Evidently, our Twitter account was hijacked. I got it back, but the followers, as well as posts, are gone (but not forgotten!).
Please consider following us (again) at @awfullibbooks or use the twitter icon at the top of the page.
What’s What
What’s What: A Visual Glossary of the Physical World
Bragonier, Jr. and Fisher
1981
Submitter: I love visual dictionaries and this one is charming. Even though the pictures are all black and white, they are clear and instructive. However, in the age of Google image searching, no one is looking for a book to help them visualize, especially not college students! And things like Vehicles and Audiovisual Communication have changed a LOT since 1981! And who knows, maybe readers of the future will wonder what a book used to look like, or a letter on paper. But this book is no good to our readers here and now.
Calculator Help for Complex Math
Scientific Analysis on the Pocket Calculator
Smith
1975
We have had other calculator books from the old days. Most of them, like this one and this one seemed to be pitching the same joke of spelling some clever words aimed at the junior high school mentality. This particular example is aimed at the science/engineering crowd. From what I can tell, it is actually pretty detailed. It is aimed at those who were of the pencil and paper/slide rule crowd that did higher level mathematics. I consulted with my mathematician son and engineer husband on this book. Husband said he hadn’t thought “about this crap since grad school.” Mathematician son commented that it was kind of interesting how they broke down how to work some seriously juicy problems using the calculator.
Valentine’s Day Special
Dating, love, and romance are always available at your local library. We here at ALB want to make sure you are taking advantage of so many titles geared to help you manage your love life! (You’re welcome!) Our first post listed, Make your own sex toys has been gracing our Valentine’s list off and on since 2012. To this day, I still get a bit squeamish when I see people squeezing the vegetables and fruit at the grocery store.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Mary and Holly
Dinosaurs in the Garden of Eden
The Great Dinosaur Mystery and the Bible
Taylor
1989
Submitter: Earlier this year while we were only doing curbside service, a patron called and asked for dinosaur books for her kids. Somehow I had missed this gem while weeding the J-nonfiction, and I was so glad that I found it before anyone else did. I deleted it before I looked to see how many circs (if any) it had- it hadn’t circulated at all since I got here a year and a half ago. My favorite picture is the one with the guy (Adam?) lovingly petting the little Parasaurolophus.
LaGuardia for President
A Hammer in the City
LaGuardia
1962
Submitter: I call this a preemptive weed. It was dropped off in our return box as a donation. Old, yellowed, and the spine is hanging by a thread. I know people mean well, but recycling is good too!
Hostess Helps and Recipes
Betty Crocker’s Hostess Cookbook
General Mills
1973
I know that COVID-19 puts a damper on any kind of entertaining, but just in case you are preparing for that day when we are all healthy, Betty Crocker has you covered. This book truly has some retro recipes I am sure you can’t wait to get started. A couple of my favorites: Olive Surprise Roast, Jellied Watercress Soup, Tomato Aspic Mold, the list just goes on and on.
Bonus! Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you can feast on all things pink. Your loved one will surely appreciate the effort.
Dibetus
American Diabetes Association Guide to Insulin and Type 2 Diabetes
McCarren
2007
Submitter: Why do I hear Wilford Brimley’s voice “Diabetes” when I look at this book. We received this book as a donation last week. It’s a 13 year old book on Diabetes. We won’t keep a medical book longer than 5 years at this library – so this went straight to the weed pile. 13 years in any medical field feels like light years in achievements.
Holly: Dear patrons, Thank you for thinking of the library with your donation. Our need for materials is great.
But not this great.