computers Archives - Awful Library Books

Computer Programming 1-2-3

October 3, 2022 Holly Bleeding Edge 25 comments

Computer Programming 1,2,3
1983
Grosset & Dunlap

Submitter: Anyone who has worked with children and school assignments will know this story…
A class in the school across the street assigned a project on programming a computer and students flocked in to check out books from the library. There is of course that one student who shows up the day before the assignment is due and there is not much left. Trying to help him out, I found this ye olde computer book on the shelf. Yikes! Not awful in 1983, but not helpful today.

Holly: Oh look! A punch card!

Get Started on Your Oric

May 12, 2021 Holly Bleeding Edge 14 comments

Your Oric
Hartnell and Shaw
1983

Submitter: This gem comes from 1983 and it’s great to know what type of technology this library was using when I was just 3 years old. Unlike the Oric 1 that I am sure was replaced 35 years ago, this book seemed to dodge that fate until today.

Holly: What the heck is an Oric?

(Which is exactly the point…your patrons don’t know or care either!)

A-Diskette A-Daskette

October 7, 2019 Holly Bleeding Edge 24 comments

Hello, Mr. Chips!
Bishop
1982

Submitter: I think this was probably a fantastic middle school book in 1982. What makes it awful now is that my students have never even heard of the terms that make up the punchlines. Also, the illustrations of computers with massive CPUs and pin-feed printers are unrecognizable to our students. My favorite joke requires knowledge of both old pop culture and obsolete technology: “What’s a computer’s favorite Ella Fitzgerald number? A-Diskette, A-Daskette.” I just read it to a group of 8th grade boys and received only blank stares.

Friday Fiction The Computer Ate My Brother

October 12, 2018 Mary Kelly Friday Fiction 18 comments

The Computer Ate My Brother Marney 1985 Direct from the 1980s, we have a rogue computer that evidently eats kids. Of course the computer has a few “issues” and can evidently read your mind. Harry, our protagonist, is irritated by

Neuter Computer

August 31, 2018 Holly Bleeding Edge 6 comments

The Neuter computer: Computers for Girls and Boys Sanders, Stone, and Women’s Action Alliance 1986 Submitter: There are 219 copies in WorldCat for the enjoyment of your readers. This uniquely titled book was found in the Children’s Literature section of

Old School Computer Programming

May 29, 2018 Mary Kelly Bleeding Edge 10 comments

Computer Programming Made Simple Maynard 1972 Aside from the moldy smell of this book, it was actually quite a good book for the time. It was probably used as a text. I found it very readable (unlike most technical materials).

Computers for Everybody

September 21, 2017 Mary Kelly Bleeding Edge 12 comments

Computers for Everybody
Willis and Miller
1981

Computers aren’t just for geeks, they are for everybody. The cover art cracks me up as the giant computer (or maybe tiny people) sits outside as a big jungle gym. This cover art looks way older than 1981 as well. (I am also annoyed by the poor processing. Just how many labels did this library need?)

I was in grad school in the late 80s and a personal computer was just starting to be commonplace in offices. Typewriters and keypunch were still the mainstream Anyone still remember how to use a keypunch?