“Our hold on history is fragile”: Why libraries are worth fighting for

In Behind the Desk at the Main: A Librarian’s Memoir, Dorothy Lazard writes, “Our hold on history is fragile if we don’t harvest it, preserve it, and share it. Our stories are the bounty that feeds and sustains our communities.” The book not only shares tales from Lazard’s tenure at the Oakland History Center, but also explains the vital and ever-changing role that libraries play in society. According to Lazard, libraries are facing “an existential crisis” due to budget cuts, censorship, changing technologies, and anti-democratic political trends.

On October 8, I interviewed Lazard in front of a packed house at Clio’s Books. Listen to the podcast to hear our discussion on biblioholism, the most obscure questions she was asked by library patrons, the controversy around her book launch, and much more. Find the program via Apple, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

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