OJ Simpson

I wonder what’s up with the “Juice” since 1977?

Biography, Sports, Games, and Exercise 21 comments

The Picture Life of O.J.Simpson
Jameson
1977

I bet there are few pictures missing from this picture biography of O.J.’s life.   I wonder if today’s kids remember that he was a football player?  Biography is tough nut for me.  I personally object to anyone getting a biography before age of 50 since they really have a lot more life left!  (Since I am pushing 50 myself, I might change that to 60.)  Case in point, our friend O.J.  Think he has had a few life changes since 1977?
I would love to hear from youth librarians about this one!

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Dee Snider's Teenage Survival Guide

House of Hair

Feelings and Self Help, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 23 comments

Dee Snider’s Teenage Survival Guide
Snider
1987

It’s confession time, ALB fans.  I, Holly Hibner, am a closet metal head.  Actually, not so closet.  I have been to several heavy metal concerts and been known to “bang my head” while driving.  Are you shocked?  Just doing my part to break the librarian stereotype…

Ok, now that true confession time is over, let’s talk about this book.  Dee Snider was the lead singer of Twisted Sister in the ’80s.  This was a cool book in my day!  It’s still a good book message-wise, but if you gave this book to a teenager today they would probably laugh hysterically and ask who the clown on the cover is.  It’s definitely time for an upgrade!

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Catholic Youth's Guide to Life and Love

ALB risks eternal damnation!

Department of God, Vice Patrol 16 comments

Catholic Youth’s Guide to Life and Love
George A. Kelly
1960

I might be flirting with disaster to suggest this for inclusion in our little project. Today, I want to just throw caution to the wind! This little gem showed up by accident in our ILL bin. Of course everyone on staff LOVED this book and we passed it around all day! (I did have to define “petting” to some of our younger staff members!) For all of ALB fans that can remember the church before Vatican II or attended a Catholic school, you will love this book and the stroll down memory lane!

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Space Flight

Weeding is not rocket science

Bleeding Edge 19 comments

Rocket Power and Space Flight
Stine
1957

The flyleaf of this book starts out by saying that the book was the result of thousands of letters that the author received. He says, “Some of these letters have been from young men … the rocket engineers of tomorrow.” In 1957 it was inconceivable, I’m sure, that a woman would become a rocket engineer. The author talks to the “fellows” who wrote him letters and uses the pronoun “he” and “him” throughout the book. Reason #1 to weed it.

Also, it is a bit technical. It explains how rockets work and how they are tested. I’ll bet that’s a bit more complicated nowadays than this book indicates! Reason #2 to weed this: it’s waaaay out of date. This is twelve years before we ever went to the moon!

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When Children Invite Child Abuse

A great choice for a parenting collection!

Parent/Teacher Collection 21 comments

When Children Invite Child Abuse: A search for answers when love is not enough
Gold
1986

A fellow Michigan ALB spy has given us this gem! I am speechless just on the title alone! Who on earth is the target market for this book? Abusers looking for an “out”? Question to the public library with this holding: are child abusers one of your major patron groups that you feel are being under served by the public library?

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Creative Recreation for the Mentally Retarded

OMG…Really??

Parent/Teacher Collection 20 comments

Creative Recreation for the Mentally Retarded
Amary
1975

Thank you to the anonymous submitter for this one!  Wow.  I’m going to assume that most librarians do not think this is a good choice for today’s shelves. Here’s a great example of how if you don’t keep up with weeding, when you finally get around to it you’ll realize how many ridiculous books like this you still have on the shelves.   What must the public think??   There are lots of better, more current choices for books on this topic.

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ripped cover of diary of anne frank

RIP Anne Frank

Condition/Processing Fail 16 comments

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
Frank
This edition: 1993

Here’s a good example of a book that every public library should have, regardless of its copyright date.  There is no question as to its usefulness to patrons.  When you find an item like this on your shelves, though, it needs to be replaced.  It is quite literally falling apart.  The pictures here only show the front and back cover, but the pages were stained and brown and falling out too.  I’m embarrassed to admit that this example is from my very own, beloved library.   That’s right, folks, we’ve got skeletons in our closet too.  We weed regularly, and we lay hands on our items through physical inventory regularly, too.

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