Awful Library Books

The Prime of Life?

Middle Age
The Prime of Life?
Fiske
1979

I like how the title is phrased as a question.

Fiske was an academic and published several articles and books on aging. This book is geared to a non academic audience. If I remember correctly, age discussion was a topic of mainstream popular psychology. Gail Sheehy’s Passages was a 1976 publication that was a wildly popular that also talked about adult life changes. I actually remember reading Sheehy’s book back in college.

When I picked up this book, I immediately thought this was a less interesting version of Sheehy’s book. Fiske had some serious research credentials and unfortunately her book suffered from poor book design and some less than awesome photos/illustrations. Please take a look at the last 2 pictures on the page. Now I am wondering what will happen if I get too stressed.

Friday Fiction: It Must Be Magic

June 26, 2020 Mary Kelly Friday Fiction 4 comments

It Must Be Magic
Woodruff
1982

The eighties live again in this teen romance. Kerrie, a rather bookish high school junior has a not so secret crush on Mike Price. During the annual “Genie Week”, Kerrie’s friends arrange it so that her “genie” for the week is Mike. (I am still trying to figure out the educational value of girls getting a high school boy as a genie to do their bidding for an entire week.) Kerrie gets mixed up because it seems that Mike likes her. But is he only doing that because he has to? Kerrie is convinced that no one likes smart girls so she must be completely wrong to expect him to actually like her. She is not one of the cool kids. Of course, hijinks ensue, and I will leave it to you to guess how this ends.

Mary

Double your fashion statement

June 24, 2020 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 6 comments

Easy Reversible Vests
Doak
1994

If you look back on the books we have posted about sewing and knitting, vests seem to be the fashion accessory. I honestly don’t get it. I love quilts and quilting, I just don’t want to wear one. The only person I can think of that pulled off the vest look was Diane Keaton in Annie Hall.

And yet I bring you another vest book. This time you will really get your money’s worth with the whole reversible thing. If they were actual quilts instead of a “fashion statement” I would be all over the color choices and techniques. I think I am going to say that the quilted vest needs to be retired as a concept. (Right next to the fancy sweatshirts) Make a lovely quilt for the guest room instead.

Teacher Test

June 23, 2020 Mary Kelly Parent/Teacher Collection 4 comments

Michigan Test for Teacher Certification
REA Editors
2005

Test preparation materials are extremely popular at every library I have worked at. I have been amazed at the vast subjects that need test preparation. Libraries are often the only places to get this type of information. The cost of prep materials, as well as prep courses are often outside a student’s budget. In Michigan, teachers are required to be certified before student teaching. I am not up on the latest details of the test, but I have seen my fair share of students looking for this material and other test preparation items.

College Memories

June 22, 2020 Mary Kelly But it's Historical!, Swedish Death Cleaning 6 comments

The Western Experience to 1715
Chambers, Grew, Herlihy, Rabb, Woloch
1974

Another Swedish Death Cleaning Find…

This time we have a college history textbook. The only reason I know it was a textbook from college was the used book price from IUB also known as the Illini Union Bookstore. (Both my husband and I graduated from Illinois way back in 1982.) My husband recognized this book as his text from his Intro to Classical Civilization class. Professor Richard Scanlan’s class was arguably the most popular class at the university during our tenure. My husband, an engineering student and a guy who would take math classes for fun, absolutely loved this class. I am quite sure that is why this book is still sitting on our shelf. Scanlan died in 2009.

The book itself is nothing particularly special. The content probably can be found in many more current published books. Although we get to make our own rules with a personal library, this sentimental feeling about particular titles or even editions, can also plague librarians trying to weed a collection. It is easy to get caught up in what the book means to us personally. No one is immune to this.

No Pants Yoga

June 19, 2020 Holly Sports, Games, and Exercise 10 comments

Illustrated Color Guide to Healthful Yoga
Donat
1974

Submitter: In cleaning up a collection, we found this Awful Library gem… Illustrated Color Guide to Healthful Yoga. I think the pictures speak for themselves – who does yoga in their underwear? Found in an academic library. The cover really doesn’t do the book justice – it’s what’s inside.

Holly: Dear readers, feast your eyes on this!

“New” Data on Aerobics

June 17, 2020 Mary Kelly Health and Safety, Sports, Games, and Exercise 4 comments

The Aerobics Way
New data on the world’s most popular exercise program
Cooper
1977

Aerobics was just beginning to be the exercise fad when this was published. Most folks would probably credit Jane Fonda’s 1982 workout tape. This is more a discussion of aerobic activity and all the supporting data. It really isn’t any kind of workout, but more of the science and studies related to heart and lung function. A dated book, but I have a feeling this became the springboard for the aerobic dancing exercise fad.

The Trifecta of Evil Goes to Mass

June 15, 2020 Mary Kelly Department of God 14 comments

Acting Out the Gospels with Mimes, Puppets, & Clowns
DeAngelis
1982

I have often referred to mimes, puppets, and clowns as a trifecta of evil. Integrating things inside a Catholic Mass is just horrific on so many levels. Maybe it is a way for those attending Mass to glimpse what Hell would look like. The images of a clown face on a crucified Jesus or the Apostles is so disturbing. This is the stuff of nightmares. I am just Catholic enough to be weirded out about this book.