Comments on: Booze for Books

By: elena

elena — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 21:39:03 +0000

Not one to be left behind when they mix Pina Colodas, but whoah, librarians!

It is a rather tacky idea ‘booze for books”, seriously? I think even the in hip and trendy-setting librarians would give you a pinched ‘ew’ look.

The “liqqer for libraries” party also leaves out the 18-20 year olds cohort-hey, those are young adults! They are probably not folk that will GIVE money or books, but one thing they are is future readers and future millionaires.

so, my twisted two-cents.

By: Ellen Bryant

Ellen Bryant — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:44:20 +0000

One of the strangest things about the libraries I’ve voluteered at over the last 6yrs; I don’t get why the staff would appear to be populated exclusively with fiction-readers?? Not one has ever been able to answer the most basic questions about current events books (other than to say, “they should be in new releases”(I guess I couln’t figure that out by myself), much less anything regarding history. Everyone in the business of books, used or new, knows that NON-fiction readers are the ones who support your business, or library. Quit stocking the latest on military history, political biography and the envoirnment–and we’ll go back to the internet. It’s not JUST amazon.com thats challenging the business: its stupid decisions on buying and promoting books people actually READ. Wake up, librarians!

By: librarEwoman

librarEwoman — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:42:59 +0000

I’m not sure why this is all that surprising. There’s an ongoing trend of associating books for young adults with booze. See this as an example:

http://www.foreveryoungadult.com/

The Forever Young Adult site coordinates book clubs around the nation in which adults (mostly female librarians, I think) get together to read and discuss YA books while enjoying booze. They frequently take photos of themselves meeting to discuss YA books while drinking booze, which then get posted on the Forever Young Adult site. It’s the hip thing to do right now!

By: Overworked Librarian

Overworked Librarian — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:06:43 +0000

The name was in poor taste. I am a bit surprised by YALSA. But I don’t think people should get all bent out of shape about it. It would be nice of YALSA to have non-alcoholic drinks available also.

By: Bibliotecher

Bibliotecher — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:06:47 +0000

I like the way you think ME.

As long as we’re sticking with the assonance/consonance theme, here’s my contribution: ”Alcohol for Accessioning.”

By: the.effing.librarian

the.effing.librarian — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:15:03 +0000

I rewrote the YALSA announcement as something else that seems to get caught in you spam trap… B**bs for Books. and I apologize to everyone who reads it.

By: me

me — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:12:01 +0000

I think this is very appropriate. I mean who needs to drink heavily after work everyday more than librarians?

By: MS

MS — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:33:23 +0000

@ Librarian w/ no name….
Thank you! for the laugh. That was fantastic. :)

By: The Librarian With No Name

The Librarian With No Name — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:27:41 +0000

Of course the Council has the right to express an opinion on ALA campaigns. Others participating in the free and robust exchange of ideas then have the right to point out that this opinion is stuffy and petty. The Council, of course, retains the right to become butthurt and self-righteous, and to express these feelings as well. This, then, naturally devolves to the natural right of random jerks on the internet to make snarky comments about their butthurtedness.

It’s the natural cycle of intellectual discourse, and it’s a beautiful thing to witness in the wild.

By: Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries

Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:00:58 +0000

Pat Weaver-Meyers, ALA Councilor, Oklahoma Chapter, wrote the following to the ALA Council listserv called alacoun:

I am somewhat surprised that recent posts to the listserv suggest that Council doesn’t have the right to have an opinion about a campaign that is represented on the ALA website and that, by being on the website, reflects on all members of the Association. I understand that the Council cannot dictate what the divisions do, as defined by bylaws. But, if Council isn’t even suppose to share opinions and concerns about the quality, content and public face of our organization, then I think Council is an obsolete institution, as has been suggested by some earlier task force documents. I have assumed that my job is to represent the people who elected me. Sharing my opinion on this issue is reflective of the opinion of many of my constituents.

Many times Council has stood up and voted to support all kinds of issues related to individual rights and these included insensitive wording on policies, documents and other materials. Why is that kind of discussion ok, while a discussion about “booze for books” being insensitive is off-limits? It seems some are confusing unfashionable with insensitive.

I spent my entire weekend asking friends and acquaintances what they thought of “booze for books.” Virtually 100% of the time eyebrows immediately shot upward when I said this was an American Library Association campaign. Some thought it was funny, some not so funny, but all thought it contrary to what they perceived to be the American Library Association. That could be bad or good, depending on the image we as a group want to convey.

I think this is an insensitive and crass phraseology and reflects poorly on our organization. That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it. Others can and clearly do feel differently. No problem. But, I do have a problem with the suggestion that this is not the purview of the Council or the constituents who we represent.

Pat Weaver-Meyers
ALA Councilor, Oklahoma Chapter