I Was a Stripper Librarian: From Cardigans to G-strings

by Kristy Cooper

No one at the library she worked at knew about Kristy Cooper's other job.

On the surface, it seem that being a librarian and a stripper are polar opposite jobs, but in practice Kristy found that they were not nearly as different as most people would think. Strip club customers and library patrons both produce wild stories, and you have to be good at working with people in both professions (whether your clothes are off or not).

In this first-hand account, Kristy describes her decision to get into stripping to make her student loan debt more manageable, overcome her introversion to learn how to hustle customers, learn about sex worker advocacy, and finally transition into full-time library work. For years Kristy hid her stripping history to fit into the mold of a respectable librarian, but as time went on she realized this wasn't something she should feel ashamed about. Telling these kinds of stories helps destigmatize sex work, which makes it safer for current sex workers.

Librarianship is changing, especially as the profession begins to evaluate itself through a greater anti-oppression lens. Librarians can learn a lot about class struggle and privacy advocacy from sex workers.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Humor, Adult, Biography Memoir, Feminism

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2021

About the author

Kristy Cooper is a librarian single mom in Michigan. In her spare time, she fights politicians for libraries and will eventually get around to finishing writing her YA series.

Protect libraries:
https://www.facebook.com/librarydefense
https://twitter.com/librarydefend
instagram.com/stripper.librarian

Reviews

[Kricket · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristy Cooper and I attended the same graduate program (albeit not at the same time), work in the same profession in the same metro area, and have bumped into each other at protests and conferences over the years. I am a huge fan of her and find her advocacy work inspiring and important. It was really interesting to learn about her work as a stripper and about the sex-work industry in general. (Random fact: my only visit to a strip club was 12 years ago for a birthday party where I caught a ride with two friends who are queer. At first we were not allowed entrance until we could prove that there were men we were meeting up with already in the club. Until I read this book I didn't realize that this was because "unattended females" at strip clubs are viewed as potential prostitutes trying to find clients. This cracked me up because all three of us were awkward nerdy librarians, two of us with adult orthodontia at the time, but if there is anything I learned from this book it is that being an awkward nerdy librarian does not mean you cannot also be a sex worker. ANYWAY.) Also loved reading about Kristy's experience at U of M which was very similar to mine and left a lot to be desired. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the library profession, a sex work profession, or just a fascinating memoir.

[Darya Silman · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://geothereader.wordpress.com/20...

I predict that some people consider themselves too picky to choose a book with the title 'I Was a Stripper Librarian.' I can foresee that some men will be appalled by its female emotional rawness. However, a putative frivolousness hides more than a typical women's fiction.

In her first non-fiction book, Kristy Cooper aims to destigmatize sex work by showing it from a new viewpoint. She fights back the common notion that all sex workers were forced to work in the field or do it because of addiction to drugs. She doesn't want to legalize sex work as a whole. From her firsthand experience, she suggests specific steps to lower risks associated with these professions: problems with privacy, aссess to educative materials, etc. She points out the flaws in the existing laws that endanger sex workers instead of making their work safe.

The book includes a list of organizations helping sex workers and the social media accounts of outstanding sex work representatives. Furthermore, the list contains links to sites connected with social movements for librarians' safety.

The book's distinctive feature is not the seeming contradiction between stripping and librarian position. The contrast between the informative part (introduction, the last chapter, and the afterword) and the recollection of combining the jobs itself comes out as a surprise, too. The author's memoirs are a hell of a ride. Lucid language with a fast-pacing narrative does not let go for more than one hundred fifty pages. Along with the author, a reader swims through stormy seas of maturing, professionally and personally. Balancing loans and needs, finding a path in life, trying relationships - the common parts of growing up. Kristy Cooper manages to describe the life of a young woman in such vivid style that it looks uncommon and simultaneously relatable.

The author's experience strengthened her self-confidence and allowed her to be involved in social and public activities.

