Fiction_L Archives Funny Library Story Dates: 4/21/04,5:56 PM  through  4/30/04,2:26 AM  (39 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to April 2004 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "Baird, Jane H." <[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us>
REC'D: 4/21/04, 5:56 PM

Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.

I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my hostess to bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally, since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for (yeah, right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I was hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the innocent.

Thanks all.

Jane Baird
Anchorage Municipal Libraries
5睶�.n�+����˛���m�j�!����b�������X��*'.m��߉�b�ypy�گ*+

FROM: "Benoun, Kathleen" <[removed]@secstate.wa.gov>
REC'D: 4/21/04, 6:07 PM

Jane,
All the situations in the library cartoon series UNSHELVED remind me of
funny true-life tales. Go visit www.overduemedia.com

Kathleen Benoun
Western State Hospital

-----Original Message-----
From: Baird, Jane H. [[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us]
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:54 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Funny Library Stories

Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.

I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my hostess to
bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,
since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for (yeah,
right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I was
hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
innocent.

Thanks all.

Jane Baird
Anchorage Municipal Libraries
5睶.n+ࠉ˛
mj!࠶b࠽࠽ীX*'.mbࠢypyگ*+

FROM: "Robin Deffendall" <[removed]@cumberland.lib.nc.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 9:37 AM

Story 1:

Customer came into the library last month during the height of the furor
over Mel Gibson's new movie. He asked for the book that The Passion of the
Christ was based upon. Our confident staff person said, "Oh. You mean the
Bible?"

"No," the young man said. "I want the BOOK the movie was based on."

"It was based on the Holy Bible," our staff person said, confused by what he
wanted.

The man explained. "Usually there's a novel and then they make the movie.
I'm looking for the novel."

He left completely unconvinced that there was no original novel.

Story 2:

A regular customer approached the reference desk and the Librarian asked if
she could help her with anything. "Yes," she said, "There was a guy back
there that said you have a whole book on The Righteous Brothers. It follows
them all the way back to the beginning. Do you think you could help me find
that?"

The Librarian began looking in the catalog and found only a CD and it was
checked out. She explained this to the customer. The woman then began
describing again the book she was told was here. "It's a great big book and
it covers everything about The Righteous Brothers." She explains at length
and then repeats "It goes all the way to the beginning. When they invented
the airplane."

The light bulb goes on and the Librarian takes her to the shelves and finds
her books on the Wright brothers.

Afterwards a fellow Librarian mentioned that earlier in the day the same
customer had been looking for the Warner Brothers.

Robin Deffendall
Bordeaux Branch Library
Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center
Fayetteville, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org [[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]
On Behalf Of Baird, Jane H.
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:54 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Funny Library Stories

Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.

I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my hostess to
bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,
since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for (yeah,
right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I was
hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
innocent.

Thanks all.

Jane Baird
Anchorage Municipal Libraries
^y h r{ r??{j!?b?  b??
br? i b??y j

FROM: "Karen Traynor, Chittenango" <[removed]@midyork.org>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 9:53 AM

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Robin Deffendall" <[removed]@cumberland.lib.nc.us>
>Customer came into the library last month during the height of the furor
>over Mel Gibson's new movie. He asked for the book that The Passion of the
>Christ was based upon. Our confident staff person said, "Oh. You mean the
>Bible?"

Actually....I was in Barnes & Noble yesterday and saw a book that had a blurb on it "Read the book that inspired Mel Gibson's "Passion of Christ". So maybe there is a book...don't ask me the title though, it is already erased from my memory bank!

Karen Traynor
Sullivan Free Library
519 McDonnell Street
Chittenango, NY 13037

FROM: Doris Ann Norris <[removed]@woh.rr.com>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 9:53 AM

One of my favorites was a student coming in and wanting a book on the
Blue Bonnet Plague.

Doris Ann Norris

FROM: "Gena Zelenka" <[removed]@park-ridge.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 9:58 AM

The book title that Mel based his movie on is THE DOLOROUS PASSION of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST by Anne Catherine Emmerich.

-----Original Message-----
From: Karen Traynor, Chittenango [[removed]@midyork.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 9:38 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Robin Deffendall" <[removed]@cumberland.lib.nc.us>
>Customer came into the library last month during the height of the furor
>over Mel Gibson's new movie. He asked for the book that The Passion of the
>Christ was based upon. Our confident staff person said, "Oh. You mean the
>Bible?"

Actually....I was in Barnes & Noble yesterday and saw a book that had a blurb on it "Read the book that inspired Mel Gibson's "Passion of Christ". So maybe there is a book...don't ask me the title though, it is already erased from my memory bank!

Karen Traynor
Sullivan Free Library
519 McDonnell Street
Chittenango, NY 13037

FROM: "Sarah Stein" <[removed]@denver.lib.co.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 10:11 AM

And they resisued this book in time for the movie:

LCCN 2004-100324
ISBN 0974909807 (pbk.)
Emmerich, Anna Katharina, �d 1774-1824. �
The dolorous passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ / �c according to
the meditations of Anne Catherine Emmerich ; transcribed and edited by Klemens
Maria Brentano. �
El Sobrante, Calif. : �b North Bay Books, �c c2003. �
285 p. ; �c 23 cm. �
Translation of: Das bittere Leiden Unseres Herrn Jesu Christi. �
This edition prepared from the 20th ed. published: New York :
Benziger Brothers, 1904.

