Awful Library Books

More fun with communists!

September 16, 2009 Mary Kelly But it's Historical!, Department of God, Spanning the Globe

How the communists use religion
Bundy
1966

Okay comrades, this is yet another gem plucked from a small public library. This poor book had definitely seen better days. The cover was damaged and the book had a serious “odor”. Contents not withstanding, I think we can do better in both preservation efforts and in providing current information. In my cursory examination of this title, this book suggests that the Soviets had a great deal of control or influence on the Church. Anyone know the background of this title?

It’s the communists, run for your life!

September 15, 2009 Holly But it's Historical! 30 comments

You can trust the communists (to do exactly as they say!)
Schwarz
1960

Fellow library comrades: I know I will hear from everyone about how this is an important piece of culture and we should never weed this kind of material. Heck, I am old enough to appreciate the communist threat. (I even had to sign a loyalty oath in the early 80’s as part of my job! – Go America!) This book has a place in an archive or a museum, not in a popular materials collection for a small public library. I think I am safe in saying that by 1989 this book lacked some punch. In case you really want to feel old, today’s college students were probably born after the Berlin Wall came down.

A Philatelist’s Dream

September 11, 2009 Holly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies 21 comments

Jewish Chess Masters on Stamps
Berkovich and Divinsky
2000

If your library or your community has a very (VERY) active stamp collecting society, this might be an acceptable choice for your library. Even then, it is very obscure! There’s nothing wrong with it and I’m not suggesting weeding it. It’s just an odd choice for a library unless they buy every possible stamp-related item they can get a hold of. The really interesting thing is that “Jews on postage stamps” is an actual subject heading, and there are all kinds of books about it on WorldCat.org. There are also books about “Catholics on postage stamps” and

…wait for it…

“Beavers on postage stamps.”

Your brain injured child

September 3, 2009 Holly Health and Safety, Parent/Teacher Collection 40 comments

What to do About your Brain-Injured Child
Doman
1974

What you should do is get a newer book. This was submitted to ALB from 3 different people and I found a copy locally. This is such a serious subject and I cannot believe that it is still on the shelves in quite a few public libraries. Brain injuries and other areas of neuroscience have had quite a bit of progress since this book was published. Is it me or is the ultra “cheerful” colors and graphics a bit odd? This one is a slam dunk, folks. Weed it please!

Waxing poetic

August 17, 2009 Holly For the Kids, Unexplained and Just Plain Crazy 16 comments

Wax in our World
Russell
1966

Wax as a topic for a medium public library juvenile nonfiction section has got to be one of the oddest ideas ever. Just so you all know, I have no bias against the subject of wax. Hey, wax as a part of a craft or in candle making, I would be all over that. Waxing as hair removal, I might be interested in that for my collection. (Okay, I might have to be sold on that idea. Can you imagine the illustrations when they get to discussing the bikini line?) What makes me laugh is the idea that somewhere a publisher was in a meeting saying “I think the kids are looking for a good book on wax”.

Cool and Cordless!!!

August 12, 2009 Holly Bleeding Edge 17 comments

Get the Message
Skurzynski
1993

Thanks to the anonymous submitter for this catchy title from her juvenile nonfiction section. I wonder what the message is? How about “this library is SO irrelevant!”

Your cat’s sex life

August 5, 2009 Holly Critters 16 comments

My Cat’s in Love or, How to Survive Your Feline’s Sex life, Pregnancy and Kittening
Manolson
1970

Isn’t the cover of this book a hoot? I also love the title. There’s some useful information in this book, although I’m sure I could find it in a more current book than 1970. It’s entirely possible that some of the spaying/neutering techniques have changed since then. Either way, I learned something here. I didn’t know that the female equivalent to a “tom” cat is a “queen.” Public libraries need to do better than this antique.

Teach Those Kids a Lesson!

July 30, 2009 Holly Parent/Teacher Collection 17 comments

Teacher Spanks Johnny
Rovetta
1968

Submitter: The book is called Teacher Spanks Johnny: A Handbook for Teachersby Catherine Humbargar Rovetta and Leon Rovetta (I’d love to meet their children now). Being a teacher myself, I just HAD to have this book. Empty threats are no more in my classroom! Not after a quick reference to page 18 in the chapter titled Force Used on Pupil By Teacher where it states that “five blows with a ping-pong paddle is not unreasonable force“. (Actually, I’ve never even dared to bring this book into my school for fear of it falling out of my bag or being discovered by the wrong person). Though the book is not loudly “condoning” corporal punishment in school, it does offer some sort of a shortcut for anyone in the mood to offer a few, quick lashes to a deserving student or two. It is meant to help the teacher understand the possible consequences of their aggressive (yet nurturing?) actions by referencing some similar court cases.