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?

Our library has opened up again, but one of the library staff are still seconded elsewhere and one sadly has long covid and isn’t back at work.

The library is being opened/run by someone who is usually in the sports centre.

Services aren’t completely back to normal.

@user1497207191

I think whoever works in any public facing role, whether a shop or library, etc., should have at least a rudimentary knowledge of their products, or be willing to get onto the computer/files to find out for you. I'd hope that they'd have the interest to learn on the job and make as much effort as possible to be helpful to their customers.

I do agree with this.

I wanted something to get algae off our fences and found something on Amazon. As I was popping into B&Q for paint I thought I’d pick it up there. Asked a member of staff (showing him on the product on my phone) he said he never heard of it ok, but could you maybe point out where I can find something similar? He waved me off to check the cleaning area without even liking up from the shelves (already looked there) found another staff member, he also didn’t have a clue, I said don’t worry I’ll get it off Amazon.

@TinaYouFatLard

It’s THE Handmaid’s Tale.

@bendmeoverbackwards

Very sad for your mum *@whatswithtodaytoday* What does she do now?

She retired a couple of years early, but really didn't want to.

Actual librarians don't tend to work in libraries anymore. They will have been a library assistant or a volunteer.

Libraries can be very busy. Often they are places where people who aren't online at home come in to use computers. Again a lot of places have closed down frontline services or are hard to phone, so people come for help and information. They are spaces that can be used for community groups. Older people who may live on their own come in partly because there is the possibility of a bit of human interaction. Many parents' are very keen to support their children's reading via use of the library. Most customers are lovely - though the ones who think they are superior to the staff, rather less so.

Most customers are lovely - though the ones who think they are superior to the staff, rather less so.

How very true.

I can’t believe I wrote A Handmaid’s Tale and not The. . I guess it negates my posts!

I understand that now a librarian is not what they used to be. Many highly qualified librarians in my family, working in universities and indeed The British Library. For some years I ran the school library (unpaid boo hoo).

I am still surprised that someone who chooses to work or volunteer in a library has a limited knowledge. Ok, so most of your time is taken up with getting retired people logged on to ancestry sites, but still you’d have an interest, no?

Our library has a qualified librarian left of the traditional variety. She looks increasingly pissed off and I’ve seen her shuddering during baby rhyme time

@VeganVeal

You dont have to be Wordsworth or Picasso to put a few books on a bookshelf

I used to volunteer choosing and taking books to the housebound. I once applied for a job as a library assistant. I think I am pretty well read and was all prepared to discuss books/genres etc in the interview. They weren't interested, it was all about whether I knew my alphabet and how I would deal with rowdy users.

@TinaYouFatLard

It’s THE Handmaid’s Tale.

It's highly unlikely that the omission of that particular word is the reason she hadn't heard of it

Our library has a qualified librarian left of the traditional variety. She looks increasingly pissed off and I’ve seen her shuddering during baby rhyme time
God, I don't blame her 😂
She's probably of the era when "Silence" signs were plastered all over libraries.
I think those times must have been quite nice, really. So calm and relaxing, like an oasis you don't find in any public place anymore.

I've worked in libraries for many years. In my experience the most well read staff are the ones who are hopeless with the day to day running of the library. They get the job because they want to flit about reading all day. It's not really what libraries need to be honest. It is also not a well paid job and there are hardly any qualified librarians any more. I do a lot of good in my community and nobody minds if I haven't heard of all the books.

As You Like It is not a book. It's a play.

I qualified as a librarian 20 years ago and my first job was in a busy town centre public library. At the time it was staffed by 2 (I was one) ‘reference librarians’ who mainly helped older people search the internet and did family history stuff and a core group of female, 50+ library assistants. They were all enthusiastic about their jobs, they had good pay, the benefits of working for the council, nice hours and tbh it was a nice little number. They all knew the stock as there was time to leisurely restock shelves, make pretty book displays and they were actively involved in the issue and return process. Even if they were not well read, several weren’t, they they would have picked up knowledge that way. There was time to talk to customers and they weren’t having to deal with other council services at the same time, it was just library.

They have all reached retirement age since then and their jobs with nice t&c have been replaced by very part time/supply (which is a zero hours library assistant) and volunteers (who often think they can do whatever they like as they’re doing a favour). The job remit has grown so they now have to process all sorts of council issues as well. With other council services the client base has changed. It’s not the job people expect. It’s no surprise that things are changing. You’re living in the dark ages unfortunately.

@memberofthewedding really interesting post, thank you. What a waste of your talents ☹️

@NewYearmorestress

A bit. The librarian might prefer different authors and know lots about books they are surprised you haven't heard of. Also I haven't read Shakespeare since school and they might not have either.

I agree, I read a lot but I find anything by Shakespeare absolutely bloody painful to get through, hence giving it up as a bad job as soon as I finished school.
I've actually not really read as many "classics" as I should have, but I'm working on it. Some are good, a few are great and some are downright boring.

@tenlittlecygnets

As You Like It is not a book. It's a play.

I was waiting for someone to chip in with this. Another square on the bingo card of snarkiness.

How do you think plays are taken out of libraries? Think really hard. What format would that play be in? Printed and bound, perhaps? What does that sound like?

@bendmeoverbackwards

Surely part of the job is recommending books to library users? I would expect that in either a library or a bookshop.

I think you are living in the 1950's.

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

There are thousands of books published every year. No one can read everything. Even extremely keen readers only read a few a week...

Exactly. I read 100+ books a year and generally keep an eye on the market, but I had never heard of The Shadow of the Wind until 2019 when someone recommended it to me. The international bestseller that sold over 15 million copies.

You sound like a snob.

I also read a considerable amount. Never heard of that book either!

I am still surprised that someone who chooses to work or volunteer in a library has a limited knowledge. Ok, so most of your time is taken up with getting retired people logged on to ancestry sites, but still you’d have an interest, no?

An interest in helping people is not the same as an interest in the classics or a particular field of literature. When I volunteered my interest was helping jobseekers use the computers to claim benefits and apply for jobs. You don't seem to appreciate that books are a very small part of what libraries do for their communities.

Why don’t some of you volunteer your time to work in the library as are all so erudite! The same people will be moaning as to why their council taxes are so high!

Libraries (and volunteers) also serve other important needs too, including helping those not literate with IT services.

Campervanna It's bloody good!

I went in to a library to borrow Mein Kampf (for academic research purposes) and the librarian asked me who the author was.

I yearn for old library days. The silence, punctuated by the thwonk thwonk of the stamper. The big fat library tokens. The particular smell.

It is sad that some posters here denigrate libraries and librarians and even reading, eg any fool can put some books on a shelf and that it’s snobbish to read anything more taxing that an Instagram post.

Remember people working in public libraries are effectively a type of 'civil servant' (working for the council), so I would expect there are libraries that have very few 'booky' staff. It's unlikely a requisite of the job.

I guess it's a bit like working in a book shop, although most Waterstones booksellers are graduates and very well-read (and up on what's what and who's who in the publishing world)?