libraries

atthequillsmercy

The Return of Finally Watched It: “The Public”

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When I heard there was a movie about librarians coming out, you KNOW I had to get my hands on it as soon as possible. But the only places it was playing on the big screen were too far away and it took forEVER for the film to get a distributor. But we finally managed to get a copy on DVD and I sat down to watch it with my kid.

As far as depictions of our jobs go, this is pretty spot on. We get our fair share of strange questions, drunks, homeless people, and yes, even the naked ones. I will give this movie all the praise in the world for the acting as well; all very awesome.

However, the way it ended was very Hollywood. I cannot imagine a sit-in by the homeless and mentally ill resulting in the police raiding the building assuming the librarian is crazy and holding people hostage would end with singing in the real world. But I’d much rather that ending because reality is horrible enough.

I completely got how this movie portrayed the media and politicians twisting information before it reaches viewers and this is sadly also very true. Happens all the time. Overall, I thought this was amazing and I can’t wait to watch it again.

MAKE SOME NOISE!

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atthequillsmercy

Comics? Libraries have that!

So, I get sent to career day at the local high school (because I’m fucking awesome, that’s why) and I get to chatting with this pretty nice kid about comics. Of course he’s a Walking Dead fan and it was refreshing (as it always is) to have an intelligent conversation with a young person about something we both enjoy.

I was gonna make a post about the horrid way the teenage girls dress in public but I thought I’d skip that.

(Parent’s please make sure your teen daughters stretch pants are opaque… PLEASE!)

What bugged me about that convo with that kid was what he said towards the end: “I didn’t know libraries would have such things.”

Not to sound like a total pretentious ass (or insane fan girl) but if we can stock umpteen copies if Fifty Shades of No Plot, we can CERTAINLY have a comic based on one of the hottest shows on TV right now. At the very least that because no librarian, no matter how much they hate comics, can deny there’s a demand for those.

So, let me put it out there right now to the 50 or so people who read this blog: Libraries have comics. Good comics. Fucking awesome comics. If they don’t? They can get some for you.

For gods sakes, people, FREE COMICS! ALL THE TIME!

Get thee to the library!

atthequillsmercy

Sandy Library Losses…

So, we finally got to the stage where we are all doing inventory to see what was lost and what remains of our collection. I completed the inventory of my graphic novels on Monday and it was pretty depressing. We lost entire series’ of comics and the dvd’s along with them (I shelve the TV series and moves with the comics they’re based on for easy finding). The worst was not being able to replace the out of print ones.

Luckily, things like The Walking Dead series (which we lost a decent chunk of) were really easy to replace since they’re so popular right now. But some Green Lantern, Zatana, and Gunsmith Cats are out of print. 🙁 And Kick Ass volume 1? Really, Marvel? With volume 2 , a Hit-Girl prequel AND a second movie in the works, there’s just  no excuse for that. Start printing more of volume one PRONTO!

All in all, considering some libraries were completely wiped out, we were lucky to only lose about 15% of our collection on the first floor. Re-ordering has been a strange, eye-burny trip of reams of paper and way too much time staring at a computer screen. But, by the time we open, we should have most of the materials back on the shelf.

It’ll be good to see people in here again. I’m almost excited to open. 🙂

atthequillsmercy

Back to work and ranting already

Image: chanpipat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

No sooner am I back to work than I have something neck-punch worthy to complain about. I’m not talking about the general consensus that it’s acceptable to sneeze or wipe a drippy nose before handing a librarian (or anyone) your card. I’m talking thievery. it really ticks me the hell off.

I am very proud of the collection of graphic novels I’ve built for my library. I do my best to stock a wide range of mainstream and indie comics catering to as many tastes as I can. So imagine my rage when I come in to have someone tell me a patron ripped the barcode out of one of our Batman books and stole it. Because it’s totally off the grid if you damage the book before you snatch it.

Stealing is bad as is but if I believed in hell, I would like to think there was a special hot stabby circle for people who steal from libraries. It is just a disgusting thing to do and, as I said on my Twitter, I hope whoever stole it gets a horrible, festering paper-cut. They can get cured but I hope it fucking hurts.

atthequillsmercy

Happy Columbus Day! Now, get the eff to work…

Image: Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I proclaim today that for every person who calls us and asks us if we’re open today, I get ten bucks. T_T

Anyway, in the flurry that was this weekend, I did NOT get even half of what I wanted done finished. But seeing as how I can stand without feeling light headed or nauseous, I’m calling it a win.

I try to greet every Monday as a chance for a fresh start and aim to get to Friday with a list of accomplishments. On the list for this week is to get to Friday. >_< Ok, maybe it’s not THAT bad. XD

This week is NYCC, and I will be attending as a guest. I’m not such hot shit that I get a booth or have anyone know my name or anything… But I will be there this Thursday all day milling around and being one of the coolest librarians on the planet. 😉 I’ll make sure to take pictures of all the swag I get (free and non-free) and of actual famous people that I see.

Also, I will get back on the Wii now that I’m sure I won’t fall off the thing. I didn’t wanna risk it while I was sick. Either way, I’m healthy(-ish) and back in the saddle!

atthequillsmercy

Bye bye, Borders. :( And my librarian-ish fears.

It’s sadly official. Borders is closing. No, I am really upset about this. I ADORE going to Borders and found the entire shopping experience much better than Barnes and Nobel, and Borders was the only place I knew of where I could purchase Paperchase products on clearance or with a coupon. It was also my go to store for comics and manga.

Briefly, I considered finally making the switch to an e-reader. On the rare occasion I actually purchase a book, it’s a paperback. These are becoming few and far between, seeing as how I work in a library which gives me inside info on when my favorite books are coming out and I can read them for free. I don’t even mind waiting. It gives me time to read other books. :p

But comics are not available on your average mainstream e-reader without jumping through a thousand hoops to get the jpeg files to display. And if you’ve ever seen my Shelfari list, I read A LOT of comics.

What concerns me most about Borders closing is, as a graphic novel fan and a librarian, I see kids sitting in stores AND in the library reading their favorite series because they simply can’t afford to buy them. In my years as a fan, I’ve seen volumes go from $5.99-$7.99 to $9.99-$24.99 for your average collected book. Kids (and parents) just can’t afford to keep up when some series can go as high as 30 volumes. That’s $750 or more per series. And don’t even get me started on having space for all these things!!

This calls to mind the last time I went to my local Borders where a man working there scolded the kids for standing around and reading the books. The kids complained the libraries don’t have “cool books like these.” The hell you say! I told them flat out “Not only do we have cool books but the one you have in your hand I just ordered for the library!”

They didn’t believe me.

I feel for these kids because they can’t afford to buy them, can’t stand in a Borders and read (cause Borders is gone), and don’t KNOW these books are in a library! This is really sad and troubling to me.

As to why I was considering an e-reader, I will need space in my house for all the comics I will now HAVE to purchase from Amazon (some comics I get are not appropriate for a library… Not all of them are yaoi so shaddap… XD) so if I want novels, I’d like to save the space and use an e-reader. I mean, if I’m going to spend the money, I might as well save the space, right?

Eh, screw it. I’ll just use the desktop applications for now. I’ll need to save that money for comics. XD

But alas, Borders will still be gone. Some of my best memories are of going to the bookstore with my Ma and I looked forward to sharing that with my daughter. It’s amazing what she will come to know as normal concerning her reading as opposed to what I knew at her age. Is this really farewell to brick and mortar bookstores? This librarian hopes not. 🙁