In a world of streaming media, digital archives, and Google Everything, some think librarians are as obsolete as print on a page. Marilyn Johnson, acclaimed author of The Dead Beat, now celebrates libraries and librarians, arguing that the work they do is more important than ever. Johnson follows a new breed of visionary professionals—cybrarians—who use the web to link people and information, and bridge the gulf between those who have the tools and resources they need and those left behind by economics, education, or the latest computer upgrade.

With wit and grace, Johnson upends the stereotypes to show that contemporary librarians come in a variety of disguises, including: a tattooed, multi-ethnic, hard-partying children’s librarian; a writers’ groupie; a boxing archivist; a Catholic couple who teach missionaries to use computers; and many sexually ambiguous and voluptuous avatars. They’re joined by a chorus of entertaining librarians and cybrarians who make unholy, and hilarious, noise behind the stacks, in the bar, and on the web.

Libraries are the portal to our future and the cradle of our past, and librarians are wired to both. Johnson presents a refreshing view of the undervalued individuals who create order out of our messy world.