{"product_id":"overdue-by-amanda-oliver-9781641609210","title":"Overdue","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWho are libraries for, how have they evolved, and why do they fill so many roles in our society today?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBased on firsthand experiences from six years of professional work as a librarian in high-poverty neighbourhoods of Washington, DC, as well as interviews and research, \u003ci\u003eOverdue\u003c\/i\u003e begins with Oliver's first day at an 'unusual' branch: Northwest One.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUsing her experience at this branch allows Oliver to highlight the national problems that have existed in libraries since they were founded: racism, segregation, and class inequalities. These age-old problems have evolved into police violence, the opioid epidemic, rampant houselessness, and lack of mental health care nationwide — all of which come to a head in public library spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCan public librarians continue to play the many roles they are tasked with? Can American society sustain one of its most noble institutions?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePushing against hundreds of years of stereotypes, romanticisation, and discomfort with a call to reckoning, \u003ci\u003eOverdue\u003c\/i\u003e will change the way you think about libraries forever.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne part love letter, one part eulogy,\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eOverdue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003etells the story of America's public library system... Amanda Oliver proves herself a vibrant new literary voice... This is a book for all book lovers.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eReza Aslan, author of\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eZealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46845428138220,"sku":"9781641609210","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/13082223482772.jpg?v=1758879256","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/overdue-by-amanda-oliver-9781641609210","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}