>>> [removed]@park-ridge.lib.il.us 4/22/04 8:52:16 AM >>>
The book title that Mel based his movie on is THE DOLOROUS PASSION of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST by Anne Catherine Emmerich.

-

Sarah Stein
Senior Special Collections Librarian
Materials Support/Special Cataloging
Denver Public Library
Denver, Colorado, USA
[removed]@denver.lib.co.us

FROM: "Karen Traynor, Chittenango" <[removed]@midyork.org>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 10:17 AM

I had a high school patron come in once looking for information about the " a lady from the 60's who was a social activist". We finally figured out he was asking about Abbie Hoffman....

Karen Traynor
Sullivan Free Library
519 McDonnell Street
Chittenango, NY 13037

FROM: "Mary Jane Celsie" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 1:01 PM

Not sure if this one is "fit" for public radio, but here goes...A few years
ago I did a freelance workshop on reference work, including of course,
reference interviews, good and bad. I always asked for bad or funny
examples, and this one stuck with me. A young man (about 18) had come into
a particular library and asked the reference person on duty for information
about "safes". She took a deep breath, reminded herself of her professional
responsibility to supply the information without embarrassment, etc. and
rabbited off looking up "birth control", "STDs", etc. At which point the
rather startled young client interrupted her with, "But I meant the things
you keep your money in..."

Or as Gertrude Stein supposedly said on her death bed, "What is the answer?
What is the question?"

MJ

Mary Jane Celsie
Director of Service Development
Richmond Hill Public Library
905-770-0310, Ext. 422
[removed]@yahoo.ca

A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest monument
for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection; for it, and it
only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and survives them.
Mark Twain - Letter to the Millicent [Rogers] Library, 2/22/1894

>From: "Benoun, Kathleen" <[removed]@secstate.wa.gov>
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories
>Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:08:46 -0700
>
>Jane,
>All the situations in the library cartoon series UNSHELVED remind me of
>funny true-life tales. Go visit www.overduemedia.com
>
>Kathleen Benoun
>Western State Hospital
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Baird, Jane H. [[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us]
>Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:54 PM
>To: Fiction_L
>Subject: Funny Library Stories
>
>Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.
>
>I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my hostess
>to
>bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,
>since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for (yeah,
>right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I was
>hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
>innocent.
>
>Thanks all.
>
>Jane Baird
>Anchorage Municipal Libraries
>5睶.n+ࠉ˛
>mj!࠶b࠽࠽ীX*'.mbࠢypyگ*+
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org

_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium
http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines

FROM: "Karen Traynor, Chittenango" <[removed]@midyork.org>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 1:12 PM

Here's a pretty recent one:

My mother called me at the library yesterday and said that Oprah had just announced her new Classics selection, but mom, who is an avid user of our online catalog, couldn't find any libraries that owned it. I asked her what the title was, then told her she'd probably have better luck if she looked for "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" instead of "The HAWK is a Lonely Hunter".....<smile>

Karen Traynor
Sullivan Free Library
519 McDonnell Street
Chittenango, NY 13037

FROM: "Danette Zingsheim" <[removed]@grayslake.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 1:56 PM

My favorite was from a high school student who came to the desk and asked
"Do you know who wrote Dante's Inferno?"

Recently we had two young girls asking about the history of trains, which
they thought had been invented in the 1970s.

Danette Zingsheim
Grayslake Area Public Library
100 Library Lane
Grayslake, IL 60030
847-223-5313
[removed]@grayslake.lib.il.us

----- Original Message -----
From: "Baird, Jane H." <[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us>
To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:53 PM
Subject: Funny Library Stories

> Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.
>
> I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my hostess
to bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,
since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for (yeah,
right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I was
hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
innocent.
>
> Thanks all.
>
> Jane Baird
> Anchorage Municipal Libraries
> 5睶.n+lj˛ mj!뷶bȽ 򶧀X*'.m bˢypyگ*+

FROM: Meg Sarff <[removed]@rbls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 2:38 PM

And my favorite, the man who wanted books on UNIX. The reference
librarian was taking him to the computer books when he added, "You know,
those guys who guard the harem." [eunuchs]
Meg

Mary Jane Celsie wrote:

> Not sure if this one is "fit" for public radio, but here goes...A few
> years ago I did a freelance workshop on reference work, including of
> course, reference interviews, good and bad. I always asked for bad or
> funny examples, and this one stuck with me. A young man (about 18) had
> come into a particular library and asked the reference person on duty
> for information about "safes". She took a deep breath, reminded
> herself of her professional responsibility to supply the information
> without embarrassment, etc. and rabbited off looking up "birth
> control", "STDs", etc. At which point the rather startled young client
> interrupted her with, "But I meant the things you keep your money in..."
>
> Or as Gertrude Stein supposedly said on her death bed, "What is the
> answer? What is the question?"
>
> MJ
>
>
>
> Mary Jane Celsie
> Director of Service Development
> Richmond Hill Public Library
> 905-770-0310, Ext. 422
> [removed]@yahoo.ca
>
> A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest
> monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection;
> for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and
> survives them.
> Mark Twain - Letter to the Millicent [Rogers] Library, 2/22/1894
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> From: "Benoun, Kathleen" <[removed]@secstate.wa.gov>
>> Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>> To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>> Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories
>> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:08:46 -0700
>>
>> Jane,
>> All the situations in the library cartoon series UNSHELVED remind me of
>> funny true-life tales. Go visit www.overduemedia.com
>>
>> Kathleen Benoun
>> Western State Hospital
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Baird, Jane H. [[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us]
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:54 PM
>> To: Fiction_L
>> Subject: Funny Library Stories
>>
>> Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.
>>
>> I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my
>> hostess to
>> bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,
>> since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for
>> (yeah,
>> right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I
>> was
>> hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
>> innocent.
>>
>> Thanks all.
>>
>> Jane Baird
>> Anchorage Municipal Libraries
>> 5睶.n+� 0�:
>> mj!� �b� �� �৬X*'.mb� �ypyگ*+
>>
>> ......................................................................
>> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium
> http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>

