The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Title: The Library Book

Author: Susan Orlean

Genre: True Crime, Journalism, Libraries

Here is a non-fiction, true crime suspense that reads like great fiction. Investigative journalist and author Susan Orlean tells the story of the seven hour fire that destroyed almost three quarters of the collection of the Los Angeles Public Library on April 28, 1986. She delves into the unique characters of the library's history and the world of librarianship and then into the history of Harry Peak's 'fumbling' possible involvement in the fire. She leaves no stone unturned so that the reader gets the most detailed and wide-ranging context for the fire in the history of the Los Angeles Public Library. The narrative from beginning to end is spellbinding and will leave you wanting to read more from Orlean as well as to visit and appreciate your local library again.

- Elizabeth

Check out The Library Book @ the library.

I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks

As librarians, our job wouldn't be what it is without all of you, our beloved library patrons. Whether you're a librarian or a devoted library patron, there is no doubt that this book will make you chuckle while you're reading it. Compiled by Gena Sheridan, a public reference librarian, this book is just that..."a collection of crazy stories from the stacks." The author, in true librarian fashion, classifies the entries in terms of their Dewey Decimal number including such subjects as computers, reading interests and habits, human anatomy, and telephones.

These brief library anecdotes talk about interesting librarian/patron interactions, lost library books, and intriguing reference questions. If you're looking for a fast read, appreciate your local library (and its librarians!) take a little bit of time out of your day to read this book. It'll make you smile, shake your head, and go huh all at the same time. These are the things that library school surely didn't prepare us for.

And we promise, we're not collecting any stories.


Check out I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks @ the library!