Sydney Beveridge
Book Cart Drill Teams Battle for Supremacy
by Sydney Beveridge - July 22, 2009 - 6:42 AM

drillteam_ala_jumpgirlThe secret lives of librarians took center stage at the American Library Association’s annual conference earlier this month. There was dancing, there were costumes, there was music, and, of course, there were book carts. They practice their routines in hallways and parking lots, ready to compete in the 5th annual Library Book Cart Drill Team Championship, sponsored by library supply company DEMCO.

“I thought, my God, what have we done here,” said DEMCO’s John Ison of the first competition. Teams bring acrobatic splits, book cart headlights, and dry ice effects to the floor in the quest to win first place and the coveted gold book cart trophy that comes with it. “It changes the whole image of librarians,” added Ison.

What started out as a creative demonstration has since turned into an all out competition judged on technical ability and artistic impression, with bonus points for unique costumes, dance moves, and other innovations. After the second place Des Plaines Public Library Cart Wheels team performed to a medley of songs from Grease, Ison remarked, “There was a move towards the beginning–a sort of thrust–worth several points.” And with each thrust, the competition also brings team members closer together, building camaraderie. (The winning team had to juggle practices with members from three different library branches.)

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After an especially competitive year that almost ended in a tie, the judges awarded the Oak Park Library Warrior Librarians first prize for their viking-inspired performance, complete with sword play, horned helmets, and war cries.

During the competition, one of the moderators joked to any library school students in the audience, “It’s really not too late to change your major.” Judging by the applause from the overflowing crowd, if anything, this competition will likely boost library school enrollments, and reduce shushing.

Here are the videos of the top three teams:

First Place: The Oak Park Public Library Warrior Librarians (IL)

Second Place: Cart Wheels, Des Plaines Public Library (IL)

Third Place: Steel City Kings, University of Pittsburgh

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Comments (4)

  1. Ah, man… this is GREAT!

    Now I am glad to be a member of the profession!

    posted by Amy on 7-22-2009 at 8:43 am

  2. My in-laws showed me an article on this (I’m an MLS student) and I LOVED IT. One, like John Ison said, it changes the images of librarians. They have lives and a sense of humor. Two, one thing I’ve learned after attending various conferences for work is academics in general are not nearly as stuffy as we like to think they are (many enjoy a good cocktail after a long day of sessions and like to joke/gossip/complain just like the rest of us).

    posted by Kate on 7-22-2009 at 1:55 pm

  3. So you mean I can use these excess book carts to tone my abs rhythmically!!!

    Sweet!

    My office is filled with empty book carts.

    posted by Chrystani on 7-22-2009 at 4:00 pm

  4. We are thrilled that the “Oak Park Public Library Warrior Librarians” took first place in the 2009 annual competition! The music chosen for the winning performance is Richard Wagner’s “Die Walküre” (“Ride of the Valkyries”) performed by the Budapest Concert Orchestra conducted by Tamás Gál. Ask at your local library for the complete version of “Die Walküre.”

    More coverage of our win at http://www.oppl.org/about/news.htm#071409

    posted by Oak Park Public Library on 7-23-2009 at 1:51 pm

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