--
Meg Sarff
Customer Services Manager
Davenport Public Library
321 Main Street
Davenport, Iowa 52803-1490
(563) 328-6848
Fax (563) 326-7809
[removed]@rbls.lib.il.us
www.davenportlibrary.com

FROM: Lisa <[removed]@optonline.net>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 3:08 PM

Yes, there is a book besides the Bible that inspired The Passion of the
Christ. I'll check it out and get back to you. I have it floating on my
bookshelf, LOL and have forgotten the authors name.

Lisa Eickler

-------Original Message-------

From: Fiction_L

Date: 04/22/04 10:34:13 AM

To: Fiction_L

Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories

Story 1:

Customer came into the library last month during the height of the furor

over Mel Gibson's new movie. He asked for the book that The Passion of the

Christ was based upon. Our confident staff person said, "Oh. You mean the

Bible?"

"No," the young man said. "I want the BOOK the movie was based on."

"It was based on the Holy Bible," our staff person said, confused by what he

wanted.

The man explained. "Usually there's a novel and then they make the movie.

I'm looking for the novel."

He left completely unconvinced that there was no original novel.

Story 2:

A regular customer approached the reference desk and the Librarian asked if

she could help her with anything. "Yes," she said, "There was a guy back

there that said you have a whole book on The Righteous Brothers. It follows

them all the way back to the beginning. Do you think you could help me find

that?"

The Librarian began looking in the catalog and found only a CD and it was

checked out. She explained this to the customer. The woman then began

describing again the book she was told was here. "It's a great big book and

it covers everything about The Righteous Brothers." She explains at length

and then repeats "It goes all the way to the beginning. When they invented

the airplane."

The light bulb goes on and the Librarian takes her to the shelves and finds

her books on the Wright brothers.

Afterwards a fellow Librarian mentioned that earlier in the day the same

customer had been looking for the Warner Brothers.

Robin Deffendall

Bordeaux Branch Library

Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center

Fayetteville, NC

-----Original Message-----

From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org [[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]

On Behalf Of Baird, Jane H.

Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:54 PM

To: Fiction_L

Subject: Funny Library Stories

Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.

I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my hostess to

bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,

since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for (yeah,

right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I was

hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the

innocent.

Thanks all.

Jane Baird

Anchorage Municipal Libraries

^y h r{ r??{j!?b?  b??
br? i b??y j

......................................................................

Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?

Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org

FROM: Lisa <[removed]@optonline.net>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 3:08 PM

Title of the book that inspired Mel Gibson is The Dolorous Passion of Our
Lord Jesus Christ by Annie Catherine Emmerich.

Lisa Eickler

-------Original Message-------

From: Fiction_L

Date: 04/22/04 10:34:13 AM

To: Fiction_L

Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories

Story 1:

Customer came into the library last month during the height of the furor

over Mel Gibson's new movie. He asked for the book that The Passion of the

Christ was based upon. Our confident staff person said, "Oh. You mean the

Bible?"

"No," the young man said. "I want the BOOK the movie was based on."

"It was based on the Holy Bible," our staff person said, confused by what he

wanted.

The man explained. "Usually there's a novel and then they make the movie.

I'm looking for the novel."

He left completely unconvinced that there was no original novel.

Story 2:

A regular customer approached the reference desk and the Librarian asked if

she could help her with anything. "Yes," she said, "There was a guy back

there that said you have a whole book on The Righteous Brothers. It follows

them all the way back to the beginning. Do you think you could help me find

that?"

The Librarian began looking in the catalog and found only a CD and it was

checked out. She explained this to the customer. The woman then began

describing again the book she was told was here. "It's a great big book and

it covers everything about The Righteous Brothers." She explains at length

and then repeats "It goes all the way to the beginning. When they invented

the airplane."

The light bulb goes on and the Librarian takes her to the shelves and finds

her books on the Wright brothers.

Afterwards a fellow Librarian mentioned that earlier in the day the same

customer had been looking for the Warner Brothers.

Robin Deffendall

Bordeaux Branch Library

Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center

Fayetteville, NC

-----Original Message-----

From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org [[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]

On Behalf Of Baird, Jane H.

Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:54 PM

To: Fiction_L

Subject: Funny Library Stories

Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.

I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my hostess to

bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,

since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for (yeah,

right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I was

hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the

innocent.

Thanks all.

Jane Baird

Anchorage Municipal Libraries

^y h r{ r??{j!?b?  b??
br? i b??y j

......................................................................

Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?

Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org

FROM: Lisa Sheffield <[removed]@transylvania.lib.nc.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 3:24 PM

Our children's librarian had a parent who asked for a picture of a gerbil --
Suzy pulled out the usual books with pictures of rodents, etc... The man had
a baffled look and said no -- I mean a gerbil....

Suzy asked him to describe what he was looking for.. and turns out he
wanted a picture of a --Dirigible!

Still funny after all these years....

Lisa

Lisa Sheffield
Adult Services Librarian
Transylvania County Library
105 S. Broad St.
Brevard, NC 28712
828-884-3151
Opinions expressed are my own.

