The Long Overdue Library Book: Stories Librarians Tell One Another

by Sandy Bradley, Elsa Pendleton

The Cake Pan Library Running a bookmobile in South Korea Peyton Place and Mom Blessing of the animals Earthquake These stories and more can be found in this lively collection of "stories librarians tell each other." The co-authors have gathered vignettes of different kinds of library service -- their own and colleagues from past decades and present them to you for your entertainment. Funny, sad, or a little strange and quirky, the one thing that all of the stories have in common is that each one involves a library or a librarian. You will also find photo-sketches of libraries from all over. You just might see your local library between these covers. You might also recognize yourself as the subject of one or more of the stories. But not to worry: no actual names of characters were used, so your secret is safe. Please enjoy this book and share it with others. The proceeds from sales will be distributed by the authors to deserving libraries to further their mission of public literacy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Essays

274 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2013

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest." ~ Lady Bird Johnson

"If a public library is doing its job, it has something that offends every single person." ~ Phyliss A. Salak


The essays in this gushing Valentine to reading perfectly capture the awe, excitement and sense of possibility one experiences when entering a library. Magic is stored within the walls and upon the shelves, and truly, anything can happen to the happy reader who chooses to enter.

The authors explore different types of libraries, from Presidential to prison to bookmobiles. They tell tales of library patrons too in love with borrowed books to bother returning them and the homeless who use libraries as a daytime shelter. Their stories are frequently funny and occasionally bittersweet.

There are a few technical problems with the book. I was never completely sure who was narrating each essay, one of the two authors or an anonymous contributor. And despite the fantastic cover, the book has the look and feel of one of those cheap fundraiser cookbooks my dear mother-in-law insists on giving me every Christmas.

But, still...the anecdotes in these pages are delightful. Did you know there is a library in Kansas that loans out unusually shaped cake pans? What a fantastic idea! Who needs these things cluttering up your cabinets when they're not in use?

If you are lucky enough to be a librarian, I can't imagine that you wouldn't want to read this. These guardians of the written word come off as real-life super heroes - from answering annoying and stupid questions to battling censorship - librarians do it all.

Have you hugged a librarian today?

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of these are sentimental than wacky, but there are plenty of each. I suppose that it's fair that they should be anonymous, but sometimes context matters and it'd be good if we could at least be advised what the community is like when relevant. But anyway, not a disappointing read, but not recommended either unless it's of prior interest to you and convenient to access.

The vignette "Story Hour" is very funny.

I'm disturbed by the essay by the weeding librarian who admits to weeding anything that she opines is too disturbing for children, for example Fly Away Home and I Had a Friend Named Peter: Talking to Children about the Death of a Friend. She does say that she's considering making a Parent's Shelf but also admits she has no qualms about getting rid of these books of 'despair and sorrow and no hope.'

And there's a great quote by Eisenhower against "the book burners." If it's not on GR already I'm going to add it.

[Colona Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you work in a Library, you have to read this book. It is filled with hilarious and heart-warming stories from Libraries.

[Sparkleypenguin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved some of the stories within it. I loved the exposes on the image of librarians or how the library and librarianship should continue and needs to continue. Unfortunately, this book had a tremendous amount of spelling and grammatical errors. Some of the chapters in this book I thought were just ok or just not great. But I liked how they included ways to help out your local library. I would love for more books like this to exist and to emphasize and stress how important libraries are to communities and how they still, after all of this time, bring people together. They unite people. They are commonwealths of knowledge. They preserve the right for all people to read. I love the library and it will always be my second home.

[Rachel Allmaras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about libraries and patrons from the librarians point of view. A very easy and enjoyable book of short stories. Great to read on breaks and lunches while working

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well meaning, but just an okay book. The stories could have been better told, there were a few typos that drive me crazy, and it was a bit repetitive. Even as a librarian, I was disappointed in most of the anecdotes, although a few tugged on my heart.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could have been a five if they had just proof read a little better...

