New book reflects on possibilities in museums and libraries

Dr. David Carr, associate professor at the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has published his second collection of essays, A Place Not a Place: Reflection and Possibility in Museums and Libraries.

The compilation becomes a journey for readers as they are led through Carr's thoughts and it has been given impressive reviews by both scholars and professionals.

“This remarkable book reminds us of and reinforces in us the critical role that our libraries and museums play in our society—the instruments of our persistent pursuit of our own identities and ideal selves,” said Robert S. Martin, former director of the Institue of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and professor and Lillian Bradshaw Endowed Chair at Texas Woman's University. “Every library and museum professional will profit from David Carr's thoughtful observations and careful articulation of what really goes on within our walls.”

"I wrote these essays to remind my readers that complex things occur when we are in the presence of information,” Dr. Carr said. "Libraries and museums are not simply locations. They are also experiences of mind and hope, and enemies of despair. We find surprising differences in them and come to understand surprising differences in ourselves."

Carr's areas of specialty include: cultural institutions and thinking, reading for pleasure, tools and cognition, collections, reference and concepts of service. He has recently taught courses on "Humanities and Social Science Information" and "Resource Selection and Evaluation." He will teach "User Education" this fall.

Carr's first book, The Promise of Cultural Institutions, was published in 2003. Both books are available through local book stores and online at Amazon.com.