Reading the Map of Knowledge: The Art of Being a Li-brarian, by Peter M. Briscoe. Grand Terrace, California:Palo Verde Press, 2001. 27p. $5.00. ISBN 0-96-34898-1-X(paper).

Briscoe’s work is one of far too few (if any) that posits achallenge to unbookish librarians. Published as a pamphlet,it is a paperback booklet that expresses dissent with an infat-uation with technology and engages debate about bibliogra-phy and the librarian’s role in knowing and leading readersto the print canon: those “works of highest knowledge”(p.14) that represent the “essential part of the library” (p.15).Briscoe (Univ. of California, Riverside) offers three entreat-ing essays—“On Being Well Read in an Age of InformationOverload,” “Rings of Knowledge: Another Way of Seeingthe Library,” and “On Being Worthy of the Name”—and acoda to map out his course for librarianship.

Librarians are not only witnessing an unprecedented igno-rance of books and quiet reading among undergraduates, butare inevitably deterred from developing their own readinghabits as well their libraries become, in the words ofBriscoe, “overrun by technocrats” (p.24). At a time whenlibrarians have only the smallest chance for practicing andinstilling serious lifetime reading habits, the reviewer re-joices in Briscoe’s proposed model for accomplishing bothand hopes it shapes (as pamphlets sometimes do) the currentopinions of the profession.

Libraries may order Briscoe’s self-published pamphletfrom their preferred vendor, or individuals may obtain acopy by sending a $5.00 check payable to Peter Briscoe,18608 Oak Park Drive, Riverside, CA 92504. Recom-mended for librarians, library students, and teaching fac-ulty.—Amanda Cain, Humanities/Information LiteracyLibrarian, Francis Harvey Green Library, West ChesterUniversity, West Chester, PA 19383<acain@wcupa@edu>.

Midlife Career Decisions of Librarians (special issue),edited by Daniel F. Phelan and Richard M. Malinski. Li-brary Trends, vol. 50, no. 4 (Spring 2002): 575-758.

If a librarian’s career stages were once more clear thanthey have become today, including the myriad career possi-bilities that mid-career librarians can now consider, this shiftmay be a result of technology and an older work force ac-cording to co-editor Phelan. Whereas once upon a time anew graduate chose public services or technical services and“followed it to retirement, middle management, or upperadministration,” today’s mid-career librarian can consider avery non-traditional path that includes more opportunities forprofessional growth than ever before (p. 575). Phelan ex-plains, “Through the effects of aging, a growing dissatisfac-tion with traditional paths, the need for new challenges, andthe belief that a new generation might benefit from theirencouragement and nurturing, the mid-career librarian is pre-sented with an altered scenario for the future” (p. 576). Asan aging mid-career librarian, this reviewer devoured theissue with real interest.

Phelan and Malinski include articles by librarians whohave pursued alternative career directions; articles by librari-ans who advocate energizing a career through taking a sab-batical, mentoring the young, or keeping a work journal;

articles that considered both the available career manage-ment books at present and three types of career plateauing inthe lives of library professionals; and articles that considerthe effect of technology on librarians. Although many au-thors mention many different career changes, whole articlescover becoming a chief librarian; moving between the archi-val and library professions and from a small to a large li-brary; moving from an academic to a public library; partici-pating in a job rotation in an academic library; or starting asoftware company.

Although the many authors who candidly invented rubricsor presented rationales to explain their career choices inter-ested this reviewer more than the several discussions of themore abstract concepts considered (especially the effects oftechnology on mid-career librarians), two exceptions are ex-cellent articles on keeping a work journal by Katherine Mur-phy Dickson and exploring plateauing and career satisfactionby Denise Montgomery. In one of the more creative articles,Dickson presents a formula for exploring the blocks to jobsatisfaction, fantasizing about the perfect job, and payingattention to dreams in a work journal. Montgomery gainedinspiration for writing about plateauing at a fairly young agefrom a 1988 ALA Annual Conference program, LevelingOff and Lateraling Out: Plateauing and Tracking as CareerObstacles. About the program she writes, “it has probablybeen one of the most useful presentations I have ever at-tended at any professional meeting. . .” (p. 703). Althoughthis reviewer found this statement rather astounding at first,after reading the article it was perfectly understandable.Montgomery’s discussion of plateauing, particularly life pla-teauing, and her enthusiasm for the concept should be rec-ommended reading for all the confirmed workaholics outthere.

For mid-career librarians interested in career exploration,Phelan and Malinski’s special issue, “Midlife Career Deci-sions of Librarians,” provides excellent content and comple-ments such standard career works as What Else You Can Dowith a Library Degree: Career Options for the 90 secondsand Beyond by Betty Carol Sellen (Neal-Schuman, 1997)and Opening New Doors: Alternative Careers for Librarians(Special Libraries Association, 1993).—Christy Zlatos,Manager, Holland Library Reference and Microforms,Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA99164-5610 �zlatos@wsu.edu�.

Marketing Concepts for Libraries and Information Ser-vices, 2nd ed., by Eileen Elliott de Sa’ez. London: FacetPublishing, 2002. 224p. $55.00. ISBN 1-885604-426-2.

When it comes to applying marketing concepts to librar-ies and library services, librarians can be wary if not outrightskeptical. Reasons for the caution are complex. Some areuncomfortable with information professionals adopting abusiness model or taking on a corporate mentality. Theydon’t want to resemble divorce lawyers promoting litigationor physicians hawking their talents. Professionalism, forthem implies a certain gentility—a willingness to serve ef-fectively the information needs of their users but a insistencethat the willingness be tempered with a measured profes-sional reserve. Other librarians have concerns that are moreethical. They worry about marketing’s twin sister, advertis-ing and the host of moral questions accompanying her. Ad-

54 The Journal of Academic Librarianship