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org [[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]
On Behalf Of Meg Sarff
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 3:32 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Funny Library Stories

And my favorite, the man who wanted books on UNIX. The reference
librarian was taking him to the computer books when he added, "You know,
those guys who guard the harem." [eunuchs]
Meg

Mary Jane Celsie wrote:

> Not sure if this one is "fit" for public radio, but here goes...A few
> years ago I did a freelance workshop on reference work, including of
> course, reference interviews, good and bad. I always asked for bad or
> funny examples, and this one stuck with me. A young man (about 18) had
> come into a particular library and asked the reference person on duty
> for information about "safes". She took a deep breath, reminded
> herself of her professional responsibility to supply the information
> without embarrassment, etc. and rabbited off looking up "birth
> control", "STDs", etc. At which point the rather startled young client
> interrupted her with, "But I meant the things you keep your money in..."
>
> Or as Gertrude Stein supposedly said on her death bed, "What is the
> answer? What is the question?"
>
> MJ
>
>
>
> Mary Jane Celsie
> Director of Service Development
> Richmond Hill Public Library
> 905-770-0310, Ext. 422
> [removed]@yahoo.ca
>
> A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest
> monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection;
> for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and
> survives them.
> Mark Twain - Letter to the Millicent [Rogers] Library, 2/22/1894
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> From: "Benoun, Kathleen" <[removed]@secstate.wa.gov>
>> Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>> To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>> Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories
>> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:08:46 -0700
>>
>> Jane,
>> All the situations in the library cartoon series UNSHELVED remind me of
>> funny true-life tales. Go visit www.overduemedia.com
>>
>> Kathleen Benoun
>> Western State Hospital
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Baird, Jane H. [[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us]
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:54 PM
>> To: Fiction_L
>> Subject: Funny Library Stories
>>
>> Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.
>>
>> I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my
>> hostess to
>> bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,
>> since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for
>> (yeah,
>> right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I
>> was
>> hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
>> innocent.
>>
>> Thanks all.
>>
>> Jane Baird
>> Anchorage Municipal Libraries
>> 5睶.n+� 0�:
>> mj!� �b� �� �৬X*'.mb� �ypyگ*+
>>
>> ......................................................................
>> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium
>
http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=htt
p://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>

--
Meg Sarff
Customer Services Manager
Davenport Public Library
321 Main Street
Davenport, Iowa 52803-1490
(563) 328-6848
Fax (563) 326-7809
[removed]@rbls.lib.il.us
www.davenportlibrary.com

FROM: "Sarah Nagle" <[removed]@carverlib.org>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 3:29 PM

You've probably all had some version of this - the parent who insisted
his child HAD to have a PHOTO of Alexander the Great for the school
report. NOT a photo of a sculpture but an actual photo . . .

Sarah Nagle

Branch Manager and Reference Coordinator

Carver County Library - Chaska Branch

3 City Hall Plaza

Chaska, MN 55318

email [removed]@carverlib.org

Phone: 952-227-7615

Fax: 952-279-5216

FROM: creid <[removed]@ccpl.lib.oh.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 3:35 PM

These are from my bookstore day, so not really library stories.

I once had a man come into the bookstore and ask me if I knew who wrote the
Complete Works of Shakespeare!?!

Also, one time an sweet, grandmotherly-type woman came into the store and
asked to see some romance books. I showed her some things like Janet Dailey,
Grace Livingston Hill, etc. She kindly placed her hand on my arm and said,
"No, honey, I'm looking for something where they get laid on the first page."
YIKES!! Just shows you should never pre-judge what a customer/patron wants!!

Cathy Reid
Clark County Public Library
Springfield, OH

FROM: "Jean Meadors" <[removed]@ccpl.ci.corpus-christi.tx.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 3:35 PM

I did the same only backwards, he came looking for the pros and cons of
unix, and I immediately thought of all the cons of being a eunuch. Thank
goodness I asked him to spell it before I embarassed both of us by going
into the books on castration.
Jean

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Meg Sarff
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 2:32 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Funny Library Stories

And my favorite, the man who wanted books on UNIX. The reference
librarian was taking him to the computer books when he added, "You know,
those guys who guard the harem." [eunuchs]
Meg

Mary Jane Celsie wrote:

> Not sure if this one is "fit" for public radio, but here goes...A few
> years ago I did a freelance workshop on reference work, including of
> course, reference interviews, good and bad. I always asked for bad or
> funny examples, and this one stuck with me. A young man (about 18) had
> come into a particular library and asked the reference person on duty
> for information about "safes". She took a deep breath, reminded
> herself of her professional responsibility to supply the information
> without embarrassment, etc. and rabbited off looking up "birth
> control", "STDs", etc. At which point the rather startled young client
> interrupted her with, "But I meant the things you keep your money in..."
>
> Or as Gertrude Stein supposedly said on her death bed, "What is the
> answer? What is the question?"
>
> MJ
>
>
>
> Mary Jane Celsie
> Director of Service Development
> Richmond Hill Public Library
> 905-770-0310, Ext. 422
> [removed]@yahoo.ca
>
> A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest
> monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection;
> for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and
> survives them.
> Mark Twain - Letter to the Millicent [Rogers] Library, 2/22/1894
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> From: "Benoun, Kathleen" <[removed]@secstate.wa.gov>
>> Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>> To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>> Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories
>> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:08:46 -0700
>>
>> Jane,
>> All the situations in the library cartoon series UNSHELVED remind me of
>> funny true-life tales. Go visit www.overduemedia.com
>>
>> Kathleen Benoun
>> Western State Hospital
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Baird, Jane H. [[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us]
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:54 PM
>> To: Fiction_L
>> Subject: Funny Library Stories
>>
>> Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.
>>
>> I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my
>> hostess to
>> bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,
>> since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for
>> (yeah,
>> right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I
>> was
>> hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
>> innocent.
>>
>> Thanks all.
>>
>> Jane Baird
>> Anchorage Municipal Libraries
>> 5睶.n+� 0�:
>> mj!� �b� �� �৬X*'.mb� �ypyگ*+
>>
>> ......................................................................
>> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium
>
http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=htt
p://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>

