We love Stephen Abram : Out Front!

Out Front With Stephen Abram: A Guide for Information Leaders
Compiled by Judith A Siess and Jonathon Lorig. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2007.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0932-4
ISBN-10: 0-8389-0932-9

Reviewed by Terri Tomchyshyn

This is not so much a guide as it is a manifesto and thoughtful compilation of Stephen Abram’s columns and blogs.

For those who don’t know Stephen Abram, and I gather there might be a few people out there who haven’t had the pleasure, Stephen is the Vice President of Innovation at SirsiDynix and a past-president of the Canadian Library Association. They say he “lives” in Toronto but my own guess is, given his lecture circuit and notes that start with “I am in… name a city here,” that he’s more like Tom Hanks and lives at airports between writing columns and blogs, or giving presentations.

This compilation of Stephen’s writings was a stroke of genius and ALA should be roundly applauded for taking these articles and columns and putting them all into a nice handy dandy guide. Kudos to the compilers of this readable, educating and entertaining text. Choosing from the plethora of content would have been a challenge. They have put together an eminently useful text for librarians everywhere

Stephen’s writing style is similar to his speaking style… straightforward, shooting from the hip, colourful and always with a point.

This is a book that EVERY librarian, especially those of us in CASLIS should have and be reading and re-reading regularly.

There are four sections – advocacy, technology, communities and the future – each with their own set of Abram-isms.

Do you want an argument for what Google is good at and what it can’t do? It’s here.

Need an argument for why your library matters? It’s here.

Do you need an idea of what the latest technology is and how it might be used in your library? It’s here.

All in bite-size pieces, easily digestible and always thought provoking.

Never mind buying this with your library's budget. We all need to have our own personal copies, dog eared and worn.

Wrapped around an Abram bibliography, is a section of selected readings, and a great index at the back this is a must have, must read. Spend the money get your own copy.

Available from CLA
Price: $46.80
CLA Member Price: $42.12
Please order at: orders@cla.ca