Not even for a minute, I regret reading the book. With pleasure, I recommend the book for open-minded readers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a good read. It is surprising at times and funny as the author describes trying to get her nerve up to audition for a strip club for the first times. It’s an interesting inside look at the world of stripping and how she learned the ropes. She researched quite a few things online before choosing which club would be the best to start out at. Kristy also found things like lists of what the strippers put in their bags to go to work, which helped her figure out what to take. She said other strippers were pretty helpful with information online at different sites for them, but at the club in person, it was a different story. This is a very good pick if you have any interest in checking out what its like to work in gentleman’s clubs, and what it takes. So get out your stripper shoes and read along.

[Hillary Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly, Librarians and Sex Workers have a lot in common. I Was a Stripper Librarian blew my mind. I learned so much about two worlds that I considered polar opposites. Cooper was so open and honest about her experiences, prejudices, and privilege. I don't believe that anyone else could connect these two worlds better than she did. This is going on the list of books I recommend to others and it will one day be a part of my personal home library.

Check out my blog post! 4 Things Librarians and Strippers Have In Common.
https://stupendousme.com/librarians-a...

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
The title and cover of this book is definitely an attention grabber. As an employee of a public library, the librarian aspect was definitely relatable. Most of my coworkers who seek full time employment had to start as part time, low waged employees so that must be pretty typical.
The stripper aspect of this book is fascinating. I've read a lot about sex trafficking but this book shows that not all sex workers are forced into the sex trade due to pimping and drug addiction. Kristy Cooper shows the side of sex work and stripping that is a personal choice. She does a good job of reducing the stigma of sex workers.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Kristy Cooper, Olivier, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

WOW!! Kristy Cooper, you knew I just had to read your book!! It is not everyday a librarian writes a book entitled I Was a Stripper Librarian From Cardigans to G-Strings! So, the shock value of the title and the awesome cover design I just had to know what the book was about. Plus, I am a huge fan of my local library and the librarians there. However, I can’t picture them stripping.

This book is dedicated to all the sex workers who have come out before Kristy and have told their stories. And to all the sex workers who want to come out and tell their stories too.

I commend Kristy for her bravery in sharing her extremely personal story with us. In this story she shares an in-depth view of the stripper world but oh so much more. You will meet all sorts of characters and learn their stories. This made for a very interesting eye opening read that is for sure!

On the same front Kristy shares her journey she takes to become a librarian.

I laughed at the point where she was more nervous going to a stripper interview than a job interview for a librarian job.

Kristy does a fantastic job educating her readers on a boat load of topics related to sex workers and the meaning behind it. She also gives you terrific websites, book suggestions, and social media handles if you choose you want to learn more on the subject. You can tell this is a passionate subject for her and she wants to help others get help.

Kristy definitely learned a lot about herself while on this journey.

[John Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the true story of a library student who lives a double life by working in the only job that has any chance to help her pay off her graduate school loans, stripping. During the day she goes to classes and does group projects and in the evenings she drives to a nearby town to appear on stage and dance on stage. The author makes clear that she was in no way, other than financially through the ruinous student loan system, coerced into doing this work and she reflects on how she feels about being a sex worker.

This might be interesting enough on it's own but the author is able to consider her own privledge in race, social class, and upbringing. This insight is combined with an analytical but sensitive anthropologist's eye wherein she views those around her: other strippers, club patrons, library school students and professors, and her own family and potential dates in ways that explore their thoughts, motivations and opinions.

Since graduating and later quitting stripping she has become what Mother Jones would describe as a "Hellraiser" working for social and economic justice issues in libraries and a mother of two.

I would recommend this book for anyone who has experience in either the library or stripping professions and to those who are interested in taking a close look at how people different than themselves live and think.

I was provided an eArc of this book through NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

[Morgann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Kristy reflects on her time as a graduate student and pending librarian. While in school and in an attempt to curb her student debt Kristy takes up stripping and in a surprising twist learns to challenge social taboos and stereotypes.