--
Meg Sarff
Customer Services Manager
Davenport Public Library
321 Main Street
Davenport, Iowa 52803-1490
(563) 328-6848
Fax (563) 326-7809
[removed]@rbls.lib.il.us
www.davenportlibrary.com

FROM: "Dusty Gres" <[removed]@mail.toombs.public.lib.ga.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 3:35 PM

We just had someone ask our librarian at the genealogy library for the book
that listed who was buried in unmarked graves.

Dusty Gres, Director
Ohoopee Regional Library System
Hdq: Vidalia-Toombs County Library
610 Jackson Street
Vidalia, GA 30474
PH: (912) 537-9283
FAX: (912) 537-3735
EMAIL: [removed]@mail.toombs.public.lib.ga.us
WEB: http://www.toombs.public.lib.ga.us

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Lisa Sheffield
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 4:07 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories

Our children's librarian had a parent who asked for a picture of a gerbil --
Suzy pulled out the usual books with pictures of rodents, etc... The man had
a baffled look and said no -- I mean a gerbil....

Suzy asked him to describe what he was looking for.. and turns out he
wanted a picture of a --Dirigible!

Still funny after all these years....

Lisa

Lisa Sheffield
Adult Services Librarian
Transylvania County Library
105 S. Broad St.
Brevard, NC 28712
828-884-3151
Opinions expressed are my own.

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org [[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]
On Behalf Of Meg Sarff
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 3:32 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Funny Library Stories

And my favorite, the man who wanted books on UNIX. The reference
librarian was taking him to the computer books when he added, "You know,
those guys who guard the harem." [eunuchs]
Meg

Mary Jane Celsie wrote:

> Not sure if this one is "fit" for public radio, but here goes...A few
> years ago I did a freelance workshop on reference work, including of
> course, reference interviews, good and bad. I always asked for bad or
> funny examples, and this one stuck with me. A young man (about 18) had
> come into a particular library and asked the reference person on duty
> for information about "safes". She took a deep breath, reminded
> herself of her professional responsibility to supply the information
> without embarrassment, etc. and rabbited off looking up "birth
> control", "STDs", etc. At which point the rather startled young client
> interrupted her with, "But I meant the things you keep your money in..."
>
> Or as Gertrude Stein supposedly said on her death bed, "What is the
> answer? What is the question?"
>
> MJ
>
>
>
> Mary Jane Celsie
> Director of Service Development
> Richmond Hill Public Library
> 905-770-0310, Ext. 422
> [removed]@yahoo.ca
>
> A public library is the most enduring of memorials, the trustiest
> monument for the preservation of an event or a name or an affection;
> for it, and it only, is respected by wars and revolutions, and
> survives them.
> Mark Twain - Letter to the Millicent [Rogers] Library, 2/22/1894
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> From: "Benoun, Kathleen" <[removed]@secstate.wa.gov>
>> Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>> To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>> Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories
>> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:08:46 -0700
>>
>> Jane,
>> All the situations in the library cartoon series UNSHELVED remind me of
>> funny true-life tales. Go visit www.overduemedia.com
>>
>> Kathleen Benoun
>> Western State Hospital
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Baird, Jane H. [[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us]
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:54 PM
>> To: Fiction_L
>> Subject: Funny Library Stories
>>
>> Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.
>>
>> I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my
>> hostess to
>> bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well, naturally,
>> since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for
>> (yeah,
>> right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I
>> was
>> hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
>> innocent.
>>
>> Thanks all.
>>
>> Jane Baird
>> Anchorage Municipal Libraries
>> 5睶.n+� 0�:
>> mj!� �b� �� �৬X*'.mb� �ypyگ*+
>>
>> ......................................................................
>> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN Premium
>
http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=htt
p://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>

--
Meg Sarff
Customer Services Manager
Davenport Public Library
321 Main Street
Davenport, Iowa 52803-1490
(563) 328-6848
Fax (563) 326-7809
[removed]@rbls.lib.il.us
www.davenportlibrary.com

FROM: Meg Sarff <[removed]@rbls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 4/22/04, 4:27 PM

Yes, we also had a tiny little old lady return some steamy romances
once, exclaiming "There's so much sex in these books! They're just
filthy! --- Where can I find more of them to read?"

creid wrote:

>These are from my bookstore day, so not really library stories.
>
>I once had a man come into the bookstore and ask me if I knew who wrote the
>Complete Works of Shakespeare!?!
>
>Also, one time an sweet, grandmotherly-type woman came into the store and
>asked to see some romance books. I showed her some things like Janet Dailey,
>Grace Livingston Hill, etc. She kindly placed her hand on my arm and said,
>"No, honey, I'm looking for something where they get laid on the first page."
>YIKES!! Just shows you should never pre-judge what a customer/patron wants!!
>
>Cathy Reid
>Clark County Public Library
>Springfield, OH
>
>
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>
>
>

--
Meg Sarff
Customer Services Manager
Davenport Public Library
321 Main Street
Davenport, Iowa 52803-1490
(563) 328-6848
Fax (563) 326-7809
[removed]@rbls.lib.il.us
www.davenportlibrary.com

FROM: [removed]@bloglines.com
REC'D: 4/22/04, 6:58 PM

This reminds of a patron who came in the other day. She's an older lady, very
proper... She asked my boss to look up the title of a book for her, "Isn't
She Sweet".

