In the Beginning

Non-librarians frequently look at me in disbelief when I relate stories about typical patron-librarian transactions in a typical day at the public library. "You've got to be making that up!", "That didn't really happen, did it?", or "Urban legend" are the usual responses.

But yes, people, we can't make up this stuff. No one's imagination is that fertile (well, with the possible exception of Robin Williams). We've often said we could write a long-running sitcom but no one would take the plots seriously. Because, really, would you believe a woman asking why her doctor wants her to have a "mammelgram"? Or the mother who wanted a video of Abraham Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address for her son's school project and could not understand why we didn't have a copy of something that is non-existent?

So, the stories you read on this are true. Only the names and location have been changed to protect the innocent (which would be ourselves). And if you find yourselves doubting the veracity of what you read here I suggest you take a look at other reference/information/adult services librarian blogs (our personal favorite is http://lovetheliberry.blogspot.com/)

In the beginning was the word...and we get the last one, too.