Thoughts: I want to be a stripper! I only picked this book because of the title and the cover but I completely loved it. I learned a lot about stripping and the life of strippers. I always thought that strippers would be bonded through their creepy customers but it seems like stripping is pretty cut throat and I would fail miserably at it but I liked seeing the stripping world it and how it really works. It’s crazy to me that strippers have to pay to strip but I guess being an independent contracted does give them more freedoms. The majority of the book is about her experience as a stripper rather than the studying, her internship at the library, and her attempts to find a librarian job. I can totally see why, most of the excitement happens at the club. I have to say I was surprised that strippers have such a loyal fanbase I never realized that strippers like bartenders, have regulars but I have to say I’m not mad at them for living for the hustle. While I wish they had healthier romantic partners, that is my only objection to the strippers mentioned. Also it was interesting to see how the stripping turned into more intimate interactions for some and the stigma around it even in the stripping world but I have to say it makes sense. The only thing that gives me pause is actually dating the guys that come in, I know a lot of the girls did but it still seems weird and unsafe so I’m with Kristy. It’s crazy how much more liberal a stripper she becomes but again it makes sense that as she’s gets more comfortable she gets more adventurous and if I were in her shoes I’d be annoyed about the escort opportunity too. Overall this is an extremely interesting read and now I need to go find a new book to learn more about my future stripping career.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

As a librarian myself I found this so incredibly interesting. I related so much to struggle of getting my first job following graduating. Working multiple jobs to try and gain experience in the industry and earn money is something I myself had to do, but my second job happened to be in a bank and not stripping. Thankfully the Higher Education system in Scotland meant I didn't quite as much debt and no end date for paying off the small amount I had to borrow to complete my Masters.

I loved hearing her stories from both stripping and working as a librarian. I also loved that it helped to disprove the librarian stereotypes I truly hate! I myself have never shushed anyone but have been shushed. I don't think you become a real librarian until this happens haha.

The research she helped with in the information needs of strippers sounds incredibly interesting and I hope I can find this article to have a read! Information need and information literacy is where my interests lie research wise.

I really enjoyed getting to read this!

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting premise, and very eye catching cover. But I found myself struggling to get through this book. I think the writing style was not quite right for my tastes. I felt like the book took too long to make the connections between Ms. Cooper's two careers. For the most part, it was really a memoir of her time as a stripper. That's fine, but it was not exactly what I was expecting.

I appreciate the honesty and vulnerability that the author demonstrated by writing and publishing this story. That being said, there were a few parts I struggled with, thinking in terms of her being a mother, as am I. But, that is surely my own biases coming to surface, and it is good for me to continue to read things that challenge those.

While this was not really what I expected, and unfortunately not a book that really grabbed me and drew me in, it is still an interesting idea and a good read for someone who wants to know more about stripping or sex work in general.

[Safire_tears]

Finally got my ARC of this book!!
The blurb sounds so fascinating OMG 😍
Can't wait to read this book 🥰

[The Headless Horror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristy Cooper gives a great bird's eye view of what it's like to be a stripper, especially if you come from an academic, privileged, or "vanilla" background. We make many assumptions and place people into stereotypes based on narratives we've learned in our upbringing, environments, and the media; this concept is blown out of the water in this memoir! Not all women strip to please abusing boyfriends or pimps, and sex work IS REAL WORK, and one that should be made safer for those choose it. Cooper made valid points when speaking about the library industry-it's a profession that costs a lot of money to go to school for, yet is not high paid and extremely hard to attain a fulltime position that pays enough. This speaks volumes about the costs of our educational system and how we continue to encourage youngsters to go to college despite knowing that it will do nothing but cripple them financially with no guarantee of a steady job upon graduation. People want to look down upon those who strip, yet why is it those that strip can earn a higher wage than those working in these so-called "noble fields" like librarianship? It's high time people realize that there is NO shame in wanting to earn more money, and when you get down to the bare bones, money is money, no matter how it's made! Public librarians and strippers do share a common denominator, believe it or not, they engage with customers and participate in exchange of information, and often times, both sets of regular patrons are very lonely. As a former burlesque performer and professional librarian, I really enjoyed reading this biography and can't wait to recommend to every librarian and/or dancer I know! Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for sending this ARC!

[Bryn Dunaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I did not know much about the stripping or librarian professions prior to reading. Kristy acknowledges her faults and is unfailing candid about her maturity level and motivations. I am very glad now that I did not incur the debt to go to school to be a librarian. I also think the author did a great job of informing, de stigmatizing, and advocating for reform when it comes to sex work. I am much more informed and interested in the so-called “oldest profession”. I previously held the opinion that people doing that work were forced into it by circumstances or trafficking. Kristy’s open and honest take on both professions and her willingness to tell it like it is makes for a really great read!