Well, she looked and looked but couldn't find it, but she did
turn up something called "Ain't She Sweet", and she asked the patron if that
might be the title.

The lady replied, "Well, yes, it is, but I never say
that word."

:)

Rose

--- Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org
wrote:
Yes, we also had a tiny little old lady return some steamy romances

> once, exclaiming "There's so much sex in these books! They're just
>
filthy! --- Where can I find more of them to read?"
>

FROM: Curt Heuer <[removed]@centurytel.net>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 7:30 AM

I thought the Bible was the basis as well until I got a call from
Recorded Books asking me if the movie The Passion.. was popular in my
area and would I like to purchase the book the movie was based on. I
asked her if she meant the Bible but no- RB has just done THE DOLOROUS
PASSION of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST by Anne Catherine Emmerich on tape. I
passed but others of you may want to purchase this book on tape for
your collection.

Jeanne Heuer
Brown County Library

On Thursday, April 22, 2004, at 09:33 AM, Robin Deffendall wrote:

> Story 1:
>
> Customer came into the library last month during the height of the
> furor
> over Mel Gibson's new movie. He asked for the book that The Passion of
> the
> Christ was based upon. Our confident staff person said, "Oh. You mean
> the
> Bible?"
>
> "No," the young man said. "I want the BOOK the movie was based on."
>
> "It was based on the Holy Bible," our staff person said, confused by
> what he
> wanted.
>
> The man explained. "Usually there's a novel and then they make the
> movie.
> I'm looking for the novel."
>
> He left completely unconvinced that there was no original novel.
>
>
> Story 2:
>
> A regular customer approached the reference desk and the Librarian
> asked if
> she could help her with anything. "Yes," she said, "There was a guy
> back
> there that said you have a whole book on The Righteous Brothers. It
> follows
> them all the way back to the beginning. Do you think you could help me
> find
> that?"
>
> The Librarian began looking in the catalog and found only a CD and it
> was
> checked out. She explained this to the customer. The woman then began
> describing again the book she was told was here. "It's a great big
> book and
> it covers everything about The Righteous Brothers." She explains at
> length
> and then repeats "It goes all the way to the beginning. When they
> invented
> the airplane."
>
> The light bulb goes on and the Librarian takes her to the shelves and
> finds
> her books on the Wright brothers.
>
> Afterwards a fellow Librarian mentioned that earlier in the day the
> same
> customer had been looking for the Warner Brothers.
>
>
>
> Robin Deffendall
> Bordeaux Branch Library
> Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center
> Fayetteville, NC
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
> [[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]
> On Behalf Of Baird, Jane H.
> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 5:54 PM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: Funny Library Stories
>
> Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.
>
> I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my
> hostess to
> bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well,
> naturally,
> since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for
> (yeah,
> right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However, I
> was
> hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
> innocent.
>
> Thanks all.
>
> Jane Baird
> Anchorage Municipal Libraries
> ^y h r{ r??{j!?b?  b??
br? i b??y j
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>

FROM: Anne Frontino <[removed]@camden.lib.nj.us>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 8:32 AM

Over my many years of reference work, the two incidents that stand
out are these:
the request (from a teenager) for a photo of the Big Bang; and
the phone question in which I was asked how does one become a
senior citizen (mental answer: Just live long enough) ; actual answer
required finding the phone number for the local AARP chapter.

Anne Frontino
Haddonfield Public Library
Haddonfield NJ

FROM: Jill Gates <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 8:38 AM

A student came in a few years ago and asked out head
librarian at the time to help her find an address, she
asked her the name of the town or city and the student
said "Gettysburg, I need the Gettysburg Address."
--- Doris Ann Norris <[removed]@woh.rr.com> wrote:
> One of my favorites was a student coming in and
> wanting a book on the
> Blue Bonnet Plague.
>
> Doris Ann Norris
>
>
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org



__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25�
http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/print_splash

FROM: Laura Pearle <[removed]@pcs-nyc.org>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 9:46 AM

http://home.hawaii.rr.com/kingcharles/Library/weirdqst.htm - Weird
Reference Questions

Laura Pearle
Head Librarian
Gladys Brooks Library
Professional Children's School
[removed]@pcs-nyc.org

"I must judge for myself, but how can I judge, how can any man judge,
unless his mind has been opened and enlarged by reading?"- John Adams

FROM: Jaffe <[removed]@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 11:00 AM

A fellow librarian told us that a patron was looking for a book called
na-me-sake. After searching high and low, she realized it was Namesake by
Lahiri.

Karen Jaffe
Comsewogue Public Library

FROM: "K. Smith" <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 11:57 AM

My stories are also from my experience as a
bookseller.

One dark and stormy night, a customer approached the
Info Desk and said, "I'm trying to find 'A Red
Umbrella.'" Well, I had to take a second as Anita
Diamant's "The Red Tent" came to mind, before I
realized she was looking for an actual umbrella.
However, my co-worker did not make the same leap of
logic, and as I bend down to check the lost and found,
I hear her typing in Red Umbrella into the computer.

