Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian



Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian
by Scott Douglas


So, I stumbled upon this book a while ago and placed a request for it through our nifty inter-library loan system and received it, and finished it quickly, last week. Little did I know that one of the new Green Valley Library staff members was featured in it...

Scott Douglas started out as a library shelver/page in a small Anaheim, California library and this book is a tale of his experiences through shelverdom through library school and his time with an MLS (Master's in Library Science). The chapters are all uniquely started with a "book title" and Dewey Decimal Number, ranging from people wanting to kill him to finding the love of his life. Throughout this time, you learn to enjoy the cast of library regulars, ranging from the crazies to the kind old ladies who give you treats whenever they come in.

Overall, it's a great read and quite insightful. Quiet, Please definitely trumps the earlier published Freaks, Geeks, and Oddballs by Don Borchert... and I'm not just saying that because I know someone who knows the author. Oh right, you probably want to know the mysterious Green Valley staffer who worked side by side with Mr. Douglas, don't you? You'll have to make an educated guess. :)

4 comments:

Diana said...

hmmm...i think i know someone that is married to him ;)

great review btw!

Eliza said...

I ordered a copy for the Henderson Libraries. I couldn't believe we didn't have a book about a librarian in our system!

jenahn said...

I'm so glad that we have this title on order. I'm currently reading it and find it pretty funny and can definitely relate to some of author's adventures.

Justin said...

Thanks all and I'm glad to see we're getting a copy here! We can always use more books about the best profession in the world. :D