[Maria Sheler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book taught me something about 2 professions I knew very little about. Cooper gives an intimate account of her years as an exotic dancer as she pays her way through grad school, living a double life as a student by day and stripper by night. The book begins as a memoir of her years working in strip clubs—how she chose the clubs she did, what she wore, how she interacted with customers. That in itself is an absorbing story, but then the author goes beyond the details of stripping and draws comparisons between that and library work: both professions are deeply concerned with privacy rights. I appreciated the nuance she applies to the topic of sex work—it's more complex than you might think. Cooper ultimately finds her voice political organizer, using her unique experiences to shed light on issues of privilege and advocate for public libraries and the rights of sex workers.

[Kayleigh | Welsh Book Fairy · Rating 3 out of 5]

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: I Was A Stripper Librarian
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Kristy Cooper
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Non-Fiction
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 26th July 2021
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3/5

"It's such an absurd idea that sex workers are the only ones selling themselves. All workers sell their time and labor. Sex workers just often get a better payout for their time."

What an interesting read. There really is no need to write a short synopsis as the title explains the premise. And who could resist such a shocking title as I Was a Stripper Librarian? Not me.

I went into this book thinking it would be similar to Belle de Jour's Call Girl diaries, but Cooper is a lot more matter-of-fact. The one aspect that stuck out for me the most was the strippers and librarians actually had much more in common than I previously thought. Although seemingly polar opposites, the rights of strippers and librarians are heavily interlaced through privacy rights being the main point Cooper brings up.

I found it interesting how nobody seemed to recognise Cooper from the strip club when she was a librarian, or vice versa, she really was leading a double life. I wish that she had provided more detail on when she worked as a dominatrix before venturing into stripping.

I liked how Cooper admits to preconceived notions in her early stripper career which change with emotional maturity and humility as her life progresses. Sex work is such a taboo still, even with websites such as OnlyFans being exceedingly popular. One hypocrisy that infuriates me about sex work is the misogyny, how a man can look down on a female for her life choices, yet it's usually the males paying sex workers to enable the profession in the first place. However, it's not just males that patronise the sex working professions. At one point in the book, a woman asks Cooper if she feels guilty about the wives whose husbands are receiving a lap dance from her, and Cooper emphasises the point that their monogamy was not her responsibility, nor does she actively seek married men.

"Did everyone have to be polarised into the victim-predatory binary, or could there be a more nuanced explanation for the diverse patterns of human behaviour?"

Overall, Cooper is extremely clever and insightful. A much needed activist for the rights of sex workers and librarians. And has lead an uncommon life worthy of the memoir written.

🧚🏻‍♀️

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[Avid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing read. First, the title is intriguing. Second, having gone to graduate school with a similar sticker shock situation, I applaud Ms. Cooper for having the guts to do what many might consider, but not actually do.

Her candor about the little known pitfalls of graduate school in general and certain professions regrettably rings true. I admired the thrice stated regret about leaving a profession that has a poor reputation for a low-paying profession that required the graduate education she strove so hard to get.

Does the author truly destigmatize sex work? Absolutely.

Not only does she use her own experiences, and stories of the strippers, management and clubs to support the realities of the life, but she does it with a sense of humor and realism. She realizes up front that one of the problems in telling the stories that she sees is that while she remains in the life, it is very difficult. She doesn’t let up on herself, which is what makes this book work.

Cooper does not hesitate to point out the blatant differences with privilege, class, and race within different types of strip clubs, as well as types of strippers. What stuck me is how the male (and female) attraction to strippers lies in the challenge of a potentially unavailable “available” woman.

By realizing that her goal to lessen the guilt and stigma surrounding sex work of all types would be impossible while she remained silent about her own role in the industry, she adds emotional depth to her own process.

Cooper's entry into the world of stripping for more than a lark occurs like what happens for many graduate students: too many expenses and being just one car crash or medical bill away from needing to pause or stop course work to finish the degree.

