"Good morning America book club"--Jacket.

The Yonkers Carnegie Library was commonly held to be the most beautiful building in the city. No one seemed to know for sure why it was destroyed. The circumstances that led to the death of the library are steeped in half-truths, incredible lies, and wild rumors that range from political corruption to bumbling incompetence. One rumor focuses on the true intentions of the Mayor of the time, Angelo Martinelli, and his desire to undo the white flight to the east side of Yonkers. Rumors hinting of racism-the area surrounding the library had become increasingly populated with blacks and Puerto Ricans-is also explored as a reason why the library was destroyed. Corruption in Yonkers city government has also been alleged, and while without having a smoking gun, it's hard to prove people took money under the table, the chronic pattern of cronyism is undeniable. Among the rumor mill, claims persist that Angelo Martinelli wanted to build a sleek high-rise tower to replace both the Yonkers City Hall and the library. Other rumors suggest the library was razed to make room for a bridge to New Jersey. Another allegation accuses Yonkers City Council Member Harry Oxman of sacrificing the library to spare his small-time dry cleaning business. And finally, the library itself has been accused of being its own worst enemy. What really happened?

This book addresses some of the most pressing issues in library and information science. It offers informed insight and perspectives on six essential and timely questions facing the profession: What is information? What is information literacy? What roles do academic libraries play in higher education today? How can we effectively educate librarians? What are the ethical and moral bases of the library and information professions? What is the future of librarianship? Written by John M. Budd, one of librarianship’s most-respected educators and the author of twelve previous books, and copublished with Beta Phi Mu, the International Honor Society for librarianship, this is sure to become one of profession’s most talked-about books.

This book reviews both the historical and future roles that public, private, academic and special libraries have in supporting and shaping society at local, regional, national and international levels. Globalisation, economic turmoil, political and ethnic tensions, rapid technology development, global warming and other key environmental factors are all combining in myriad and complex ways to affect everyone, both individually and collectively. Fundamental questions are being asked about the future of society and the bedrock organisations that underpin it. Libraries and Society considers the key aspects of library provision and the major challenges that libraries – however defined, managed, developed and provided – now face, and will continue to face in the future. It also focuses on the emerging chapter in cultural, economic and social history and the library's role in serving diverse communities within this new era. - Looks at all types of library in a period of major and discontinuous change, tackling the fundamental questions of the future of libraries in the context of major societal, political and environmental issues - Poses important questions for the profession and policy development - Fills a major gap in literature (recent discourse and debate on the future of democracy, for example, the library is rarely included)