The Whole Library Handbook is as close to a comprehensive almanac of library and information science as one can get. The contents are divided first by subject – libraries, people, the profession, materials, operations, the underserved, promotion, technology, issues and librariana – and then subdivided from there. What results are lists, statistics, rankings, profiles, histories, guides, editorials, chronologies (i.e. great moments in the history of technical services, from 8560 B.C. on) and more. Some items are extremely useful – such as listings of grants and awards (extensive and subdivided), addresses of state libraries and federal depositories – while others are merely fun or interesting, such as “Visual Characteristics of Librarians in Films.” Editorials include thoughts on why exhibits are important to libraries to why libraries should collect graphic novels. Any librarian or student could find the book, which runs about $40, useful and practical to own or have access to. When you're used to Dewey and need a refresher on LC classifications, there is an outline for you; there is also a refresher on storage guidelines for disaster prevention and Cataloging 101. The book is, as expected, extremely well indexed, making the information you seek easy to find. And you'll be hard-pressed to think of something that was not included. -- Jeanie Straub

Used in my chapter on camaraderie, serious and not-so-serious sides of librarianship are covered here.

This is a book that can be read in pieces--it always has its interesting bits and i think its handy although my coworkers don't always agree. ( )