She reflects clearly on her other options as well as why she persisted at a well-known university that used graduate instructors instead of full professors even for the graduate classes. One reason to go to graduate school is to learn from professors, not fellow graduate students. It's clear early on that poor academic support at the university level, including timely information on paid internships from university staff rather than being directed to fellow students was part of the push that leads Cooper into stripping. The irony that change does not occur until the student turns into an activist is a repeated reality throughout this memoir.

Overall, Cooper approaches stripping and sex work the way a librarian looks at research: methodically and with care. Between browsing online stripper message boards, comparing costs for a dancer's license, and trying to find a club that was not too close to home, nor too much of.a dive, she used her graduate school skills to fully research and then implement her plan. From having to come up with a new name on the spot when the one suggested by the stripper board was taken to learning stripper training tips from male clients, I was with the author all the way. The variety of women who used stripping to supplement day jobs surprised me, but as an author, her matter-of-fact presentation kept me reading. Club quality recommendations from other strippers form the guide posts for her exploration of working as a stripper while pursuing her dream of working in a public, rather than an academic library.

Libraries and librarians are infamous for their stances on privacy rights. I found Cooper’s ultimate conclusion that in 2020 sex workers, including strippers and prostitues in particular are now the harbingers and protectors of privacy rights to be inspiring.

Moments of humor punctuate this work, starting with the idea of earning money by working as a dominatrix, only to dismiss this as reality due to just one summer’s worth of experience. The dominatrix boots however help make her early days of stripping easier.

The wide variety of women who turn to stripping, whether to support their families or a boyfriend-pimp is only matched by the variety of men who turn to strippers for a variety of needs. The line blurs between fantasy, simulated sex, and reality as Cooper takes the reader into the world of a new stripper. Rules and manners

I was fascinated with how each stripper evoked a different response: with some she was protective, others gave great advice, and she learned the ropes through management, trial and error. Rules regarding who to approach (men at the bar) versus ones not to approach (men sitting by the stage) to avoid rudeness towards a fellow stripper are fascinating. I must confess that I look at thongs and the purpose for them differently after reading this book. Take away the strip club atmosphere and this could be any normal retail store or service industry, which is the point.


From the reluctant client who suddenly found her irresistible with a name that evoked a discussion of Dostoyevsky during lap dances to the occasional Copper proves that there is a fantasy for just about anyone.



One of the most revealing parts of the book was the author noting how men knew that the strip club provides fantasy with a sense of being more special to the dancer than the other guys. This was emphasized throughout the author's experience. The fine line between giving a 'real name' (Sara) versus the club life where everything is a fantasy can be a difficult one, as the author readily admits. She's introverted and lying doesn't come easy, yet she has to life to maintain her privacy and still earn a living in the club.


Cooper demonstrates how lying at the club to protect privacy can easily slip into lying during the private life. Drinks to give a bit of courage before going into her first job leads to more drinking at various times, but mostly when she is working. Hiding can lead to paranoia. Lessons about what it's really like to be a stripper come out of nowhere, such as how many men tell her to not get breast implants, something associated with strippers. Whenever Cooper goes down that path, she is careful to bring it back to where she starts in this book: men want the fantasy, but they want to feel they are with a genuine woman who is crazy about them. The stripper is playing a role and walking a tightrope: if it's too obvious that she's doing it for money, then it turns the men off. If she is too aloof, then she turns them off. Like a good actor, the perfect stripper role varies according to personality and comfort.


Although there are a number of excellent points to this manuscript, there are areas where I would have wanted more from the text:

1) While there is the earlier mention of conversations with her mother, but what later on, such as when she goes to the lap dance seminar? Does their relationship remain close?

2) Cooper’s journey makes it clear that she is willing to consider a variety of sex work opportunities, including prostitution as a valid and even better path than librarianship. Saying more about why these are better paths for women in general and for her in particular will strengthen the book.

3) Drinking shows up early in the book, detailed a bit, then it is dropped. Does it still play as large a role in the author’s life as a stripper-librarian? How does the drinking manifest after she figures out where she is going in the end?

4) While good details are present about the various men she meets, adding more depth to more of the men would help.

5) Fear plays a large role in her life. Once she embraces her comfort with sex work, do the stripper breakdowns stop ?

6) How did Dr. Howard's research turn out in the end?

