Pull your noses out of those books (should I say avert your eyes from the e-readers?), friends and patrons, it’s time for another dispatch from the library war zone.
So there’s been a whole hell of a lot of drama going on in my neck of the woods lately. Meaning my town, that is. I’ve done my best to keep my ass out of it all. Ordinarily, the town in spring looks like this:
I took that picture last year, on an average afternoon. (Note: I didn’t take that picture, nor do I expect it was taken last year. It does not depict my town.)
The last month or so, though, have been very different. I took this picture last week:
That’s me in the top left, keeping the fuck out of it all. (Note: that isn’t even a picture, so I shouldn’t have to explain that I didn’t take it. I’m a librarian though, and I figure it’s always best to explain everything clearly. On that note, that is not me in the upper left. Additionally, had I taken the picture, I would not likely have been in it.)
Lest I forget, this is a library news series, not a complain about my town series, so I guess I should move on.
Exciting news, friends! It’s time for a nomination to be handed out for this year’s Fuckwit Librarian of the Year Award!!! Amanda Marie Cortright, you’re in the news!
Cortright has been arrested for the theft, over a period of years, of more than 1,400 items that belonged to the library system that employed her. According to reports, Cortright had created multiple accounts for herself under various names, and would then check out the materials and never return them, blaming nonexistent library abusers and marking the items lost. Almost well-planned, I suppose, except that Cortright then proceeded to tweet about reading certain books that had gone missing. She also used her personal email address to open the accounts under which she checked out the materials, and had often placed items on reserve for herself just before they went missing. Congratulations, Amanda! You’re a fuckwit!
I recently linked to a post on Will Manley‘s blog Will Unwound reporting the results of a 1992 sex survey. Manley has been reporting tremendous press on the subject, which is great, but I hope people understand there is more to him than just an old sex survey. Many of us poor librarians are frequent visitors of his site, where much can be learned and discussed. So remember, Will, we love you for more than your sex survey (though we love you for it too). It would likely be appropriate to link now to a serious, thoughtful post on library issues, but instead I’m going to suggest you read this list of some of the stupid reference questions Manley was asked during his time behind the desk. Ok, fine, here’s a fascinating recent post about serious issues as well.
Until next time, friends! Remember to call to renew your books, and keep an eye on your kids while you use our computers!
(PS- Molly, if you read this, this is not the post I meant when I hinted at my exciting next post. Still working on that one!)
Young people in Africa. Oh my God. Most of those exchanges would make for lovely comics.
Regarding your PS, I find this unacceptable and intend to use my considerable influence with the management to have you harshly disciplined.
[...] current front-runner is Amanda Marie Cortright, who was busted for stealing almost 1,500 items from the library system she worked for. Cortright [...]
That list – Holy sh*t!