The second story happened to a co-worker of mine. He
was manning the desk when a customer came up and said
she was looking for a book called "Mind Camp." He
couldn't find anything in stock or in print under that
title, so he asked her who the author was. It was only
after the woman replied, "Hitler," that he realized
she was looking for "Mein Kampf."



__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25�
http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/print_splash

FROM: "Ellen Brodsky" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 12:18 PM

A few years ago, I was working the late shift at the library during the Los
Alamos wildfire which was about 70 miles away. Los Alamos had been
evacuated and many of its residents had come to my town. Everyone was
nervous and on edge about it and our sky was filled with smoke. Evacuees
had been invited to use the library internet so a lot of people were coming
in. During a lull in the flow, the other librarian on duty and I went on
the internet at the reference desk to look for the latest news updates on
the fire. I don't think Google had the news page then so we searched
something like "Los Alamos fire" in a search engine.

Somehow, that took us into a pornographic pop-up with VERY graphic, and very
large photos. The kind of photos we have ejected patrons for looking at.
We laughed at first but then we realized we could not get rid of it. We
closed the screen only to find that anotherr large, graphic photo popped up
to take its place. Neither of us was a computer expert and we were so
stunned, we didn't know how to get rid of it. We kept closing out the site
only to have another one pop open. This was at the reference desk where the
computer screen is purposely visible to patrons. When the patrons told us
they accidentally stumbled into porn sites, we were always skeptical. Who
was going to believe us, working without our supervisor, shortly before
closing?

We tried alt/control/delete but for some reason, that didn't work either.
Finally, we just hit the power button, even though we're not supposed to.
We were certain that the mayor or a town councilor would take that moment to
show up and schmooze with the evacuees. Fortunately, that didn't happen.
We never told our supervisor but we are more believing when a patron tells
us he or she stumbled on pornography by mistake. And by the way, our
computers DO have filters. Go figure.

Ellen Brodsky
Public Services Librarian
Taos Public Library
Taos, NM

_________________________________________________________________
Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfee�
Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

FROM: [removed]@bloglines.com
REC'D: 4/23/04, 1:20 PM

Ah yes, The Misheard Title... My favorite so far was the patron who asked
for "Mudbath." Did the reference interview, "Okay, are you interested in visiting
a spa?" Patron replies, "No... not a spa. Mudbath. You know, Shakespeare's..."

*pause*

(emphasis)"You mean Macbeth?"

"Yeah! That's it!"

*sigh*

:)

Rose

--- Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org wrote:
>
> The second story happened to a co-worker of mine. He
> was manning
the desk when a customer came up and said
> she was looking for a book called
"Mind Camp." He
> couldn't find anything in stock or in print under that

> title, so he asked her who the author was. It was only
> after the woman
replied, "Hitler," that he realized
> she was looking for "Mein Kampf."

>

FROM: Kate Kehoe <[removed]@umich.edu>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 1:37 PM

I was living in the south and hadn't gotten used to the accent yet. I
had a 6ft plus state trooper come in looking for "poultry" books.
Puzzled I asked if he meant like chickens. He said no, "rhymin' words".
But that wasn't as bad as a coworker who thought someone had asked about
chess manuals, when she showed him the games section he said, no he was
looking for books on insects. She spent the rest of the shift hiding.

Kate

FROM: "Suzanne T. LaRue" <[removed]@dclibraries.org>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 2:46 PM

I'll you one that was a joke on me.

There was a nice-looking young guy who'd been working on one of our word
processing computers for a couple of hours. He came up to the reference
desk, gave me a big smile, and said, "Let's say you and I have a great
rapport."

I'm 48, no beauty, not stylish (I use my own clothes at Halloween to
dress up as a "librarian), happily married, but I thought, hey, I'll go
along with this. That was the best opening line I'd ever heard.

"Ok" I said, returning the big smile.

"How would you spell that?"

FROM: "Judith Rossa" <[removed]@brdgprtpl.lib.ct.us>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 3:02 PM

One of my favorite requests was for books by Lenmore Elmwood.


(Could that be Elmore Leonard?-- yup!)



Judy Rossa
Bridgeport (CT) Public Library

5睶�.n�+����˛���m�j�!����b�������X��*'.m��߉�b�ypy�گ*+

FROM: "Mary Clemens" <[removed]@3gcs.com>
REC'D: 4/23/04, 9:09 PM

My favorite is a young patron looking for information on the
gangster, Al Pacino. Trying to help the young man save face,
I diplomatically replied that he may have played Al Capone in
a movie once.

My most embarrassing was when a father and his son (dressed in
soccer clothes) asked for a book on the Chicago Fire and I responded
that I didn't know if we had any books on that. They of course were
referring to THE CHICAGO FIRE. All I could think of was our local
soccer team known by the same name.

Mary Clemens
Children's Librarian
[removed]@cslibrary.org

Carol Stream Public Library
616 Hiawatha Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
630.653.0755

FROM: Bev Preston <[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us>
REC'D: 4/24/04, 10:35 AM

My 2 favorite questions over the years:

1. Patron who called and asked "Who were the 10 most famous undertakers in
history?" It sort of boggles the mind to think what an undertaker
would have to do to get famous. (mind you, this was YEARS before "Six Feet
Under").

2. Patron who called and asked me to identify a snake. I got our ref. book
which is arranged so you can go from question to question and usually
identify a snake even on the phone. I started through the list and after
answering several questions the woman said impatiently, "Could you hurry
this up? It's in my back yard and my husband is letting my 2-year old girl
play with it."

