The Library Book by Susan Orlean (027.4794 Orl)

If you are just browsing the shelves in the Library, you might miss this wonderful book.  Because, honestly, the Dewey Decimal number puts it in an area of the Library's collection that not many people see.  It's between the computer books (004-005) and the psychology books (133-155).  But if you miss it, you will miss a wonderful reading experience.  It's in the part of the library's collection assigned to books on libraries.  And, quite frankly, only librarians usually spend in time in that part of the collection.

Orlean's book ostensibly investigates the devastating fire in the Los Angeles Central Library on April 28, 1986.  I won't describe it here - she does a wonderful job of explaining how it started and spread as well as the results.  In a nutshell, 400,000 books were destroyed, another 700,000 damaged possibly beyond saving.

This book is so much more.  It is the history of the Los Angeles Public Library.  But in describing the history of this particular library, the author also explains the history of libraries in general.  She talks to people who love libraries, who love to work in libraries, and who support libraries. 

She talks about how the Los Angeles Public Library is adapting to the needs of today's society.  And in so doing, she talks about how all libraries are adapting to today's society.

You might think that this book is only about one writer's love of libraries and reading.  And only about one library.  But you would be wrong.  To get an understanding of how libraries (including the Indianola Public Library) operate and respond and believe, read this book.

Let me say this again.  Read this book!

So says the retired librarian.