Newsletter (Sept 2007)
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Librarian Fun
LIBRARIAN VIOLATES COMMANDMENT
The new film The Ten (City Light Pictures) is comprised of short comedic stories each based upon one of the Ten Commandments. The film’s cast includes well known actors such as Liev Schreibner, Adam Brody, Winona Ryder, and Oliver. What’s notable about the film is one of the stories features a librarian character who breaks a commandment. Who says librarians “never cross the line”? If you’re curious, you’ll just have to watch the movie to find which commandment is broken.
More information on the film can be found at www.imdb.com/title/tt0811106/
A review of the film also appeared in the August 24, 2007 edition of the St. Louis Post – Dispatch.
ENTERTAINMENT FLUFF WITH LIBRARIANS PRESENT
If you need a mental break, two new videos with a librarian theme have been posted on YouTube just in time to get you thinking about Halloween. In the Hilarious House of Frightenstein Librarian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-ZJ4SkSk1s) a ghoulish looking librarian reads a story.
If you prefer an animated film, fear not, there’s The Night of the Living Dead Bookworm (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-6GCyn9kj4), a spoof of the film The Night of the Living Dead. In this film, “after being murdered by the librarian, Bouncy the Bookworm is resurrected…being resurrected Bouncy brings his lust for BOOKS back to the library.”
NEW BOOKS ABOUT LIBRARIANS
A Librarian in Kenya
If you love reading books with librarian characters, be sure to add The Camel Bookmobile to your reading list. Written by Marsha Hamilton, the story focuses on Fi Sweeney, a New York librarian who takes a job in Kenya.
You can find more information about the book at http://www.harpercollins.com/books/..../index.aspx
Real Life Librarian Belle da Costa Greene
An Illuminated Life: Belle da Costa Greene’s Journey from Prejudice to Privilege, by Heidi Ardizzone is another new book to add to your reading list. Publisher’s Weekly states “Ardizzone’s competent, complimentary biography explains the complicated, glamorous woman who transcended her lack of formal higher education and obfuscated her race to become head of the Pierpont Morgan Library and confidante of the financial mogul who founded it.” You can find more information about the book at
http://www2.wwnorton.com/catalog/fall06/005104.htm
NOT YOUR STEREOTYPICAL LIBRARIANS
Mr. Library Man, i.e. Brad Barker, a librarian at Mark Twain Junior High School in Modesto, California is trying to dispel that old stereotypical image of the librarian by offering a “potentially recurring” Mr. Library Man column in the Modesto Bee newspaper. His August 29th question and answer column is filled with wit and definitely proves librarian have humor.
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/community/story/54059.html
Nevada librarian Jeff Ullman also doesn’t fit the stereotype. The August 3, 2007 Reno Gazette (http://news.rgj.com) ran an article about Jeff Ullman, the new librarian in Sparks, NV. In the article he describes himself as a six foot two, 245 pound bald and bearded guy who looks like an old bear. His background is not what folks would think of a librarian. “Prior to relocating to Northern Nevada…Ullman worked as an aspiring actor, a bookstore sales representative, postal worker, security officer and maintenance worker, among other jobs.” Who says librarians aren’t interesting???
THE SMELL OF BOOKS
First there was In the Library Perfume (http://www.cbihateperfume.com/CBinthelibrary.html) with the scent of old leather bound books. Now, a scratch and sniff sticker with a musty old book smell is being distributed to Café Scribe e-book purchasers. Believe it or not, a poll they commissioned of college students showed 43% of the respondents identified the smell as one of the things they like about physical books.
To find out more about the poll and Café Scribe’s launch of musty e-books, go to www.cafescribe.com/media/...-e-book.php
“LIBRARIAN” IN UNCYCLOPEDIA
If you need some more amusement, check out the entry for “Librarian” in the Uncyclopedia (http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Librarian). You’ll be entertained by the contents which include librarian stereotypes, super powers, cats, attire, book love, and how to vanquish librarian.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIBRARIANS,
INCLUDING HUMOR …
Be sure to purchase a copy of my new book, Casanova Was a Librarian: a Light Hearted Look at the Profession, by Kathleen Low, available from McFarland (www.mcfarlandpub.com), Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, and other retailers.
IF YOU’RE EVER IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC...
Don’t forget to visit the Chateau in Duchcov (http://ftp.czechtourism.com/....htm) where Casanova spent the last years of his life working as a librarian. And although he only spent thirteen years of his life in the area, his presence there is part of the area’s heritage. There’s even a Casanova Café in Prague at the foot of the Charles Bridge (on the Prague Castle side).
Thanks for reading along with me!
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For More Information About Librarians, Including Humor…
Be sure to purchase a copy of my new book, Casanova Was a Librarian: a Light Hearted Look at the Profession available from McFarland (www.mcfarlandpub.com), Amazon.com, and other retailers.
Send an email to Casanovawasalibrarian@hotmail.com with “Librarian fun” in the subject line and you'll receive interesting librarian related information in your email inbox once a month.
