>Reader Mail!
>From: “A Reader”
Subject: Shame on you for your hounding of the Book Bully
To: suburban.turmoil@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2009, 11:55 AM
I read your column regarding the Book Bully and no where in it did I actually hear you take responsibility for any of your own bad behavior. Your toddler ripped up a copy of The Polar Express and instead of replacing it with a good copy, you taped up the damaged one and hoped to pass it off as no big deal. You made feeble excuses for all of your late items without once acknowledging that you were in the wrong.
Iβm sure it was people just like you and your friends who caused the Book Bully to become bitter and frustrated. If this is the example of behavior you are teaching your children, that itβs okay to break the rules as long as the person trying to enforce them is hated by all, then shame on you.
“A Reader”
From: Suburban Turmoil
Subject: Re: Shame on you for your hounding of the Book Bully
To: A Reader
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2009, 3:02 PM
Congratulations, “Reader.” You got the joke!
Best,
Lindsay
With this kind of reader e-mail, you sort of have to read my column this week over at the Nashville City Paper. It’s my favorite one since “Mommy Mafia.”
And yes, the offer still stands. Leave a comment with your URL over at the City Paper and I’ll stop by and visit your blog.
Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But soon.
>I can’t figure out my City Paper login, or else I’d comment there, but I just wanted to let you know that we have a Book Bully here in Kankakee, IL, too!! I have about $10 in fines, the most ever, and it’s because DVDs have to come in after a week and cost $1.25 every day they’re late. How do I pry that precious copy of The Backyardigans from my toddlers’ sticky fingers in just a week??! The Book Bully refuses to relent, even though I highly suspect she is making up their “fine policy” on the spot.(Thanks for coming to my blog a few weeks ago. I love celebrity sightings.)
>Great blog… just “discovered” it. I will definitely be back for more.Do pop by for a visit when you can –http://buckeroomama.blogspot.com
>I love the library! True, some librarians are a bit less easy-going than others, but it’s a great resouce.Feel free to come on by to my corner… after 5+ years of blogging it’d be nice to have a new face stop in.
>Doh! ResouRce!
>Maybe the “Book Bully” is actually “Reader”!!
>In an unrelated story, I wanted to thank you for your posts on your family’s battle with Strep Throat. When I woke up with razor blades in my throat and swollen glands, rather than reaching for Cider Vinegar I went straight to the Dorctor and tested positive for Strep! Your literary description of the symptoms saved me days of needless pain and worry!
>I have a sneaking suspicion that “A Reader” is the brown bobbed Book Bully.
>LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!! I just found it from Angies site, and I am going to be a faithful reader! I love the fact that you have no fear! Actually I envy that, I wish I could be like that! My name is Jennie and it is nice to meet you, and I hope to get to know you soon!http://jennielynnsstory.blogspot.com come on over for a visit!
>HAHAHAHA! And I thought I was the only one with overdue library book issues. It’s something I’ve struggled with for years. I get so embarassed and freaked out by the scary librarians (because most of them are scary and unapproachable) that I just avoid it altogether. Which is why I have several Daphne DuMauriers that belong to the Spartanburg County Library System in my sunroom and prerecorded library “your freakin’ book is overdue” messages on my answering machine. π
>I will duck and run when I’m done but….Having worked in an elementary school library, librarians really do have to put up with a whole lot of shit from people and be polite so if the Book Bully has a bitchface, she’s probably earned the right to it.We had kids borrow books, keep them out for months (borrowing time is 2 weeks) and when the payment notice goes home of course, the parent comes in claiming that their kids never borrowed it. Tears in books “I didn’t do it! It was like that when I got it!” For the record – don’t put tape on it, let the library know so they can fix it up properly with glue.A year or so ago, a father sent a Letter to the Editor in the newspaper bitching about the overdue policy because his kids couldn’t borrow because of the fines. It was pretty damn foolish on his part because there must have been 30 letters in response telling him what a ass he was and “great way to teach your kids responsibility”I read the column, I got the joke but I guess after having worked in a library and seen the abuse the librarian takes from parents and teachers (oh my God, from the way they act you’d think the librarian sat around eating bonbons all day), I think they’re pretty underappreciated.
>I think it cuts both ways, in all seriousness. Sure, librarians get their share of a-holes and many of them may happen to be parents, but that doesn’t mean they need to treat every parent who walks through the door like crap. In fairness, most of them couldn’t be nicer. But the Book Bully? Well, she’s one of a kind. π
>I laughed so hard on both this post and the City Paper that I think I hurt myself. Thanks for yet again making my day.CeCe
>Agreed! And people with permanent scowls are usually the ones I try to coax a smile out of…
>I hate the library. Kindle, here I come!
>Loved your column – but paper website is being disagreeable. Or perhaps it just doesn’t like me. Staceyhttp://todaysdistraction.com/
>Former librarian here. Lindsay, I think you need to visit this site: http://community.livejournal.com/library_mofo/People have absolutely NO IDEA, what librarians go through. That said, I know what kind of librarian you’re talking about with this lady and this type gives all librarians a bad name.
>Wow. Sounds like the book bully read your post and found your e-mail address.
>Somewhat related story – I met a head librarian at a wedding and we had a long talk about her 2nd job as a fortune teller. At the end of the wedding she realized she had misplaced her car keys. Guess she wasn’t a very good fortune teller. Ha ha ha!
>I applied for a library card last week at our small town library. I have lived in this county for over 12 years. I have been employed at for almost 12 years at the same company. But because the only relative I have living in the county is my husband who GASP! I live with I was told I can not have a library card. The head librarian backed up the college girl at the counter that this is in fact a “rule”. Only after I told her she could call the courthouse to verfiy I pay taxes, my bank and my employer did she agreed to give me a card if I would list a co worker. But then she wanted the co workers home address which I do not have or would have given anyway. Another threat of contacting the ciy manager and I got my card but feel like my account is probably marked for life! I could not seem to make these people understand that since I am 55 yrs old my parents, in-laws and siblings have died -hence no relatives and I moved to this town from another state. No relatives in this county or state for that matter! I did tell the city manager and he about fell on the floor at Walmart laughing — said he would look into it since he pays her salary and that certainly was not a rule!
>For library humor, try this online strip (kid friendly!)www.unshelved.com