Pop Goes the Library: Using Pop Culture to Connect with Your Whole Community
- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Information Today, Inc. (August 19, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1573873365
- ISBN-13: 978-1573873369
What a great resource for the modern librarian! This companion piece to the blog of the same name provides more detailed information for the information professional looking to increase the relevance of his or her collection and programming. In addition to the text, the authors include Notes from the Field where they feature the best responses to to pertinent questions from working librarians and articles written by special guests that explore in more depth the issues up for discussion. The authors begin by defining pop culture and continue by illustrating how culture is relative to each individual institution. They argue that interest in pop culture is less important than awareness, and they stress that the best resource for the latest thing is the users themselves. Brookover and Burns urge the reader to communicate with their staff and their patrons to evaluate the needs and effectiveness of the collection. Listening, they point out, is more valuable than all of the resources in the world. Both are advocates for strong Teen Advisory Boards and other programs that allow users to have a say in the library structure and environment. The book is broken up into sections that focus on defining pop culture, creating a relevant collection, establishing strong advocacy and outreach relationships, building innovative programming, and embracing technology as an agent of pop culture. The authors do more than preach, however; they also provide valuable resources that any information professional can put to use in their institution. Appendices include year-round programming, essential resources, websites with zing, and a list of recommending reading. In addition, the authors include a useful index making this more than a straight read. Most importantly, however, Brookover and Burns recognize that timeliness is paramount and as such, they maintain a website strictly for the book that provides the most up to date information and links as they become available.
If you are a fan of the blog, this book is a great companion piece. If not, the book is an excellent introduction to the blog itself. Both can be valuable resources for the modern librarian.
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