Los Angeles Public library’s Vintage Book Review Cards Offer Glimpse into Literary Past
Table of Contents
- 1. Los Angeles Public library’s Vintage Book Review Cards Offer Glimpse into Literary Past
- 2. A Pre-Internet Guide to Literary Discovery
- 3. The Review Process: A Snapshot of Literary Values
- 4. A Historical Reflection
- 5. Lessons from the Past
- 6. Thinking back on their insights, as archivist Vance states, in her interview. what specific events, trends, or societal values did the staff’s language reveal about library card catalog and recommendations?
- 7. Unearthing Literary Treasures: An Interview with Archivist Eleanor Vance on LAPL’s Vintage Book Review cards
- 8. Preserving the Past: A Conversation with Eleanor Vance
- 9. What exactly are we talking about when we say “vintage book review cards”?
- 10. How were these book review cards used in the days before the internet?
- 11. The article mentions the cards “reflect the cultural values of the time.” Can you elaborate on that from an archivist’s perspective?
- 12. Were there any surprising or particularly insightful reviews you came across in your work with the collection?
- 13. What lessons can modern readers and libraries learn from these historical records?
- 14. what do you hope visitors take away from exploring the LAPL’s collection of staff review cards?
- 15. A question for our readers: Imagine you found a similar collection in your local library. What kind of historical insights would you hope to uncover? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Before the dawn of instant online information, libraries served as vital hubs for literary finding. The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) housed a unique system: staff-writen book review cards, offering insights into new fiction from the 1920s through the 1980s. These cards, now a historical artifact, reveal not only the content of the books but also the cultural values of the time.
A Pre-Internet Guide to Literary Discovery
these index cards were more than just internal notes; they were a crucial tool for assisting the public. According to Robert Anderson, a librarian, “In the pre-internet days, when you couldn’t just Google something, if people called and said, ‘I’ve heard about this book and I just want to know what it’s about,’ you could pull out the card and read it to them or show it to them if they were in person.”
- Informing the Public: The cards provided summaries and staff opinions to curious readers.
- Collection Growth: Positive reviews substantially increased the likelihood of a book being added to the LAPL’s collection.
The Review Process: A Snapshot of Literary Values
The review process was straightforward. Staff would create a synopsis and offer a personal review, indicating whether the library shoudl acquire the book and in what quantity. The reviews also included an evaluation of the text’s “literary merit” and descriptive adjectives to capture the story’s emotional impact on readers. Such as,a review of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway (1925) highlighted the book as “wholesome,” “pleasant,” and “interesting.” That said, Anderson admitted he questioned the “wholesome” label given the novel’s subject matter.
A Historical Reflection
While not in regular use today, the LAPL’s collection of staff review cards serves as an invaluable historical record. The library maintains its collection of staff reviews from the 1950s through the 1980s, encompassing both accepted and rejected books.
Anderson notes that “They’ve become an interesting reflection on not just the books themselves, but on the library staff who wrote these reviews and the attitudes prevalent in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, on particular subjects,” Further adding, “Just in the short little pieces of writing on these cards, you can find a lot about the particular time when these reviews were written and about the people who are writing the reviews.”
Lessons from the Past
The LAPL’s archive offers several key takeaways:
- The Value of Human Curation: Before algorithms, librarians thoughtfully assessed and recommended books.
- Cultural Context Matters: Reviews reflect the values and perspectives of their time.
- Preservation of history: Physical archives provide unique insights into the past.
The Los Angeles public Library’s index of staff review cards offers a fascinating glimpse into pre-internet literary culture, showing how libraries helped shape reading habits and reflect societal values. Explore your local library’s archives and uncover hidden gems of the past.What unique historical records are waiting to be discovered?
Thinking back on their insights, as archivist Vance states, in her interview. what specific events, trends, or societal values did the staff’s language reveal about library card catalog and recommendations?
Unearthing Literary Treasures: An Interview with Archivist Eleanor Vance on LAPL’s Vintage Book Review cards
Before the age of lightning-fast Google searches, libraries were the cornerstones of literary exploration. At the Los Angeles public Library (LAPL), staff-written book review cards offered a window into the world of new fiction from the 1920s through the 1980s. These cards are now a fascinating past resource. To delve deeper into this unique collection, we spoke with eleanor Vance, Head Archivist at the LAPL.
Preserving the Past: A Conversation with Eleanor Vance
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ms. Vance to discuss the importance and impact of these vintage book review cards. Here’s what she had to say:
What exactly are we talking about when we say “vintage book review cards”?
Well, simply put, these are index cards – typically 3×5 or 4×6 inches — upon which a librarian or library staff member would wriet a brief synopsis and review of a newly published book. Think of them as mini-reviews assigned to new fiction, created to assist patrons in choosing their next read. They’re essentially a pre-internet book suggestion system! They were a crucial tool to ensure positive book selection within the library.
How were these book review cards used in the days before the internet?
They were invaluable! Imagine someone calling the library and asking about a new novel they’d heard about. Staff could quickly pull the relevant card and read the synopsis to the caller. If the patron visited in person, they could browse the card catalog and get immediate insight into books they might not otherwise consider. These library book review cards provided personalized guidance in an analogue form.
The article mentions the cards “reflect the cultural values of the time.” Can you elaborate on that from an archivist’s perspective?
Absolutely. These cards offer a fascinating look into the past. The language used, the aspects of the story highlighted, and even the simple binary decision of “should we acquire this book or not?” all reflect the prevailing social norms and literary standards of that era. For exmaple,a book deemed “wholesome” in the 1920s might raise eyebrows with that label today! The cards show that even library book review cards were historically descriptive in fascinating ways.
Were there any surprising or particularly insightful reviews you came across in your work with the collection?
Oh, many! It’s often the seemingly mundane reviews that hold the most secrets. Such as, reviews are generally not accepted or rejected. But some rejected books from the 1950s have a strong cultural value for future books. You can see undercurrents of societal anxieties or changing perspectives in the librarians’ comments. Also, I recall that the quality and quantity would get you a positive review.
What lessons can modern readers and libraries learn from these historical records?
Several key things. First, they remind us of the value of human curation. Before algorithms made our choices, thoughtfulness and expertise guided reading recommendations. Secondly,content in the reviews depends on the cultural context. Reviews are subjective, filtered through the personal and societal lens of the reviewer. these physical archives offer unique historical insights that digital records often lack. There’s something special about holding a piece of the past in your hands.
what do you hope visitors take away from exploring the LAPL’s collection of staff review cards?
I hope they gain a deeper thankfulness for the role libraries have played in shaping literary culture. I hope they reflect and think about the ways cultural values influence and intersect with literary values. And, I hope they feel empowered to visit and explore libraries’ physical archives everywhere, whether in the nearest library or university. These are more than just old cards; they’re windows into the minds of readers and the heart of a community. Most of all, I hope they are reminded of the timeless power of books.