7) Finally, how is the author working with her current library work in terms of being an open former sex worker? I’m curious if she will change her mind about going back.

Note: Spell check - Anne Arundel County Library (Maryland)

The art of the hustle combined with off the charts confidence are the recipe for a lengthy career as a stripper. Cooper’s analysis regarding changes in strip clubs scene had changed, including sharp increases both in lap dances and back room sex acts combined with her activist nature in union work at the library brings the two paths together in a satisfying conclusion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself dragging this book around with me for several days to sneak five minutes of reading time wherever I could find it. Part customer service manual, a little bit of confidence-boosting self help, all supplemented with a job hunting narrative and a short but powerful call to action. I was compelled by the frankly detailed inner narrative that delved into self doubt, consequences of choices made, and the steady drive of a person bound and determined to thrive. But there’s no doubt that opening a window to stripper culture was straight up fascinating, too. I’ve never been to a strip club, and while I don’t really consider myself prudish, it’s clear that I am pretty ignorant and fairly sheltered. I was especially intrigued by the fact that the author casually mentions working as a dominatrix, but that seemed entirely unrelated to stripping.

Sex holds a weird place in our society: it’s necessary, it can be pleasurable, it can be abusive, it can be a source of celebration and of shame. And it’s both hidden and on display, incredibly intimate and sometimes dispassionate and public. But as a job, it’s all about the customer service, and like any customer service job sometimes the customer needs and wants are out of balance with staff limits and safety. I was struck by how strip club culture reminded me not only of library work (a connection made within the book), but also retail work, and my memories of being backstage at dance recitals and other performances. There’s a performative nature to any customer service work, but here there is a distinct line drawn between the fantasy of the job persona and the real life behind it, although that line gets blurred several times.

I think I was surprised at how intensely relatable I found this, despite having no experience with strip clubs or stripping, and very little with activism. The librarian job search was painfully familiar, and while I’m fortunate that a part time schedule works for me, I’m very aware of the number of my colleagues who cobble together many jobs to make a stable paycheck. I know too many people who get sold a degree they can’t afford, limiting the profession to those who either can afford it, or saddling those who can’t with impossible debt and limited job prospects. In contrast, stripping seems like easy work — if you’re willing to take your clothes off, you’re in and no expensive education required — at least according to popular culture and stereotypes. But this narrative adds much more nuance to the simple and dismissive ways I’ve seen strippers portrayed before, while also pointing out some of the pitfalls of relying on a degree for success.

The author’s doubts and hesitations resonate deeply, and I admired not just her determination to do a thing, but her inquisitive drive that kept her asking questions, her ample use of the resources at hand, and a steady persistence. And she never shies away from admitting her own shortcomings. All of these are great characteristics for any library worker, but clearly for strippers and activists as well (or those who are all of these things!). Her casual, conversational writing style drew me in, her detailed descriptions kept me engaged, and her grounded realities opened my eyes to internalized stereotypes of my own as well as ways I should reach beyond my own comfort bubble.

I should say, too, that local stories are especially intriguing to me, so this one hits a lot of local buttons. The library schools (Wayne State and U of M are where I and most of my co-workers graduated), the strip club names (I knew them even if I never visited), the destructive library boards (I’m still following The Library Defense Network’s updates on another self-destructing local library board). These make the story personal for me, but as I mentioned before, I think the honest and clear writing style makes this personal no matter where you’re from or what job you hold.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll open with the admission that I'm quite sure I've been to bed with more librarians than I have strippers, but the whole distanced attitude we associate with the latter and the fusty be-cardiganned image of the former means I might never know for sure. And this book proves that it is perfectly possible for the same lass to be both. The narrator of this memoir (confusingly called a work of fiction on one forepage) was trying to fund a desultory post-grad course in library studies or something when she hit the idea of getting her baps out to the tune of Linkin Park. As a result the piece weaves her progress through school and into actual librarian work with how she found the dances, the Johns, the near-invisible managers and so on of the Michigan stripper scene.

