Review by Booklist Review
Sheridan's book takes a cheeky look at life behind the desk. In 12 chapters (aptly titled 028.9 Reading Interests and Habits, 598.2 Rare Birds, 611 Human Anatomy you get the gist), she tells tales of woe, funny interactions, and vignettes that may make you question the future of the human race. Stories include the patron who wanted to scan his face to upload to an Internet dating site, the family who thought the Technology Petting Zoo would have ponies, and the paranoid patron who refused to use the computers if Google could not be disabled. There are uplifting tales as well, such as the woman who offered to make bookmarks so that people would stop dog-earing library books; the patron who wouldn't stop pacing around the pay phone every afternoon (he was waiting for calls from prospective employers since he had lost his job but hadn't told his wife he was interviewing); and a chapter of cute interactions with children. All staffers who have worked in a library are sure to find themselves nodding along in recognition.--Vnuk, Rebecca Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Based on Sheridan's (librarian, St. Louis Cty. Lib.) blog of the same name (iworkatapubliclibrary.com), this slim collection reads like a highlight reel of the online narrative and features previously unseen reader submissions. Interactions are amusing, charming, and occasionally frustrating. Food is a recurring theme, whether someone asking for a knife to cut an onion, donating an uncooked chicken, or seeking a margarita machine-only to leave upon learning the library doesn't have one. There is the ubiquitous "I'm a taxpayer" line when negotiating a fine, along with patrons upset that their tax dollars are being spent on DVDs and video games. Other relatable stories involve someone wanting to apply to all of the jobs on the Internet and someone else wishing to send a message to everyone on the Internet. (They were advised to create a blog.) This hilarious read, a favorite among LJ and SLJ staffers, will also delight fans of the blog Awful Library Books (awfullibrarybooks.net) and even those who enjoy the interviews with public librarians on Steve Thomas's Circulating Ideas podcast. VERDICT If anything, Sheridan's debut is too short and leaves the reader wanting more. However, librarians and circulation staff alike will find themselves laughing and nodding along at the featured stories.-Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