[Diana Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

In that I have spent my life working in libraries and that I love stories that librarians tell each other, I was a slight bit disappointed in this. For one thing, it has a horrible cover. We DO judge books by their covers. I'm assuming it was created in perhaps the 70's and 80's and perhaps republished later? It had a definitely "older" vibe, with photos that looked mimeographed. Some of the stories seemed dated, but they were all interesting. I think interesting to me because we have all been there, and I recognized some of the kinds of situations or people that were being written about. My husband thought it was awful and I think it's because he has never been in some of these situations. Hence the title "stories librarians tell each other". I always think that lIbrary stories should be compiled into a book, so I admire that someone actually did it. Being an American book made it different too, because U.S. libraries are funded and run differently than where I live in Canada. I think what it needs is a volume two, an update. I especially liked a war related story, as well as one about librarians accidentally stealing a car at a conference.... I guess I should have taken notes, in order to write a decent review but I didn't. It was an entertaining snapshot of library times.

[Pug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that would probably be quite boring for anyone who doesn't work in a library... But for those of us who do, it was intriguing, interesting, amusing, and oh-so-relatable! Particularly the stories about the crazy patrons, (apparently the Crazies always find their way into the library, no matter where it is, and your library is no exception!) My favorite was "Evening," which described a typical "quiet" (read, "crazy") night in the public library, where nothing is going right and all the least-favorite regulars make an appearance. (Been there- sigh). My least favorite, other than some of the boring ones, was "Image," which was yet again beating that dead horse of how people view librarians (not well... ugh).

[Cynthia Lowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing and some serious quotes and quips from fellow librarians, 2013

[ReadingWench · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny book that all librarians should read!

[Amy Roebuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone else's 'inside' stories, and some quite serious. I found it quite interesting, and touching in some chapters. People who haven't lived it, won't believe it!

[Laura Merrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun short anecdotes about the experiences of librarians by librarians.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t really know what to expect when I picked up a copy of this book. I love libraries and hoped it would be little stories about them. For the most part, that is what the book is about.

There are descriptions of the enormous amount of patience that librarians must possess to be able to deal with a very diverse number of people each and every day. Some patrons are surly and just downright physically dirty. If the patrons are dirty, just think about how the dirt that gets in the books! Yuk. Oh, and don’t forget the little critters that some patrons bring into the library from their homes. Yep! You guessed it. Roaches! Yuk (again). Makes me want to fumigate any books I check out!

Oh yes. Don’t forget overdue books. The work involved in searching down and repeatedly requesting the return of overdue books has to be so frustrating. Occasionally, yes, they have been returned and are found on the shelf. Yay! Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. After repeated reminders are sent to patrons, then there comes the day when you have to take them to court. The stories that come out there are really something too.

This is just the tip of the iceberg in the life of a library and the librarians that faithfully run them.

This was a cute book with some funny stories. I think more readers will enjoy it.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A varied collection of anecdotes, truly "stories librarians tell one another." I doubt others would be interested, but there are some engaging stories of the trade. I did find myself confused as to authorship-- I would have liked it if each anecdote was credited to one author or the other. At first I was confused by the lovely sketches of various libraries all over, thinking that each story took place at the library of its accompanying illustration, but that does not seem to be the case. It remains possible that additional librarians contributed stories from afield, but perhaps these two women experienced all these things themselves. It's a leisurely book, easy to pick up and put down whenever you like, in between page-turners and such.

[Debi · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a person who has worked in a public library for the past 10 years I thought this would be a good book to read. We all have some great stories to tell of what goes on in a library on a daily basis. Small rural or large cities. This book did not deliver. Sorry to say but there are so many great stories that take place everyday in a public library. I have not found a book yet that can truly make me laugh and say OMGOSH I have so seen that. Maybe someday myself and fellow true library employees will write a book. Working in a library is the most awesome adventure everyday. (most everyday). LOL

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being new to the library world, I was excited to see this book cross my path and quickly put a hold on it for myself.

A fun look at the magic of libraries and all they have to offer. This is a book of short stories and I was confused as to who wrote which stories, one of the 2 authors or another contributor. This was very frustrating.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok, but I've heard MUCH juicier and funnier stories from my coworkers, so it fell a bit flat for me.

[Kathryn LaPlace]

I chose this book because it gives the reader a glimpse of what being a librarian is really like through the use of funny, sad, and interesting accounts of working in a library.

[Cindy May · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look inside public libraries, and some stories almost seemed to merit books of their own. May or may not read the sequel.