case that these values are doubly crucial to hold on to in the brave new shifting world of librarianship. Destined to become another classic of library literature, this book explores such contemporary issues as

-The growing emphasis of the library as a cultural institution, placing libraries within their cultural context as gathering places for learning, access to information, and community
-The impact of technological innovations on core values such as access and stewardship
-Library places and spaces of the future
-How the mass digitization of books, archives, and other materials affects the purpose and function of libraries
-Intellectual freedom and privacy in the era of the PATRIOT Act, Wikileaks, and Edward Snowden
-The role of libraries as both champions and facilitators of social justice

Inspirational yet clear-sighted, Gorman emphatically reaffirms the importance of libraries and librarians while proposing a path for future survival and growth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Librarianship, Read For School, American, Library Science

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2015

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorman is so abrupt. I know his terse writing style and perspective on librarianship is not palatable to everyone but I... I love him for it. He says all of the things I believe most library professionals are too afraid to say.

You either love him or hate him but you can't deny his passion for the values of the library and information science sector.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went to this book looking for a deeper discussion of some of the complexities I see in our profession in the current moment. Perhaps a difficult task considering it was written in 2015, which now seems like a glorious bygone era in our society. Gorman has a moderate voice and is eloquent explaining some common-sense, pretty standard and agreed-upon views on the values behind librarianship. While it never hurts to revisit these ideas, I was hoping for more. More guidance in a world where democracy seems so threatened and misinformation so common and where I feel the challenge of balancing checking my own biases and political beliefs against what Gorman refers to and what I see as "the greater good." How do we let bigots into the library but prohibit bigotry? How do we bring high-quality information to those who seek only one answer? Am I being biased by selecting or not selecting a piece of information, or just doing my job of evaluating it based on "objective" standards? These questions weren't answered or really addressed. Also Gorman seems to hate video games for no reason. But overall I would say it's still a worthwhile read if you're in the library profession. My quest will continue for a text that will help me articulate my feelings at this moment, but I'm also glad I got this one under my belt.

[Holly]

Gorman wins the award for eloquent writing about libraries and the profession I hold very dear to my heart.

[Rusty del Norte · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want an intellectual argument about the ideals of librarianship, this book might be up your alley. It is an idealistic view of society and how libraries should be the focal point of the community and society in gernal. It argues for stewardship and democratic ideas that the author views as being part of the library "ethos". And there is a huge stress on literacy - which I agree with.

Where I see the author of this title falling short on is the attitude to the shifting in librarian culture. He laments the changes in traditional library at major library schools and sees them as no longer teaching true 'librarianship'. He does not embrace change - whether it be via technology or the pairing of "information science" to "library science". Somehow, he sees librarianship, not as an interdisciplinary approach, but a philosophical bulwark against the forces of government overreach (such as Internet filtering).

Overall, its a good book and reminds us what some of us in the library field are about. I just wish he took changes in a more even handed way and not come off as a grumpy old man at times.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Recently, I applied and was accepted into a graduate Library School program. I've been having my doubts just based on my local job market (for library positions). However, after reading this book, I'm convinced I don't want to do it. Sounds like a scary time to enter into this profession. As I look around, the staffing is very slim (automated checkout). I don't think any of the clerks are professionals with MLS degrees (the limited number of these jobs must be behind the scenes). I would say 99% of the advertised job openings are for part-time non-professional positions. Furthermore, a lot of our public libraries tend to be glorified homeless shelters. Sorry to sound so negative. Again, I really did enjoy the book. It opened my eyes to several changes libraries are facing.

[Benjamin Fasching-Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as awesome as the first visit but still very good for the librarian soul. Yeah, he does get shrill in places, and Gorman is getting on a bit, sometimes it feels like this cranky old man rant, but then you get to chapters on "privacy" and "democracy" where it's like, it's gotten even worse in the couple of years since he wrote this, and who'd have thought that? So then, maybe the shrill bits in the other chapters are also prescient.

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about the core of the LIS profession

[Rea Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is 4 star content told in a 2 star way...so in Rea Math that balances out to 3 stars.

[Matthew Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know, I liked it.

[Vidu]

Read for GLIS 601: Foundations of Information Studies

[Mikael · Rating 3 out of 5]

We keep coming back to Gorman for checking both ethics classes and inspirational reading.

[Cheryl]

Not for the lay public. But it did make me think. I love libraries. But I don't actually use them, per se. I request books online, going in only long enough to check out the holds. Yes, sometimes displays of new books catch my eye. And sometimes I go into the stacks for a specific title, and sometimes walk out with books that were shelved near that I don't need but now want. Rarely I ask for advice, and those few times that I have I have gotten nothing helpful.

I understand that we patrons have access to databases and Lynda and etc., but I have not found a way to make use of them. I know that if I get terribly lonely I could go hang out at the library, maybe in the magazine or picture-book section.

But all that is, I have to admit, trivial. My librarians don't really do anything for me that requires a master's in library-science... because I don't ask them for all those extra things that they could do. I could, indeed, get all the books that I want digitally. So, anyway, even though I will continue to use and support libraries to my capacity, I do think that librarians need to figure out just what they need to to do to be relevant to voters & taxpayers... and how to make their relevancy clear... someone else in my shoes may not be as supportive, and too many of their truly needy patrons aren't voters....

Maybe there were ideas about that sort of thing in the book. But a skim revealed that it would be a slog *for me* to read deeply enough enough to find them. Sorry.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed exploration at to the nature of libraries in today's ever-changing world. The author provides a brief history and philosophy of libraries and their connection to a civil, democratic society. Topics include values, stewardship, service, intellectual freedom, rationalism, literacy and learning, equity of access, and privacy. An enjoyable read for librarians and library students, as well as educators and public administrators. (A quote:)

Libraries Have a Future

Dear Reader, I believe with all my heart that we librarians and our libraries will continue to carry out our historic mission, not least because that is what society and individuals in society demand. We will profit from existential debates about the future of libraries and the meaning of librarianship because introspection— if positive in attitude— brings strength. I hope this discussion of our core values contributes to that self-examination and to the resultant strengthening of our resolve and value. I also hope that we will work together to create a new golden age of libraries in which we will come to understand and to actualize our commonality of purpose in the midst of the diversity of our missions.
Keep faith!
Michael Gorman Chicago, Illinois September 2014

Gorman, Michael. Our Enduring Values Revisited: Librarianship in an Ever-Changing World (Kindle Locations 4173-4180). Amer Library Assn. Kindle Edition.

Gorman, Michael. Our Enduring Values Revisited: Librarianship in an Ever-Changing World (Kindle Location 4140). Amer Library Assn. Kindle Edition.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shrill in places but a strong and welcome cri de coeur.