Awful Library Books

Bazaar (or Bizarre) Crafts

January 24, 2022 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies One comment

Easy Bazaar Crafts
Gerald Knox, Ed.
Better Homes and Gardens
1981

I know craft fairs are a thing and many people like the idea of hand made items for gifts or whatever. Not to take away any of the skill involved in creating these….things, but why would anyone want to spend time making or buying this stuff? I can honestly say I have never needed a hand shaped purse. (Although there are times that I would thing a purse with a raised middle finger would be kind of funny…)

This type of book obviously isn’t for me but I also question why we would need a book specifically geared to the bazaar or craft fair types? They don’t look particularly different or easier than other crafts.

Behaving at the Office

January 20, 2022 Mary Kelly Working 9-5 8 comments

Uncivil Wars
Men, Women, and Office Etiquette in the 90s
Patrick
1994

This is another of the million books published about how to get along at the office and succeed. As women entered the workforce issues of “new” office etiquette were being discussed. Discussions targeted at both men and women centered on catering to the supposed needs. For example, women being coached to get along with the boys world of work, how to dress, and level up in management. Men told to not make a “pass” and be polite to the ladies.

The Big Apple

January 19, 2022 Holly Spanning the Globe One comment

Kids’ New York
Dorling Kindersley Travel Guides
2000

Submitter: I found this 2000 travel guide while weeding the children’s collection in my public library the other day and…a lot has changed in NYC over the past 21 years! For example, the public pay-phones mentioned in this guide are now $1 for a three-minute call and there are only four of them left in NYC. Subway tokens were decommissioned in 2003. Time and the pandemic have shuttered numerous restaurants listed under the guide’s handy Places to Eat section. And yes, the biggest glaring issue with this book now is its double-page feature on the scenic World Trade Center. This is why we frequently review travel guide collections! I have been working at this branch for 3 months now and the sad thing is, the record for this book shows that it did in fact circulate this past year. At the worst, that WTC page might have proved deeply traumatic for a patron, and at best, it made our branch look lax and out-of-date. I’m really embarrassed this book remained in our collection for 21 years without anyone flagging it!

Holly: Good catch! These Dorling Kindersley travel books are awesome…when they’re from this decade.

Babysitting Basics

January 17, 2022 Mary Kelly Talkin 'Bout My Generation, Working 9-5 11 comments

Babysitting
Dayee
1990

I’m going to have to award this book “Most boring cover art”. Seriously, this book design looks like they had some bad wallpaper laying around and someone said, “hey put that on a book, the teens will love it.”

Cover “art” not withstanding, the content isn’t too bad. The book is written in scenarios and then there is a brief discussion. There is also a business like theme so kids think about this professionally, including interviewing. The general advice is okay, but the technology available these days (cell phones, nanny cams, etc) definitely needs to be discussed for the 21st century babysitters.

Not so fabulous

January 13, 2022 Mary Kelly You Ate What? 10 comments

Fabulous Oriental Recipes
Blinn
1989

This very cheap book is not really library-worthy. It would fall apart within about 10 uses. That said, the fact that it is still decent shape already tells me that it really wasn’t a good choice in 1989. The term oriental is not a appropriate, and in many contexts, offensive.The recipes also look like they have been “Americanized”. I doubt by just tossing in chow mein noodles or soy sauce makes a dish an authentically Asian.

Canadian Animals in the USA

January 10, 2022 Mary Kelly Critters 12 comments

A Second Book of Canadian Animals
May
1967

Animal books are a slam dunk choice in any public library youth collection. They are always popular, and I have weeded those books on condition more often than not. They simply wear out from use.

There is nothing particularly wrong with this book, other than the outdated language. The black and white illustrations aren’t particularly appealing as color photographs or illustrations.This book just looks dated. I am not sure references to Canadian animals makes any sense, especially since this is sitting in a Michigan public library.

Millionaire Real Estate Stripper Gospel

January 7, 2022 Holly Making a Living 15 comments

The Art of Becoming a Multimillionaire Real Estate Investor
Cherwenka
2018

Submitter: This book came from my public library. (In fact, it was purchased as a memorial book.) I came across this gem in my business section. I think the back cover speaks for itself: body builder to stripper to real estate agent who then marries his “African American Wife.” There’s a lot going on here. I’m also confused as to whether this is a book about real estate investing, a biography, or a gospel. Take your pick! In fact here’s more.

Holly: Is Magic Mike doing a bicep pose, or punching her in the breast? The link submitter shared is a 15-page short version of his story, in which he refers to himself (presumably in his stripper days) as a “lost sinner” – but he doesn’t seem too ashamed, given his choice of photo for the back cover of the book! I mean, real estate looks like a great career choice I guess…