The Geological Staircase: Containing the Steps of Rocks and Floors of Alluvium

The Geological Staircase is as an alluring text. It showcases a well-designed cover, beautiful and colorful illustrations, and an intriguing title that sparks immediate interest. For good reasons, though, this book is a clear example of not “judging a book by its cover.” This book and its author were panned by numerous critics at the time of its release due to its lack of decent writing and informed geological content. Despite the questions on its quality and accuracy, this book represents a perfect example of the libraries’ commitment to building and maintaining diverse and holistic collections that encompass the full spectrum of scholarly output. Even questionable scholarship allows for strong learning opportunities.