There was a short silence while my heart turned over. Here in Florda we
have copperheads, moccasins, rattlesnakes and coral smakes, all poisonous.
"I said, Ma'am -- please put down the phone and go and get your little girl
away from the snake RIGHT NOW. I'll wait and we can firgure out what it is,
later..."

Grumbling that she only wanted to know what it was, she went. No wonder
they have the annual Darwin awards.

Carol Hole
Alachua County Library District
Gainesville, FL
[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us

FROM: "Ann Jarvis" <[removed]@vlc.lib.mi.us>
REC'D: 4/26/04, 5:24 PM

One afternoon I had two men come in and ask where we keep our
pornography books. After explaining that we tend not to purchase
those types of materials, one said that he had once seen a sign for
adult books. I then remembered that we used to have a literacy
collection of easier to read books for adults learning to read. It
was called "Adult Reading Material."

My two patrons were disappointed.

Ann Jarvis
Grace A Dow memorial Library
Midland MI

---- Original Message ----
From: [removed]@secstate.wa.gov
To: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
Subject: RE: Funny Library Stories
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:08:46 -0700

>Jane,
>All the situations in the library cartoon series UNSHELVED remind me
>of
>funny true-life tales. Go visit www.overduemedia.com
>
>Kathleen Benoun
>Western State Hospital
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Baird, Jane H. [[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us]
>Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:54 PM
>To: Fiction_L
>Subject: Funny Library Stories
>
>Hmmm. Well that didn't come out well so will try, try again.
>
>I'm going to be on talk radio next week and have been asked by my
>hostess to
>bring some funny patron/librarian transaction stories. Well,
>naturally,
>since I never misunderstand exactly what my patrons are looking for
>(yeah,
>right) I don't have any of these stories at my fingertips. However,
>I was
>hoping some of you just might. Names will be changed to protect the
>innocent.
>
>Thanks all.
>
>Jane Baird
>Anchorage Municipal Libraries
>5?.n+??
>mj!?b???X*'.mb?ypy?*+
>
>.....................................................................
>.
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org

FROM: "Kay Kelly" <[removed]@mplonline.org>
REC'D: 4/26/04, 8:43 PM

Once had a customer looking for info. on "killer whales in Hawaii". Turnes out
he wanted info. on the Kilauea Volcano!

FROM: Kaite Mediatore <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 4/27/04, 3:56 PM

I'm still dining out on this one:

I had a patron (with a very thick Southern accent) ask
me for a piece of music. She asked for "Dance
Mackabeers" I had no idea what that was and after a
few minutes of polite questioning in which the patron
became disgusted with my stupidity and I became
frustrated at not finding what she wanted she yelled
"Dance Mackabeers by Cameel Saynt Saynt!" Only then
did I realize she wanted Danse Macabres by Camille
Saint-Saens.

Later that week my assistant was asked, "Do you have a
drama?" To which she replied, "Every day!"

=====
Kaite Mediatore, Reader's Services Librarian
KCKPL Main Library
625 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
913.279.2067 fx: 913.279.2032
[removed]@kckpl.lib.ks.us
Opinions are all mine yet freely dispersed.



__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs
http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/careermakeover

FROM: "Baird, Jane H." <[removed]@ci.anchorage.ak.us>
REC'D: 4/29/04, 7:41 PM

Thanks again to everyone who sent me their funny library stories. The
radio show went very well, and the tales of library mishaps were
chuckled over.

Jane Baird
Anchorage Municipal Libraries

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 4/30/04, 2:26 AM

I love these funny library stories. I thought I might share a couple, even
though I was never a fiction librarian - I was an academic librarian for 11
years.

Tale # 1:

A little boy came to the reference desk. He seemed to be about 10, and had a
pair of tied together sneakers dangling over his shoulder. I asked him what I
could do for him. He told me that he wanted to know how to extract DNA from
the chloroplast of a tobacco leaf. [My blood ran cold!] I resorted to my
training in question negotiation. Where did you find out about this? From
something my daddy was reading. What was Daddy reading? Scientific American. I
took my young patron down to serials, found the latest unbound issue. In the
second one I picked up - voila! [Yea!]

Tale # 2

A science professor (Chemistry) brought a graduate student to the library.
The student handed me a photocopy request. (At that time, they filtered
through the reference dept.) The citation: p.1248, This Journal. I asked him which
journal. He replied again, "This journal." [I felt as if I were trapped in
a kind "Who's on First?"] Ever patient, I asked him where he'd found the
citation. He handed me a bound chemistry magazine. At the bottom of the page was
a footnote: See page 1248, this journal.

Duh.

Tale # 3:

An English professor called me at the reference desk. His Q: How did Sylvia
Plath died?

Off the top of my head, I replied: She stuck her head in the oven. Then I
researched Sylvia Plath. She did indeed stick her head in the oven.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
Romance novelist/former librarian

Return to April 2004 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

The Webrary® and Fiction_L are services of the Morton Grove Public Library "Webrary" is a registered trademark of the Morton Grove Public Library. All rights reserved. Copyright of Fiction_L postings belongs to their respective authors; postings may only be reused with the author's permission. Compiled lists (compilations of titles or authors from earlier postings on a particular topic) may not be reused for commercial purposes. To use a compiled list for non-commercial purposes, please credit "Subscribers of the Fiction_L mailing list." All other content is �2012 Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove, IL 60053-2989, (847) 965-4220.