Before online resources, the Los Angeles Public Library offered a valuable index of fiction book review cards created by staff, providing insights into new novels. Used from the 1920s to the 1980s, these cards helped librarians inform patrons about book contents and were crucial in the decision-making process for acquiring titles, particularly from emerging authors. Robert Anderson, a long-serving librarian, emphasized their utility, noting their role in guiding patron inquiries and influencing book purchasing decisions. A recent video aims to familiarize the public with this historical resource, now accessible in the library.
The staff review cards were a handy tool that library staff used to answer specific questions the public had about different books.
If people called and said, 'I've heard about this book and I just want to know what it's about,' you could pull out the card and read it to them.
It was a major way they made the decision on what to buy, particularly for newer authors.
Although the cards are readily available to the public, the video will introduce most people to the collection.
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