Hoarding is not collection development
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Best of the Worst 2013 Part 2
We had lots of candidates for our top contenders. The trick is narrowing down some of these choices. Both Holly and I agreed that the book that helped you make your mind so strong that you could actually increase the size of your breasts had to be included. Because if you get super mind power, the first thing you should do is increase your bra size.
Full post here: Think BIG BREASTS!
The Best of the Worst in 2013
Long time readers of our site will know that at the end of the year, it is a law of the Internet that we take a moment to reflect on some of the fine choices we have featured on Awful Library Books. Every year Holly and I debate the choices and it ends up being a negotiation that is best served by copious amounts of booze and cookies. This year we decided to try something different and award some categories. All are worthy entries for a highlights list, but some of these titles just bring something special to the table.
Our first award is for Best Children’s Book. There were many contenders this year. One of my favorite posts is Michigan, My Michigan. Most public librarians have to deal with difficult patrons and situations, and this one rears its head every year as the kids trudge in to do the annual Michigan report. Holly had a couple of favorites in A Bedtime Story with a Nice Side of Guilt and the Serial Killer Training Manual. Worthy Choices. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention our perennial favorite author Doris Sanford and her stable of weird books about being obnoxious, kids dying, drinking mothers and step families. She should really have her own category. However, we had two particular books that stood out for being so wrong and horrible that it has to be a tie.
Maggie Goes on A Diet and Alfie’s Home are the winners in Best (Worst) Children’s Book.
Four Years Later: The Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Jackson
1968
Four years ago today, Holly and I launched Awful Library Books to share our love of the crazy, weird stuff found in the library. Who knew it would grow into this giant project! Four years later we STILL have to convince people that weeding is important to collection management. Sigh… Anyway, in celebration of our anniversary, I wondered if that title from our very first post was still inside someone’s collection. I am sad to report it is in the same collection where I found it four years ago. I guess our crusade about collection quality is not finished quite yet.
So, Happy Birthday Awful Library Books, and many thanks to those who make this project possible:
The Husbands, who tolerate piles of old crap at the ALB home offices, and who even humor us with a click on the site every now and again.
Alex B., our intrepid computer advisor, now working for the man in corporate America. In 2009, we could buy his help for beer and pizza.
Our co-workers, past and present, who have tolerated this weird obsession with old books, and even supplied many titles over the years. Particularly, I want to thank Cathy C. who has been so wonderful at expediting the ILL process for us.
Jason at LitBreaker, who helped us get some advertising so we could actually afford to do this project.
Finally, this site is nothing without our readership. We have both learned a lot from the comments and insights you have all brought to this crazy discussion on collection management.
Thank You Everyone!
Mary and Holly