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"Such an amazing place," the customer observed dreamily. "But I don't suppose I could ever get in." Nice to know that the Book Expo America photos I posted online conveyed the energy and special-ness of the event--noted authors...
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I don't have a photo of Dr. Ruth on my phone. But the gentleman behind me in the Sue Grafton autograph line at Book Expo America (New York City, last week) does. He'd spotted her in the cavernous Javits Center exhibit hall, asked if she could...
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People are so quick to draw conclusions. So what if The Sting, The Natural, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid top my "10 Best Films List"? I also love Quiz Show and Ordinary People, for which Robert Redford was behind the camera. So there...
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Forget Rumpelstiltskin's debtor spinning straw into gold and Cinderella's fairy godmother devising a coach from a pumpkin. This project demanded creativity. Michelle , our library director, requested that fellow reference librarian Chris and I...
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Boinnngggg. You could practically hear last week's topic hitting a nerve, one in-house English major at a time. After I inquired which staffers claimed English as an academic concentration, "No" replies landed in my inbox; "Yes"...
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Not everyone who works in the library is a librarian (technically, that's only the folks with MLS or MLIS degrees). And among the librarians, library assistants, and library associates in the building, a smaller percentage than you might think were...
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Quick: name the greatest country song of all time. According to a Country Music Magazine poll, honors go to "He Stopped Loving Her Today" written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putnam and memorably performed by George Jones . Listen , and you'll...
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"You know who June Cleaver is, right?" the library customer inquired, "You remind me of her, sort of put-together and calm." So, June--AKA Barbara Billingsley in vintage TV's Leave it to Beaver -- and I can both act. At the reference...
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This week, I found myself tracking former residences the way some people Google their old flames. Leave 'em and love 'em: that's my motto. Of a dozen former homes, we've owned two. We were fond of them then, but they've acquired nostalgia...
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Though not yet filed, my tax documents are on track to easily fulfill the deadline. Otherwise, there'd be reason for soul-clouding dread each time I visit irs.gov to help customers track down forms or tax tables. No, happiness is the order of the...
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Sam Bass is still causing trouble: the third request from out-of-towners for " the shootout map " (starring Mr. Bass in his final appearance) this week triggered my realization that March is done and I missed Texas Independence Day . Visitors...
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Like all parents, I ponder the Generational Divide some days more than others. And this week? Well, it occurred to me that J.K. Rowling's great gift to humankind-- the Sorting Hat --might represent the issue nicely. If the hat assigned generational...
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The customer isn't always right. On those rare occasions, it's fortunate if someone else has already said so. That's what happened with the recent job hunter who slid his resume across the reference desk, sighed, and related his situation...
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Not an ardent reader of Science Fiction, I approach it like a child lectured that eating vegetables is a Good Thing and should be undertaken frequently: I'm always glad afterward but rarely pursue the experience. Predictably, when an advance copy...
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Yes, I'm overthinking this. Chances are that if a city official or Michelle, our library director (or anyone else) happened by the reference desk when I said that, they wouldn't consider it strange or inappropriate. I'm still going to disregard...