Latest Libraryland Kerfuffles in One Act

Steve Lawson (libraryland’s Lucian?) has delivered a one-act play that does a remarkable job of distilling some of our profession’s recent dramatic episodes. It’s got it all: satire, intrigue, and all the relevant background you might need to get up to speed in case you’ve been, you know, actually doing some work instead of following the blow-by-blow of all the latest dust ups.

It of course touches on the Annoyed Librarian’s sole authorship of the most recent issue of the Journal of Access Services, and the AL’s being hired to blog for LJ (including some of the history between AL and LJ Editor-at-Large John Berry), but Lawson also even manages to work in some commentary on OCLC’s recent records use policy revision and ALA politics.

As Peter Travers would say: "A Triumph!"

It’s entertaining, comprehensive, and may give the library world yet another chance at a jump to the big screen: I’m seeing Cillian Murphy in the role of the performance artist playing the Annoyed Librarian. It would be fabulous, Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie meets Parker Posey in Party Girl.

Check out the opening scene:

SCENE: An urban artist’s studio, the home of AL. Posters and clippings representing Dadaist icons and avant-garde performance artists are on the walls. The “READ” poster from the American Library Association depicting Stephen Colbert is on the wall, with AL’s photo taped over Colbert’s face. Prominent among the books and letters liberally strewn around the room are volumes by Lazlo Toth, The Hitler Diaries, and Atlanta Nights.

AL–a “downtown” artist type–sits cross legged on the floor, typing on a laptop. Nearby are copies of Library Journal, Journal of Access Services, and other library trade publications and journals. As AL types, he pauses to shake a cocktail shaker, and pours himself a martini, which he drinks with evident pleasure.

There is a knock at the door.

I’ll leave it to you to read the remainder, the rest from me is silence.