Talkin 'Bout My Generation Archives

McDonaldland

September 21, 2022 Holly Talkin 'Bout My Generation 20 comments

McDonalds McDonaldland Specification Manual
McDonalds Corporation
1975

Submitter: There are many wonderful gems in our vertical file collection that really make no sense on why we collected them. This is one of them. It’s a 1975 booklet on the McDonalds characters. I love this quote “Ronald McDonald is a CLOWN. The fact that he is a corporate spokesman should not overshadow his ‘clownness.’ He is all the good things that come to mind when thinking of clowns.” I see that this booklet has been digitized in a few places and they will allow us to let this one go.

Holly: Nostalgia at its finest! I had a birthday party at McDonalds when I was about eight. I was a cool kid for that one day. Best. Day. Ever. But yeah – why is this still in a library collection? And I’m genuinely curious – who still has a vertical file? We do, but it’s mostly local history.

Sex Harassment 101

September 15, 2022 Mary Kelly Talkin 'Bout My Generation 11 comments

Coping With
Sexual Harassment and Gender Bias
Shaw
1998

Another old one from the “Coping with…” series. I just cringe at the covers of some of these books. (See this one and this one.) I think that jamming sexual harassment in with gender bias is asking too much of small book. I think they should be separate books.

This subject matter is important for teens. A book from the late 1990s isn’t going to be helpful in 2022. Aside from the creepy cover art, the content is probably on par for the late 1990s. We could argue about how much has NOT changed in over 20 years, but there has been way more dialogue on this topic than in the 1990s. Weed it and don’t look back.

Old fashioned Manners

July 25, 2022 Mary Kelly Talkin 'Bout My Generation 12 comments

What to do
Everyday guides for everyone
Bendick and Warren
1967

This one looks a bit sad. Highlighting and a few damaged pages make this weed worthy. I am happy to report that this book was sent to the bindery so the ugly cover is in pretty good shape. Those old bindery covers could probably withstand a nuclear explosion. That said, I think 1967 etiquette rules are probably due for some updating.

The phone advice is comically out of date. We are still over a decade from even having portable phones, let alone smart phones. Individual phones were just not a concept. In my high school, if you had more than one extension in your home, you were living the good life. I am also surprised there wasn’t a comment about calling “late” or tying up the phone by talking too long. This was a HUGE issue when I was a teen. If any of my friends called past 10 pm, I was in trouble!

Under Pressure!

June 1, 2022 Mary Kelly Talkin 'Bout My Generation, Vice Patrol 9 comments

Drugs and Peer Pressure
Myers
1995

I think this is probably the billionth “drugs are bad” book posted. I think they are almost identical in format, message and I am willing to bet the same stupid photos. Actually I should call these books the Drugs and <fill in any condition> series.

We have Drugs and….

Every time I look at the pics in all of the books mentioned, I just want to cringe. Sometimes, they don’t make sense of the “story” or example, sometimes it looks like they are trying too hard. I think my teen self would have rolled my eyes at the teenagers presented. Some of the teens look to be in their early 40s.

Just between us girls

March 25, 2022 Mary Kelly Be Pretty, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 7 comments

Teen Girl Talk
Douglas
1990

How about a little girl talk?

This book has the info you need to grow into a successful woman. Naturally, that means deep introspection and analysis of make-up, hair, fashion, and diets. It’s “frank and fun!”

I think today’s teens and preteens would find this book ridiculous. Miss washing your face completely last night before bed? Hello acne and awful skin. What does the author think these preteen girls are doing? Out clubbing with heavy makeup and smoking?

Don’t make a dating mistake!

March 17, 2022 Mary Kelly Department of God, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 7 comments

Dating
Narramore
1961

Looking for some old fashioned advice about dating? Here is an option for you from the early 1960s. I found this in a university library which is probably the most appropriate place for this material.

Considering it is the early 1960s and geared to Christian teens, you can probably guess how the advice goes:

Don’t date someone who isn’t a Christian
Save your sexual purity for marriage
Don’t go out to clubs, movies, and do other “non-Christian” activities
Listen to your parents

It is important to remember that getting pregnant out of wedlock was pretty much the worst thing that could happen to a woman. You could get fired from a job, kicked out of school, shunned by family or shipped off to an “unwed mothers” home. Hence, these books were really about putting the literal fear of God in teenagers.

Teen Legal Rights for the 1990s

March 14, 2022 Mary Kelly Talkin 'Bout My Generation 3 comments

Teen Legal Rights
A Guide for the ’90s
Hempleman
1994

Some books are so obvious to weed. This one practically has a neon sign over it saying “weed me!”

When you are my age the 1990s seem like yesterday. In terms of a public library teen collection, the 1990s should be considered ancient history. A good rule of thumb: books should be no older than the teens, and definitely not older than parents of teens.

Who are you?

March 10, 2022 Mary Kelly Talkin 'Bout My Generation 5 comments

Who are you?
Teenager’s guide to self-understanding
McGough
1976

Teens! Do you know who you are? Are you stressing over friends, parents, and dating? This book is for you. The content is mostly anecdotes, quizzes (if you were the president, what would you prioritize?), and “exercises” (write your own obituary!). I really don’t get how any of this stuff is going to help you find your inner self.

Obviously, this book is dated. I actually liked these kinds of books when I was a young teen. For all I know, I might have even read it since I was the right age in 1976. To use the vernacular of the late 1960s/1970s, the book was pretty square.