I Work at a Public Library

December 1, 2014

Based on Sheridan's (librarian, St. Louis Cty. Lib.) blog of the same name (iworkatapubliclibrary.com), this slim collection reads like a highlight reel of the online narrative and features previously unseen reader submissions. Interactions are amusing, charming, and occasionally frustrating. Food is a recurring theme, whether someone asking for a knife to cut an onion, donating an uncooked chicken, or seeking a margarita machine--only to leave upon learning the library doesn't have one. There is the ubiquitous "I'm a taxpayer" line when negotiating a fine, along with patrons upset that their tax dollars are being spent on DVDs and video games. Other relatable stories involve someone wanting to apply to all of the jobs on the Internet and someone else wishing to send a message to everyone on the Internet. (They were advised to create a blog.) This hilarious read, a favorite among LJ and SLJ staffers, will also delight fans of the blog Awful Library Books (awfullibrarybooks.net) and even those who enjoy the interviews with public librarians on Steve Thomas's Circulating Ideas podcast. VERDICT If anything, Sheridan's debut is too short and leaves the reader wanting more. However, librarians and circulation staff alike will find themselves laughing and nodding along at the featured stories.--Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal

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