16 Nov 2011 16 Comments
Library Rants and other bookish things
Most of you know that I’m a librarian. It’s a given that I have an insatiable love for books and plenty of stories to share about my experiences. I’ve learned so much about the bookish community, not just from blogging, but through contact with hundreds of patrons each week. The patrons are the jam that make the library an attractive, and often times, the most humorous place to work. There are so many things that go on behind the scenes in a library and I thought that it would be interesting to occasionally share some of the stories and frustrations with you.
We all love the smell of a brand new book and appreciate the cover, binding, and the work within, right? I thought so. My shelves are lined with beautiful, finished copies and I care for them as though they are children. Maybe that sounds weird but I can’t help it. I cringe when I see a water-damaged book returned in our drop box or left on the circulation desk. The first thought that comes to mind is what the heck were they thinking. When you borrow a book, don’t you, as a reader, usually consider that others might be interested in reading the very book you hold in your hands? Obviously, some people don’t. Is it that difficult to return an item in the same condition that you borrowed it? Obviously it is for some people. So here’s my story for the week.
After reading tons of favorable reviews of Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why, I felt compelled to grab the library copy. Of course, not only was it checked out, but it was weeks overdue. I gave the patron a call and asked if she could return the book as someone else was dying to read it. The patron apologized for not returning the book on time and stated she would return is as soon as possible. She did, in fact, return the book. But that’s the exact moment my excitement plummeted to the fifth dimension of hell and I screamed inside. The book had been murdered. Yep…that’s right, murdered. My heart sank and I was immediately filled with anger. This poor, helpless book had been violated in the worst way. I think I might have cried a little on this one…welcome to my nightmare.
So I ask again, what the heck were they thinking? Why not mention that the book had been damaged? It’s not as if we are heartless librarian trolls. We are reasonable human beings that will work with you. In the end, we ordered a new copy and it has remained intact, and all is right in the world of books. Well, almost anyway.
This is a completely different situation, but one I thought was share-worthy. This was a video that we found in our parking lot. Not much left of it but we were able to figure out what it was. Thank goodness for labels. LOL
I had to laugh at this one a little. The case made it to the book drop but, sadly, the video didn’t. Oh well! You win some, you lose some.
We’d love to hear your bookish nightmares, share your damaged book stories with us in the comments.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 04:16:07
Oh my goodness, this kind of abuse kills me!
I understand accidents happen. I borrowed my BFF’s pristine copy of a book, and on the train on the way to RETURN it, ran into a pole and creased the cover. I was horrified, and replaced it.
I’ll happily lend my books to anyone who wants to read them, but i read mainly paperbacks, and I’m so dissapointed when I get them back with broken spines. I work with a girl I LOVE, and I adore switching her on to new books, but every single book I’ve lent her has come back creased and abused–even rand new books I hadn’t even read. It’s even worse when it’s a library book! You have an obligation to care for it!
Ugh, sorry, I’ve clearly exhausted today’s exclamation mark quota, but you’re not alone. I’m going to have nightmares about those photos
Nov 16, 2011 @ 21:22:32
Accidents do happen but this was just insane. I rarely lend my books out but when I do I’m lucky enough to get them back in the same condition.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 09:15:59
I almost cry when I see damaged books. I hate people who
*write in books (Um, post its people! unless it is your copy, then by all means, mark it up)
*don’t use book marks (major rant on that one with my book club)
*eat or drink while reading and right over the book (major cringe)
*leave books where pets can get to them.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 21:24:36
I agree with you completely. You have to really love books to be bothered by something like this.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 10:28:12
A few months ago, my cousins were over for a visit, and we had gone to pick them up, so I had a brand new paperback to read on the way there. Here comes the horror: My cousin picks up the book, looks at it a bit, then bends the spine backwards right in the middle, right in front of me. I literally gasped haha. & that’s why I don’t let her borrow books anymore.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 21:26:37
Spine breaking is a major no-no in my book. I rarely buy paperbacks because they don’t hold up well. When I do buy one you can’t even tell it’s been read once much less twice or more. It’s so hard to lend books out these days.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 10:32:01
My boyfriend is the type who breaks the spines of paperbacks and it makes me cringe inside. He doesn’t read that much in the first place, so I don’t want to do anything to dissuade him from picking up a book, but really? You have to try to lay a 800 page fantasy paperback flat on the table?
That picture of Thirteen Reasons Why made me die inside a little. How can people be so disrespectful to something that isn’t even theirs?
Nov 16, 2011 @ 21:28:11
I die a little inside too every time I look at that book. Sad thing is its easy to see from my desk. UGH! Breaking a spine on any book should be considered a sin. LOL
Nov 16, 2011 @ 10:51:19
Wow! I can’t even imagine how that much damage occurred…were the dogs fighting over it??? How do you return something like that and not offer to buy the library a new copy!!
♥ Melissa @ Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf
Nov 16, 2011 @ 21:30:19
It still blows my mind. The offer of a replacement copy would have been nice but hasn’t happened. In time they’ll need our services and have to pay for it. We tend to be extremely reasonable.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 10:54:46
Did the person who returned that library book have to pay a fine?
I take out a lot of books from the library and try to treat them very well.
I also can’t imagine borrowing a book from someone and bringing it back all messed up. You guys should mention it to your friends. They probably don’t even realize what they’re doing.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 21:33:18
They haven’t returned to the library since they returned the murdered book. Damaged books happen all the time but this is one of the worst. They’ll be back and eventually pay for it. Well maybe.
Nov 17, 2011 @ 13:39:52
A dog clearly got to that book. There is nothing else that could have possibly caused that kind of damage. Were you able to charge the patron for the replacement? I know when I borrowed a CD from the library it must have had a crack in it already and when I put it into my CD player it EXPLODED. Since I was the one who had it checked out, I just bought the library a replacement copy.
Nov 17, 2011 @ 19:54:45
We’ll definitely be charging the patron for the damaged item. That sucks about the DVD. I didn’t know they could explode like that. Good to know.
Nov 17, 2011 @ 22:40:33
That’s just awful! Why on earth would anyone return book in that kind of condition?!
I’ve only had one accident with a library book, it was Charlie Brown comic book, and I was around 8 years old. My little sisters were 3 and 4 and the other one (probably the 3 year old) got scissors somewhere and cut one of the pages into peaces. So I went to library and paid the book like a decent human being. I was only 8, but it broke my heart to see the book mutilated, even when it was only one page. The same happened to my math book, it was fun to explain to the teacher, that no, dog didn’t eat my homework, but my little sister cut it into small peaces..
Nov 17, 2011 @ 23:09:14
Accidents do happen…at least you were nice enough to take care of the damages. The math book story is great. LOL