**The enduring library: technology, tradition, and the quest for balance. Michael Gorman. Chicago: American Library Association, 2003.**

Michael Gorman is not afraid to say *exactly* what’s on his mind. As American Library Association (ALA) president-elect, Gorman is both activist and politician at a time when we need both. If his latest book, *The enduring library: technology, tradition, and the quest for balance*, is any indication, he will continue to speak out on what matters most to librarians.

Take last summer, for example. Gorman delivered the key-
note address at the 2004 Canadian Library Association
(CLA) Conference in Victoria, B.C. He outlined some of li-
brarianship's main achievements over the past 100 years and
spoke eloquently about the key values of our profession. As
a skilled polemicist, he warned of dangers if librarians be-
come complacent about values: right-wing governments
eroding our free speech; libraries' autonomy and intellectual
freedom under siege (the US Patriot Act); even how comput-
ers threaten to overwhelm us (making us stressed and stu-
pid). Full of one-liners and political jabs, it was exactly what
you want from a keynote speaker.

But candour without diplomacy can be a dangerous thing. After his *Library Journal* editorial was published in early 2005, Gorman found himself at the centre of controversy months before his ALA presidency starts. This time aiming at bloggers, Gorman said that “many of the Blog People are [not] in the habit of sustained reading of complex texts. It is entirely possible that their intellectual needs are met by an accumulation of random facts and paragraphs.” Librarians — often among the first to adopt new technologies (like blogs) — found his comments insulting. Not what you’d expect from an ALA president.

Was it *Gormangate*, as some suggested? Were his com-
ments out of touch with librarians on the frontlines? To what

extent does the ALA president have a responsibility to “speak
for all librarians”?

As the issues were debated, Gorman was unrepentant. Lighten up, don't take yourselves so seriously, he seemed to be saying in a follow-up editorial. While the debate continued, Gorman had achieved his goal — to have a discussion and to incite debate about new technologies.

And so it is with *The enduring library*. In this slim volume, Gorman covers territory familiar to those who have read him or to those who have heard him speak at conferences.

Gorman is one of the few among us to look critically
(some would say negatively) at technology's impact on our
lives, our profession, and on services. Even if you don't
agree with his views, it doesn't matter; he helps you to sort
out your position on important issues, to find some balance
at a time when it is badly needed.

This is a must-read for all librarians. Health librarians
may find the chapters on the future of research libraries and
overcoming techno-stress particularly relevant. health care
system, but its practical use is limited at best.

Dean Giustini

*University of British Columbia*
*Biomedical Branch Library*
*Vancouver General Hospital*
*700 West 10th Avenue*
*Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L5, Canada*
*E-mail: dean.giustini@ubc.ca*