Miss Kathleen
At the Libraries: Judging People by Their Book Covers
by Miss Kathleen - August 18, 2010 - 9:42 PM

Every week, Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of library-related items. If there’s something fun going on in your local library, leave us a comment!

We’ve been hearing a lot about e-book this and e-book that. But one thing that physical books have over e-books is the ability to start a conversation. For example, as recently posted on The Paris Review blog, “Can you recommend any books that will make interesting people approach me if I read them on the subway?” Have you ever approached someone because of the book they were reading?
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I mean, we’ve all done it — you see someone reading a certain book and you make a judgment about them. That’s what makes CoverSpy so fun (and addicting). Although be warned — every time there is a Kindle user, it is an extreme disappointment. Privacy, schmivacy, I want to be judgmental!
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Yes, folks, we have lots of wonderful and unusual powers, and Hollywood knows it! Check out this HuffingtonPost roundup of 11 movies where libraries save the day! All in a day’s work, I say.
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Speaking of e-books, the children’s author Lane Smith has a new book that is a response, of sorts, to all things electrical in our lives. Check out the trailer for his new book, It’s a Book, posted on Amazon here.
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Here’s a feel good story for you: Public libraries were victorious in Camden, NJ, last week! The municipal libraries were saved, and, what’s more, they are talking about allowing Camden residents access to Rutgers’ Camden campus library.
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But please don’t confuse being awed by us and being in love with us. And, well, if you do, don’t hit on us the way these two old guys are. Or, if you really must, at least have read Flaubert, know what I’m saying?


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But, well, no one, and no profession, is perfect. I think my peers may have made a mistake by pulling a queer anthology, but I don’t know all the circumstances of the NJ case. Sounds a bit like censorship to me…
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So let’s focus on some more good stuff! Maryland residents, did you know about “One Maryland, One Book”? This year’s pick is Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference. Sounds good to me! Here’s a roundup that the kind folks at Calvert Library of Prince Frederick sent to me (view PDF).
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But maybe you live in Michigan? And are looking for a good book club? Got one for ya: Not Your Mother’s Book Club at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library in St. Joseph. Tell them mental_floss sent you!
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Join a book club, go to a program, use your library — it all adds up to money in your pocket because it’s free! How much money? Try this handy little calculator and watch the savings pile up!
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If you follow a great library blog, site, or twitterer, please share it with me! Hit me at atthelibraries@gmail.com or here in the comments.

See previous installments of At the Libraries here.

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Comments (14)

  1. Miss Kathleen, do you Tweet?? :-) I would like to follow you if you do!

    posted by Sara on 8-18-2010 at 10:19 pm

  2. Arizona has it’s own “one book” program–OneBookAZ. Click on my name for the link.

    posted by Ryan on 8-18-2010 at 11:08 pm

  3. The libraries of St. Clair County in Michigan were saved from closing on August 3rd too! There were signs up all over the county and the milliage renewal passed! WIthout it, all of the county libraries would have closed permanetly. The library is only two miles from my house, but it’s over an hour to find a bookstore. I’m so happy they’re saved!

    posted by Cassandra on 8-19-2010 at 12:14 am

  4. My dearest mental_floss, oh, how I love you so!!!

    “Fun in your local library”… You just don’t hear that phrase all too often. :-) You are “my kinda people.”

    posted by Michelle Sedas on 8-19-2010 at 12:29 am

  5. I love my local library. It’s small, but it’s on a system with many other branches. If I want a book they don’t have locally, I go online and request it and they have it sent to my local branch. Usually within a week or so…

    posted by old hippy chick on 8-19-2010 at 6:45 am

  6. I don’t know where my own local library is. I once dropped off some school mates somewhere in it vicinity. I prefer to buy books. Around here and especially in the Legal/lawyer family I was raised in, it’s much better to “build” a library by collecting books than to go to a public place.

    posted by Comfort Umaru on 8-19-2010 at 9:54 am

  7. Regarding approaching people because of what they are reading, no, I don’t, because they are reading and I don’t want to interrupt! But I’ve definitely developed crushes on fellow mass transit riders on the basis of what they were reading!!!

    @Comfort Umaru: it’s possible to do both. I am building my own fabulous library, but also utilize the local library for books that I may not easily find on the shelf at the bookseller, particularly older, non-trendy books. After reading such a book, if it’s worth it, I might seek it out to add to my personal collection.

    posted by Karen on 8-19-2010 at 10:05 am

  8. @wvuLibraries…the person tweeting is funny, wry & informative!

    posted by Tomas on 8-19-2010 at 10:22 am

  9. Aww I love “Party Girl” it was one of the first movies to make me fall in love with working at the library!

    posted by Heather on 8-19-2010 at 12:34 pm

  10. I was just in my local library a couple of days ago and have 6 or 7 books out right now. I like to read things first and then if I like them enough, I’ll buy them.
    Also, I’ve never approached anyone on what they are reading, but I’ve had people come up to be and comment on what I was reading. At one point, I was working my way through the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. Some girls were walking by and we had a good laugh over them.

    posted by Kimberley on 8-19-2010 at 2:30 pm

  11. *come up to me, that should say *rolls eyes*

    posted by Kimberley on 8-19-2010 at 2:31 pm

  12. I absolutely judge people on their books. Shame on me! I judge them for the books they carry around and the ones on their shelves at home. Which is why the “books by the yard” of the local used book store bothers me. You pay a fixed price per yard and they give you random hard backs chosen to look good on an empty shelf (as if a bibliophile ever hard an empty shelf). I always said if I worked there I would be tempted to put in personalized copies of Mein Kampf and err.. extremely explicit materials as well.

    posted by Angela on 8-19-2010 at 2:47 pm

  13. I’ve never approached people on the basis of what they’re reading (sadly I don’t see many people with books). But I did recently import “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” from Britain before it came out in the U.S. That got a number of comments from people, until I ultimately felt obligated to put it in a generic hardback cover (http://hardbacker.com/ if you’re curious, they’re a nice cheap alternative to the expensive hardcovers).

    In terms of personal library I’ve always found the best idea to use the library year round but I’m also making my using my libraries book sales.

    Also since I’m posting here (first time on this column but I’ve enjoyed it for awhile). I’m thinking about getting a MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science) probably at Simmon’s or Drexel’s iSchool. Was just wondering if Miss Kathleen or anyone might have any suggestions, for someone going into the profession.

    posted by Ethan on 8-19-2010 at 3:16 pm

  14. @Ethan – I’m enrolled in the online SLIS program at the University of Southern Mississippi for a year and I’ve been really happy with the program :-)

    posted by Christi on 8-21-2010 at 7:46 pm

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