2018 Reads: I Work at a Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks

This is a short book. You can read it while in the act of sitting down to actually read the book.

But that's okay. It's such a delightful little diversion - quick, amusing, heartfelt. If you, like me, grew up loving trips to the local library - or if you're in need of some "good people" stories - consider this a must read. It'll bring back memories of the stacks, the town quietly mingling, picking books...or overhearing any of the bizarre requests made to librarians on a daily basis.

Author/editor Gina Sheridan culled these stories from her own work experience as a librarian, as well as submissions from her blog's readers. Most are short snippets of conversations, with a few lengthier anecdotes.

By and large, we meet a diverse group of wackadoos either looking for some measure of assistance, no matter how trivial or unfit a librarian is to realistically helping, or needed an outlet for their particular, eccentric opinions. The final chapter veers from the purely comical and insane to the heartwarming, letting us know that there are decent people still hiding out in the world.

Pick it up, read a chapter, let it sit until you need another giggle and the chuckleworthy inanity on display. When it's done, pop over to her website, where the magic began (and where stories are categorized by Dewey decimal system!).

4/5 on Goodreads for me.

-E