To be shocked the librarian was so poorly read?

[bendmeoverbackwards]

In the library recently reserving some books for dd. Librarian had not heard of A Handmaid’s Tale and did not know that As you Like It was written by Shakespeare.

These are not exactly obscure books!

AIBU?

@thing47 maybe I should revise that - I understand your points and do agree with them, however I don’t feel that the person in this case should have been immediately aware that she was the author of THT, is a better way of putting it!

^I enjoyed the ones where knowledge or lack of knowledge about particular authors or texts dictates whether someone has enough knowledge to do their job.
There's so many experts on other people's jobs on here.^

Whilst displaying so much ignorance of the job in question. Still can’t get over people thinking everyone working in a library (and I mean one using all paid staff) is a qualified librarian.

Ma, the last few pages of this thread are people heartily agreeing about the awful hyacinth buckets, etc., and what a scream it all is. That is what I was referring to. I await you or someone else pulling my words apart.

Being a snob is bad, yes, but I’m continually amazed at how it is employed on this (utterly class-obsessed) site as an accusation to dismiss people you disagree with.

@CecilyP - this particular librarian qualified back in the 1960s by taking the internal exams of the Library Association and also by "serving her time" as a librarian. She preceded even the polys. Apparently our (“not very good” degrees) had a major impact on those librarians were qualified and experienced members of these respected professions.

Fortunately most of us who graduated from those new universities (pah!) are more forward thinking and we actively encourage and welcome new graduates from library school as we recognise that they will carry the profession forward well into the remainder of this century in a vastly different landscape.

@YouShouldSeeMyNewHouse you’re referring to me and the earl grey. The person who wrote that statement was rather unpleasant about others and I found what they were saying deeply unfair and almost classist. I stand by it.

@YouShouldSeeMyNewHouse yet I still think it’s ridiculous that you’re defending that person and another who said people who didn’t know Tolstoy were as thick as shite, but condemning those of us who have used the word ‘snob’. Evident sky that is worse to you than those people on here who have belittled others who have a different knowledge base.

We value things differently clearly, and that’s okay. Let’s agree to disagree.

YouShouldSeeMyNewHouse
This thread is quite funny, especially when we ended up with posts suggesting people hate reading, are anti knowledge, hate people who have general knowledge, talk about 'standards' (which seems to mean knows books I think they should), it's so anti-intellectual etc.
They're quite funny responses to people saying "so what if someone doesn't know a particular book, there's no need to look down on them. People read different things and know different things."

I do think there's something Hyacinth Bucket about some of the replies.
I also think it's hilarious that some people seem to consider themselves experts on what's required for other people's jobs.

@LolaSmiles

MaMelon I'm going to guess it means that some of us have agreed that looking down on people for not knowing a book/author is unpleasant and that there's something quite snobby about deciding people aren't fit for their job if they don't know books and authors that some folk think is essential.

No, it’s about how that agreement has been expressed. The sweeping statements that imply dishonesty on the part of all those who don’t agree. As for picking out as part of this interpretation the poster who said people shouldn’t be employed due to not knowing AYLI, I have repeatedly made clear that I don’t like or share this attitude, so why would you guess that’s what I’m saying?

I’ve been replying to what’s in your posts, but you seem to want to imply things into mine.

I'm just popping into this delightful thread, which I have been hugely enjoying, to show my particular appreciation for the Earl Grey plumber. 21 years of Mumsnet were worth it for that alone.

As you were.

Well of course I’m going to pull apart your claim that the last few pages have been full of people heartily agreeing about the awful hyacinth buckets, etc., and what a scream it all is - because it’s hyperbole! @YouShouldSeeMyNewHouse

YouShouldSeeMyNewHouse
I'm not implying dishonesty for people who disagree.
I'm calling out the bullshit that some on this thread apparently 'can't believe' someone might not of heard of something, especially when backed up with 'but surely everyone has heard of...'

For people who consider themselves intelligent and well-informed, it seems bizarre that they would struggle to get their heads around the fact that some people might have read different books to them, and know about different topics. In fact, it's almost completely disingenuous.

I thought you might, Ma. As an example of hyperbole on this thread I think it’s decidedly on the mild side, though!

It’s just frustrating to reply to a post carefully, and then be dismissed with a snide comment lumping you in with various other more extreme, or even offensive, posters. That’s all I’ve been trying to say in my last however many posts.

Anyway, I do agree with @CaptainOatFlosser that it’s time to let this one drop.

This is, comments like this: It’s just frustrating to reply to a post carefully, and then be dismissed with a snide comment lumping you in with various other more extreme, or even offensive, posters. That’s all I’ve been trying to say in my last however many posts. are passive aggressive. Just say what you want to say to me and be done with it, or let it drop.

Sorry, captain, I wasn’t actually replying to you with that point. Not intended to be PA for sure. That was more of a final summing up of my feeling that there are posts from various people basically lumping those who disagree with the worst examples of that. That’s all.

@YouShouldSeeMyNewHouse I apologise, I thought you were digging directly at me but not saying it. Sincere apologies.

Shock, shock, horror- horror
Shock' shock -horror!
The library staff don't know Atwood or Shakespeare what a 'mare.

Sincere apologies from me too if I came across that way!

I was once asked who my favourite author was. I was completely stumped! Despite the fact I read at least one book a week. I read all kinds of books and don’t pay much attention to who they’re written by. Most of the time I couldn’t even tell you the title of the book I’m currently reading without looking.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so stupid as just standing there with a blank expression to a question that most people would have a really quick answer to.

I'm about to get some quotes from plumbers. I must remember to give them a literature quiz test before selecting which one can be trusted with fitting my new taps and fixing my radiator leak.

quiz test? Sloppy editing.

I'm the same All the
And I don't think there's anything wrong with not having a memory for names, titles and dates. The important thing is you can engage with the content.

Everything else aside, I read a fair bit from the dystopian genre and I don't see anything about tht that sets it apart from other great books.
Other than there's a TV show.

Sara obviously stock up on Earl and Lady Grey before you do that!

Can you have a mild example of hyperbole? 🤔

Anyway, it’s not important - much the same way a library assistant not knowing about Atwood isn’t.

@SunnydaleClassProtector99

I'm the same All the And I don't think there's anything wrong with not having a memory for names, titles and dates. The important thing is you can engage with the content.

Everything else aside, I read a fair bit from the dystopian genre and I don't see anything about tht that sets it apart from other great books.
Other than there's a TV show.

I like period drama, crime fiction, true crime, sci fi, thrillers, mysteries, classics, modern classics and I’ve even been known to enjoy a nice trashy chick lit. I’ll give most things a try. With the exception of autobiographies.

My MA lecturer asked me, after noticing I was always first in the class with my nose in a novel waiting for class to start, “who is your favourite author?”

I replied, after a very long, uncomfortable pause, “I don’t think I’ve had a favourite author since I was obsessed with Roald Dahl”

I don’t think I’ll ever forgot how much I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me.

Why? You gave an honest answer to her question @AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken 😊 I hope she didn’t attempt to diminish your response?