Not So Sexy Library Peoples

Okay, let's point out how fun it can be to work in a library by turning a flashlight on two wonderful patrons:

An on-duty firefighter caught a Cambridge, Mass man looking at porn and masturbating in the Waterton Public Library.  The firefighter was in the fire station and just happened to look through his window and noticed the man in the library that is adjacent to the library.  He called the police and the man was charaged with open and gross lewdness.  bostonchannel.com

In Chicago's Northside library, a man was reported with looking at child pornography within the library.  Now, mostly he was looking at pornographic video games and cartoons, so maybe the pornography was meant to be for children instead of of children...  I dunno and do not want to speculate.  chicagotribune.com

So, forward that to your friends that think working at a library would be a cushy job.  Welcome to public service.

Oxford Union Librarian Candidate Promotes Self With "Great Rack"

Oxford librarian candidate Madeline Grant wrote an inappropriate comment about having "a great rack" in her resume proposal to become the student librarian.  The comments were quickly removed, but not before newspapers heard about it and were all "heh heh, sexy librarian."  People decried the comments as sexist.

I...  Hmmmm, how do I comment on this?  Is breast size important to librarianship?  No.  Does it in anyway help a librarian do their job?  Dunno, I'm a guy, but my man-boobs have never seen any love in any way while on the job.  I have seen inappropriate attention sent towards the more attractive coworkers in my profession, though, so there are some patrons that are simply sexist jerks that use looks as a reason to put down the profession.

However, I will say the comment does show one important aspect that people leave out of librarianship: Sense of humor.  A bad, inappropriate and irreverent sense of humor in this case, but a willingness to have a little fun on the job can be priceless on the days when things are not going the right way.  I do not want to condone her comments, but I do wish to put out a call for some people to lighten up and enjoy their jobs.  You know who you are.  Or probably not, but I do not have time to list all of you.  Of course, I guess if you are not one of those people, you are in no way reading this and think my blog and I are the worst thing since Library 2.0.  Merry Christmas.

If you would like to see a pic of Madeline, here ya go:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2110387/Madeleine-Grant-librarian-contest-Oxford-University-student-boasts-I-great-rack.html
Would-be librarian rues breast quip - Littlehampton Gazette

Android 'Jelly Bean" and "Key Lime Pie"? What's Next?

So Android Ice Cream Sandwich is here continuing Androids naming convention of sweets and others are already starting to speculate the further confectionery type names.  So here we go with our own guesses:

5.   Jelly Bean
6.   Key Lime Pie
7.   Lemon Square
8.   Mounds
9.   Nougat
10.  Orange Slices
11.  Peanut Brittle
12.  Quarters
13.  Razor Blade-filled Ring Pops
14.  Sugar
15.  Tea, sweet
16.  Unicorn Pie
17.  V Brand Gelatin Mice
18.  Whopper
19.  X-rated panties
20.  Yogurt with peanuts
21.  Zagnut

Asus confirms Android 5.0 Jelly Bean name?
Android 6.0 is Key Lime Pie?

We Get It, Random House, You Hate Libraries

Random House publishing has raised ebook prices for libraries, up nearly 300 percent for lending books.  This is after last year's library lending cap of checkouts that RH implemented.  Many libraries across the country are complaining and thinking of boycotting the publishing giant.

So there it is.  We thought maybe it was just the situation, but it's us, right?  Come'on, baby, we were so good together.  Why you gotta be like this?  Remember back in the day when we were good together, you all sexy with your booth at ALA with those tote bags and we used to have a good time?  What happened?  We always bought your books, got some good programs back in return.  Is there another giant network of government sponsored programs?  We can do better, we swear.  Just be cool, baby. 

Fine, trial separation then.  You'll be back.  Nobody treated you good as libraries did.  So go, have your fun out there.  We will be here when you come crawling back.

Random House Raises E-Book Prices for Libraries as Much as 300 Percent - DailyTech

Group Sues Library of Anti-Religious Meeting Room Policy

The Seaside library has been sued for not allowing a religious group to use their meeting rooms.  The Liberty Counsel says the library's meeting room policy violates the First and 14th Amendments.

We have been over this before, but this one is a bit different.  For some reason, this library does not allow religious services or proselytizing.  Look, rules are made for a reason.  I doubt the library just arbitrarily made a rule barring religious groups.  Look at the community and I bet you somewhere in the history there is a crazy militant group somewhere in the hills that attempted to hole themselves up in the meeting room at some point and the library went "No More!"

Or, you know, there could be diverse and expansive amount of religious communities in the area and the library does not want to feel obligated to one over another in a fast paced game of shotgun like little kids in a carpool. Hell, I'm going to our library and start a meeting in our rooms in the name of the Benevolent Order of Rockin with Our Socks Off, who at the moment are looking for a more permanent place to hold our meetings.

Group sues Seaside library for meeting room access

Library Plans Fake Titanic Experience

The Alma Public Library is making plans to reenact the sinking of the Titanic in honor of the boats 100th birthday.  The library will sponsor a dinner that will serve the same food as was on the Titanic.

If I were running this, immediately after the dinner, my buddy would throw a block of ice through the window with a note that says "Go back to land, shipmates!" Then I would blast Celene Dion and have a couple bungee (or not-bungee, depends on depression levels) jump off the roof before hitting the sprinklers.  Bad luck for all those people who chose to sit in the children's department, though, cause we are locking them inside to drown.  Hell, we might even block all the doors but the front one so there's only so many options for escape.

In case you are wondering, my library events have on average a 50% mortality rate.

Titanic reenactment event planned at Alma Public Library

Get Boozed Up at Indiana Library

The St. Joseph Public Library is relaxing its no-alcohol policy for a fundraiser trivia night in late April.  The library is hiring licensed bartenders and expects to raise $4000 to $5000.

Oh, this sounds like a fun way to raise circulation numbers.  Imagine folks wandering the stacks, one guy with a slight slur in classic lit saying "You know, this Jane Austen chick ain't half bad to look at.  I think I might take her home."

Then look into the next day.  Patrons waking up in a hangover haze, surrounded by opened, tear-stained books thinking, "Man, this Paula Dean cookbook looked so good last night, but now I just want it out of my house."

I am just saying I am totally for drinking responsibly in the library.  But not on the job.  Think of the shelving disasters that happen sober.  "Let's just pile them in the middle by color.  Yep, that'll teach'em" hiccup.

N. Indiana library to sell beer at fundraiser - Fox 28