Paul and I went on a tree-identifying hike, run by a dreary arborist who led us through a forest, saying, essentially, “It’s all hopeless, people have destroyed the environment, there’s no coming back from devastation like that, nothing works, nothing helps, does anyone feel like crying? Because I do,” but luckily despite dire predictions of a smog filled Death-Valley-esque summer Toronto has been nothing but clear blue skies, wispy clouds, and a brisk wind for the past week, and I’ve been so happy about that (because my usual response to summer is just to hibernate) that I was able to ignore Mr. Joyless for the most part.
Anyway, he did have one interesting fact: “In, in, you know, I can’t think of the name, and I keep wanting to say Scarberia [the nickname for the Scarborough area to the east of Toronto, which takes approximately four days to reach via subway] isn’t that terrible? Oh, I know, Siberia,” in Siberia there’s this forest that has only one kind of tree for as far as the eye can see. Can you imagine being lost in that forest? It would be, like, an existential crisis!”
Generally, I don’t care what people think of me. I dress solely for comfort. I’m not afraid to speak up when I feel I should. I don’t mind being “the weird one” among my friends.
Except when it comes to librarians. I care deeply about what librarians think of me, and I have for as long as I can remember, making sure to pick the most difficult, complex books in fourth grade at the school library.
So when libraries started carrying videos, I was presented with a dilemma. On the one hand, when they elect me Empress of the Universe (what, don’t you have thoughts that begin, “if I ruled the universe…”) I’ll make sure that libraries have nothing but books and internet access, and that’s it and all and the end. And by books, I mean BOOKS. No westerns. No romances. No Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: The Case of the Candy Cane Clue.
On the other hand…where else am I going to find free videos of the BBC tv show Absolutely Fabulous? Nowhere, is the answer.
But I was still careful. When I took out videos from the library, I made sure they were truly funny, or shockingly well-written.
Then I moved to Toronto. Where there are one hundred library branches. One hundred, people. So if I visited a library a day starting now, I wouldn’t be finished until the leaves had turned brown and started falling from the trees.
And suddenly, I could go to the library with my Scottish librarian who I adore and check out books like “The Art of the Personal Essay”, then head to one of the gigantic libraries with a rotating library staff and check out ANYTHING! I mean, okay, they technically work at the library at Library Giganticus, but they’re also only slightly older than Paul and they’re just clerks.
I got really excited, and used the library website to reserve Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs at Library Giganticus, then went to the tiny library to check out a Giller Prize finalist novel, feeling pleased with myself. The man behind the counter said, “Oh, it says you have a hold.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s see, it’s Buffy…Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
My face turned red. “Uh, at the other other library, right?”
“Oh! You’re right, it’s not here. Sorry.”
Thank god my Scottish librarian who I adore wasn’t working that day.
Now, I did ask a librarian years ago if he had opinions about what people checked out. He laughed and shook his head and said no, that he looked at the barcode on the book, not the title, that he was too busy to bother with opinions. And what I want to know is, was he telling the truth? Have you ever worked at a library, or a bookstore? Did you ignore the book titles, or did you look to see what people were reading? Either way, I want to know. Send your answer via email, voicemail or voice comment.
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Tracy
13 Jun 2006
I worked in the university library through college and I was ALWAYS interested in what people were checking out… but not in a judgemental sort of way, more awed by all that the library had available. Of course, most were checking out items based on their school work so their choices didn’t say as much about the person as they did about the classes they were taking. I guess I would say that if your librarian truly doesn’t look — his job isn’t nearly as interesting as it could be.
Sonya
13 Jun 2006
I’m a public library director and I select all the adult nonfiction titles that we buy. I always notice what people are checking out. It’s a window into who they are and collectively who the community is. I especially notice if the books are nonfiction and not the usual pile of mysteries (not that I don’t love mysteries, but I mostly read nonfic and I need to know how to direct my meager budget). Most librarians are curious by nature so I’d be willing to bet that many of us notice what’s being checked out. But we are also notoriously non-judgmental. So fear not the Buffy checkout.
Kathy
13 Jun 2006
In high school my first after school job was as a Page at the local public library. The Page is the person who restacks books on the shelves.
I’ve always been incredibly interested in what others are reading. Hence, even today, I will look at those around me on public transit and see what they are totally engrossed in as we travel along.