And as a result it kind of handicaps itself for many readers. I guess the Girl Power brigade will love this – proof the highly educated (her first nom de dance is something nobody can either pronounce or spell) can willingly choose a life of taking money for being objectified. But the people interested in books and library work have to suffer forensically detailed reportage (detailed to the extent she knows seven years on what make-up she wore to what interview), and all the minutiae of what got allowed in what private dance area and what didn't. Similarly, the person here for a genuine feedback from the not-having-sex sex worker industry has to flip past quibbles about courses, how she got up to speed with picture and chapter books for her daytime customers, and so on.

I think I'm duty-bound to say I admire both careers, both the book-sharing and the boob-showing, but I think this book wasn't vital in me realising that. While she does mention the power of the high-meg mobile phone as opposed to what was around when she started, the reportage from the pole may be dated, and the librarian stuff – well, that is vital to her as a being, of course, but to us? I think the likes of Belle de Jour and all those allegedly-true reports from the escorting scene have little to fear; there's nothing titillating here whatsoever, and for the later chapters with our author as an advocate for people in both industries, this feels more like a distended autobiography than any other form of non-fiction study.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the digital galley of this book.

I came for the title and I stayed for the commentary on librarianship, insight into the stripping part of sex work, and the advocacy and activism for both sex workers and librarians.

Cooper’s master’s degree came with a $80,000 price tag with the big possibility of stringing together part-time, benefitless librarian jobs post grad (of course no one warned of this). We follow her from part-time steipper to fund this ridiculously expensive degree to full time stripper to allow her to work an ocassional, part-time librarian job post grad to advocate and activist for both libraries and sex workers.

I cannot recommend this book enough. As someone who worked in the library industry for over nine years and is a current library student with friends and colleagues still trying to find decent, full-time gigs after getting this “necessary” and very expensive masters degree, so much of this hit home.

There are also tons of resources and further research at the end, and the last chapter sparked an interest in learning more about Surveilance Capitalism, which led me to a 500+ page book on the topic. Seriously. Read this book. It’s out now!

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I requested the ARC for "I Was a Stripper Librarian" because the title was too catchy to pass up on. This book lives up to the title and successfully highlights the pros and cons of both lines of work. I am only familiar with the library half of the book, and I really appreciate how she went into detail about the librarian career path. I was fortunate enough to go to a state school in another part of the country altogether, but a lot of what was in the book really resonated. Love of books or dreams of being locked in a library overnight as a child are great, but that's not always enough to sustain your career or pay your student loans. Cooper did very well in describing how she played up to her strengths and made strategic decisions to advance her careers. Maybe I was reading it too fast and don't remember if she mentioned that the loans all got paid off, but the last few chapters were very satisfying. I'd recommend this book to anyone dealing with student loans, people who want to know more about taking a more analytical view of sex work, and anyone who thinks it would be nice to become a librarian. (I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.)

[Amber Hughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Was a Stripper Librarian is an interesting autobiography about Kristy Cooper. Sex work, including strippers, is still a very taboo subject. With Kristy's background and education, I found her reasoning and thought process to be incredibly interesting. I would have liked to read more about the transition from stripper to librarian, and I would have liked more details in her library defense days. The book focused more on the stripping rather than the librarian, and I would have enjoyed it a bit more to read more about the librarian work as well. As I followed her work with the Westland Library (and helped share the articles and news she put out), I would have enjoyed reading more about the issues she brought up, as they are deeper than what she wrote here. All together, I highly recommend reading it.

(I read this through Netgalley).

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Was A Stripper Librarian by Kristy Cooper. Thanks to the author and @netgalley for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I will skip the synopsis because the title pretty much tells it all. This book was fun, but also important. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work at a strip club, here’s your chance. As a former club worker, her stories really brought memories back for me. Kristy really showed the balance between real life and a club persona. I also loved how this helped to show most dancers are working out of personal choice, and it can be very empowering. I wasn’t as into the librarian aspect of the memoir, but I know for many, that will be even more interesting! There’s a balance to the story, just like the author’s experiences.

“That was when I was in the strangest, most anxious state of mind - sitting somewhere in public, trying to mentally transition from acting serious and responsible to being sexy and fun.”

I Was A Stripper Librarian comes out 7/30.

