I've been reading library-related memoirs recently. Actually, only one is worth mentioning. It's called Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas (he also writes about his job on the McSweeney's site, which is also good). It's insightful, funny, tragic, frustrating and totally worthwhile, exactly how it is working with the public. I loved it from the first page (and not just because it includes a description of my position):
"Chapter 372.6
-LIBR- Librarians Can't Read:
Being the Chapter in Which Our Hero Discovers He Wants to Be a Librarian
'You catch a guy on a computer jacking off, just get a librarian - don't try and handle it yourself.' That was the first thing Faren, the library manager, said to me on my first day of work.
I was a library page.
Library page is the lowest place you can be on the library totem pole. Besides putting books back on the shelf, the library page is also responsible for doing the jobs that nobody else feels like doing, which include, but are not limited to, cleaning up vomit, washing windows, scraping gum off the tables, moving furniture, and keeping a watchful eye out for male patrons who are jacking off on the computer. Being a library page also means you are stupid until you can prove otherwise."
Each chapter's number is actually the call number that correlates to the main subject of that chapter. For example, in Chapter 808.543, he talks about storytime with kids. In Chapter 641.5, he writes about food in the library (particularly popcorn). My inside-library-joke-loving self was tickled at the beginning of each chapter.
It was pretty inspiring to read about all the good things that libraries do for their specific communities. When I'm in one of those moods of self-pity, hating myself for having to clean up after people everyday without getting the appreciation I think is deserved of pages (usually occurs during the Summer Reading Program), I'll pick up this book to remind myself of the amazing things that can happen here too.
And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make,
bianca
4 comments:
DEAR BUDDY
I READ
...with your creepy button eyes?
I read the online Dispatches and have to agree that they're well written. But I was a little annoyed when I read he was getting a book deal just for writing down what thousands of other librarians go through every single day. I don't know. Maybe b/c I'm surprised that this is news to the general public.
It also reminds me of the library worker (whose name escapes me) who got sued for publishing a book about her library job, and even included an image of the actual building on the cover.
Regardless, I'll probably still read it anyway. Right after I read about Dewey the Library Cat.
I actually appreciate the fact that he can write and get a book published about being a librarian, a job that many people assume is mundane and unworthy of attention.
The point I find most important is that working in a library can be just as book worthy as any other life experience where you come across interesting people and situations.
Isn't that what storytelling is all about?
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