Just this past weekend I was on the ferry on the way to the small islands just south of the city and there was a teen carrying a book. She struck me as a very unusual and interesting person. Physically she was a cross between the daughter in the movie “The Incredibles” and the female (not the bride herself but the other character) in “The Corpse Bride”. She was sort of Gothish but not quite. A bit Diane Keatonish too come to think of it. Sort of Molly Ringwald but darker from “Pretty In Pink”. Boy, I watch far too many movies. It is hard to explain but she did catch my attention. Anyway, I desperately wanted to see what she was carrying with her but her arm blocked most of the title and there were too many people between us for me to ask. Though I’m not sure that I would have.
I also find it fun to try to guess what the person’s personality might be like who is reading a certain kind of book. I know, I’m weird…but other than reading a book what else is there to do on public transit?
Liza (the Librarian!)
14 Jun 2006
Well, Sage, I’m a librarian. Just to let you know, in many libraries it’s paraprofessionals who handle circulation tasks such as checking books in and out. They aren’t technically professional librarians. Some librarians get really obnoxious about the supposed hierarchal difference. In my library, I’m the only professional, the only employee, actually, aided by a cadre of retired volunteers. I often check items in and out for patrons. And, I ALWAYS notice what people have chosen, having often suggested the items they’re checking out. But, as Sonya said, librarians pride themselves on being nonjudgmental so don’t worry. I’m only too happy that someone is making use of what I’ve chosen for the library.
Jess
14 Jun 2006
I too worked at the university library while studying and I was always interested in what was going in and out. Never judgemental, just interested. Sometimes it was to see if it was a book I would be interested in reading myself, sometimes to make conversation with the borrower, sometimes to gain an insight into the person borrowing the book.
One night I really surprised one of the borrowers by figuring out he was writing a PhD on classical greek science simply by looking at the book he was borrowing. It was a pretty simple deduction to make, but I guess he didn’t expect me to put the clues together. He had extended loan on a text on greek science, what else was he going to be doing with that book? Its not like there were undergrad courses on greek science being offered.
I made some good friends working at the library and those friendships started by chatting about the books they were borrowing. So yes librarians are looking, but its not a bad thing.
Cate
14 Jun 2006
Chalk another one up for a former paraprofessional librarian. I hate to agree with everyone (doeesn’t do much for healthy discussion); but, I always watched, often chatted, never judged.
Of all the students, one stood out from the rest. I was told he wasn’t actually registered at the university; but, following a self-directed course of study. He checked out the most interesting and widest variety of books. I’ll always regret my shyness in not speaking to him about them. I guess, I didn’t want to be nosey.
Marianne
17 Jun 2006
I manage a used bookstore, and I only notice what people are buying for two (sometimes overlapping) reasons:
1) I have some financial reason for caring, eg I just put that stuff on sale and now I am noticing a ton of it going out, or I just ordered a certain batch of remainders and the person in question is buying 5 or 6 titles from the batch I just got in (YAY in either case).
2) The person is nice and/or attractive enough that I regularly notice them on a personal level, so I consider them a regular, AND they are constantly buying stuff that either I’ve already read, and loved, or I’m intrigued by and keep meaning to pick up for myself. (again YAY)
otherwise I never notice, or if I do notice (say the harried looking soccer mom with 3 kids buying an academic book on queer theory (YAY) or somebody that looks like they could kick my butt buying 15 martial arts books (meep)) – it escapes my mind by the next day. The sheer volume of books passing under my scanner wand is far too great to go into longterm memory unless the person zirself makes me happy.
Rebekkah
19 Jun 2006
I worked in an interlibrary loan department of a library, and always noticed what was passing through, in either direction. I’d imagine that at least half the fun of working at a library, bookstore, or even video store, is noticing what people choose. I’ve gotten into conversations with librarians and video store clerks who have noticed what I’m borrowing/renting. Of course, I always hope that they’re distracted or uninterested when I’m checking out the occasional cheesy book or big blockbuster film. I’d much rather be caught with a classic or academic tome, or a virtuous independent flick.
Of course, I’m a noticer by nature. When I was a TA in grad school, I’d pass the time while proctoring exams by finding things to notice. I’d try to count all the lefthanded students, and calculate what percentage of the class they made up. Or sometimes it was fun to go for a more challenging task, like counting all the redheads, or trying to pick out the students who looked like they woke up about 5 minutes before class started. (Messy hair, PJ pants, etc.) It kept me sane, and gave the impression that I was watching what they were doing, which I suppose is what I should have been doing.
Jean
23 Jun 2006
At previous job in a university library the staff often got a kick out of the side interests of some of the faculty… one was apparently fascinated by the British royal family and read every trashy book that he could get. We used to call it the “Chuck-and-Diana-ana Collection.” Another read about wierd sexual obsessions, so of course we all speculated about his life… So I wouldn’t say that library staffers are completely non-judgmental.
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