[♥Sabulous ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely isn't the book for you if you are 1 month away for getting your MLIS and already questioning your decisions 😅

Cooper doesn't hold anything back about how breaking into this career field is difficult. She does focus more on her life as a stripper but that goes to show the scarcity of jobs in the library. The idea of becoming a stripper to pay off student loans but reading about her experience has made me rethink that. I am not a good hustler so that would just be a waste.

All workers sell their time and labor. Sex workers often get a better payout for their time

Great quote.

The biggest (if not only) reason I took off stars for my review is because I found grammatical typos throughout the book. It's a shame that the editors seemed to have phoned it in for this book.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A local librarian wrote this book about how she started stripping to pay for her $80,000 graduate degree from the U of M iSchool. I appreciated how Cooper sought to remove the stigma around sex work with this memoir.

The book was self published, had some typos, and was disjointed in areas.

Mainly, this book really frustrated me on a philosophical level because librarians are required to pay for masters degrees to gain employment but most entry level jobs are for part-time work at low rates and the profession really limits itself in terms of diversity.

I want people to be able to pursue work that makes them happy but I’m horrified that the field that I love is only accessible if people have a financially supportive partner (me in my early librarian years), if they cobble together multiple part time jobs, or if they take non-traditional, high paying jobs to help pay off debt (the author).

[Marika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a memoir that is guaranteed to cause readers to really think about what they are reading. While the author was in graduate school (University of Michigan) she began stripping to earn money. Kristy gives an almost academic glimpse into the world of strippers and is seemingly able to discern how far she could go and maintain her safety and anonymity. She writes about the staggering debt of graduate school which many readers will be able to relate to. Will college debt make you a stripper? No. Will reading this book make you want to strip? Highly doubtful. But this book will make you think.
There WILL be pearl clutching over this book as the librarian stereotype of being a buttoned up nerd collides with the image of being a stripper. However, Kristy is very active in fighting social justice as seen in her Library Defense role and hopefully this book will help take the stigma and judgement out of sw.
* I read an advance copy and was not compensated.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. It really gives you a lot to think about in terms of our society's views on sex work. Western culture does a great disservice to a line of work that has been with us always, and always will be. We pay a lot of lip service to treating sex workers with fairness, yet we assume that all who work in it are victims, when they aren't. There's a wide gap between those who choose to work in the sex industry and those who are trafficked. Also, the author includes resources for those who are interested in more information and ways to help those in the industry. Well done, Kristy.

[mib6475654 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so sold when I heard the premise of this book! It's definitely an attention grabber that's really relatable and somewhat unexpected. I found the stripper aspect of this book really fascinating and it's important to get perspectives on sex work and sex workers. I feel as though there's a common misconception that sex work is really degrading and therefore sex workers should be degraded and this book really highlights the personal choice aspect of all of those things.

[Heather Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many readers I'm sure, I requested this ARC because the title really intrigued me and I'd never seen a similar book before. I usually really enjoy memoirs and similar, so reading the description I was looking forward to finding out more about Kristy Cooper's double life and her experiences in both the sex industry and in librarianship.

I found the book to be extremely informative, and for me it really shone a light on aspects of the sex industry in particular that previously hadn't even occurred to me. There were some fun anecdotes and many interesting stores about strip club and library customers alike, but overall I would describe the book as more of an academic study, almost, of the two industries rather than a memoir of Cooper's personal experiences. Of course, this does make sense within the context of Cooper's academic background and political interests, but occasionally I did struggle to stay engaged with some of the more in depth chapters, especially those regarding US libraries and their policies.

I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about different life experiences, and wants to better understand the sex industry and the people who work in it.

[Ceeceereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in to this thinking it was going to be superficially entertaining with some shock tactics and wild stories of bad behaviour and debauchery. Instead it was original, engaging, and thought provoking. It is a story written from a unique female perspective; the voice being intelligent, unapologetic and matter-of-fact. The writing was sharp and it held it’s own. I found it intriguing and entertaining from start to finish. 5 stars.

[Sherry Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Was A Stripper Librarian by Kristy Cooper is the eye-opening real story of a grad student who begins to work the pole in order to ease the burden of student debt.
Along the way, she learns a lot about human nature and herself.
It’s an insightful look into two worlds that intersect with each other in more ways than one.
I loved the honesty and vulnerability.
Five Stars