"Ask Me What I'm Reading!"

[zenithblue]

The library I work for recently printed a bunch of little tags that say "Ask Me What I'm Reading!" You can then print an image of the book you want to talk about in the space beneath, and pin it to your nametag. They're very excited about this as a way to foster conversation and find new opportunities to provide a reader's advisory.

On Friday I had a conversation with one of the young hip youth services people about why I hated, loathed, and scorned this idea. Okay, to be fair, it was less a conversation than a diatribe on my part. But it was still sort of an interesting exchange.

Zenithblue: It just opens a can of worms that's not really practical to open while at a public desk. I mean, what if I'm reading something sexually charged or violent or philosophically challenging or religious in nature?

Youth Services Babe: (giving me a sort of are-you-stupid look) But...you don't have to put what you're actually reading on the tag. I mean, I have The Memory Keeper's Daughter just because it's a good recommendation, not because I'm reading it right now.

ZB: Well, I know, but I think having a conversation about books at a public desk, as a clerk, is kind of a bad idea. Any books. I mean, we're not supposed to "see" what other people are checking out, we're not supposed to comment on someone's choice of books, but suddenly we're inviting them to invade our intellectual space and reveal something about ourselves? Don't get me wrong, I love talking about books. I love it. But I'm there trying to take care of their accounts and handle their fines and how much are they going to trust me to do my appointed government-official work if I tell them one of my favorite books is about a love affair between a thirteen-year-old girl and her stepfather? I mean, Portland is pretty permissive, but there are lots of people here nonetheless who'd flip out.

YSB: Well sure, but you just try to pick something fairly safe.

ZB: ...and that's my main problem, the idea that there are "safe" books. All books should be safe. All books should be dangerous. I have no interest in a guarded and euphemistic thirty second conversation with someone about a book.

YSB: You're awfully passionate for someone who works in a bureaucracy.

The whole conversation was fueled by my early Barnes and Noble trauma, the summer I worked at the really lousy Anchorage location. The idea that we were supposed to speak glowingly and excitedly about the one book they were trying to push, even though we hadn't read it: I refused and ground in my heels. This feels like the opposite of that, a move towards a self-censoring conversation about a book I possibly feel passionate about (or else a half-hearted suggestion about a book I found mediocre). Anyone who's read more than one of my posts knows I love talking about and recommending books. I've recommended plenty of books even in my capacity as a library clerk, but only after I get a feel for where the patron is coming from and what they're interested in. I'm not going to put out a generalized, democratized, bland, middle-of-the-road and wholly unoffensive book on my chest for anyone to ask about. I won't have that hanging by my heart.

Comments

[somethinghead.livejournal.com]

Just put Carlton Mellick III books on your nametag. I think after the first grandmother you discuss Baby Jesus Butt Plug or Razor Wire Pubic Hair with, people will start to figure out that it's not such a good idea.

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

Amusingly enough, our library system actually owns both those titles.

That's the thing: we're all about intellectual freedom and non-censorship, but it's generally given that talking about some of those titles is a bad idea. It's like a swinging log trap.

[punkybrister69.livejournal.com]

I am now thoroughly intrigued.
Is it advisable to actually read Mellick? I've never partaken.

[somethinghead.livejournal.com]

I haven't actually read anything, some people like him. I was looking for a copy of Satan Burger which I hear is a good place to start with him, but I couldn't find it in stock anywhere near me.

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

One of the Borders I worked out had "Just finished reading/listening/watching" name tags that we could write titles in. I actually liked those, because it started a lot of conversations. I agree that books should be "safe," and I think in bookstores you can almost get away with more of that than a library. I think I'd hate working in a library, as opposed to a bookstore, because (if this makes sense) in a library the books almost seem more commodified than in the store. In a story, having conversations with the staff is part of the experience being sold, but in a library (at least, in the Madison Public Library) that's unheard of. They really design the space so that it's not conducive to hang out, browse, and discuss books- you make your requests online, you pick them up from the request shelf (they recently made this so that you pick out your own requests on the shelf now, instead of them getting them for you), you can even self-checkout, as though at no point in the interaction did another human being become involved.

Maybe it's my bookstore upbringing (I only worked at five of them), but it feels all wrong to me.

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

*In a STORE, not a STORY. Oops.

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting perspective (re: the more commodified library)...my experience has been the opposite. The library is designed as a communal experience, but because it's communal it pulls in an even more diverse population than a bookstore does. And because we're a government agency, we walk a funny line between viciously defending intellectual freedom and also presenting a safe and innocuous setting for all kinds of people. Multnomah County's pretty progressive, so by and large this isn't too hard, but the idea of having what could be a controversial opinionated conversation while at the same time being the person who collects money and handles accounts...well, it seems like it could be a mess waiting to happen.

Incidentally, the whole "online holds/self pickup" thing a lot of libraries are doing is a direct result of amazon.com culture. We do that too, and we the clerks hate it as much as you do. But given that 1) online holds are in high demand and 2) the volume of holds we process has increased about 400% since we offered the ability to place online holds, the subsequent 3) hands-on holds is a necessary step. I hate it that we're no longer a browsing library, but this is what most patrons seem to be demanding.

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

I totally get all of your frustrations, and I definitely see your point in terms of a government agency versus a retail experience. I love browsing, and think of bookstores as places to spend a lot of time in, rather than an in-and-out experience. Maybe this stems from a sense of ownership over that kind of space because I've worked in so many of them...

But I can see how those things I dislike about libraries come from the demands of the user community. I've really come to think of the library as a drive-through-fast-food experience, while the bookstore is the sit-down deal. I'm sure that makes sense, because in one I'm spending money and the other I'm not, and I do use the library to "test drive" a lot of material.

At the same time, I feel like the bookstores, because they have a more obvious stake in patron usage, are really pushing the culture of reading. Our public library, for example, doesn't really seem to be big on displays, or book clubs, kids' story hour, or author readings- the local Borders does all of that.

Plus there's an entirely different angle to our library, because it's where Madison's homeless hang out all day. All the areas where library patrons would normally hang out are the living rooms and parking lots of Madison's destitute. This contributes even more to the in-and-out experience, because most patrons don't want to browse near, or expose their kids to the "guys who smell like pee."

Still, I love the library. I try to do my part by regularly owing a few dollars in fines, which I call my "library tax." True book lovers, I feel, exploit local stores, big chains, Amazon, libraries, and book sales equally. At least, that's the model I try to strive for.

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

Re the more obvious stake in patron usage...

In the *ideal* of a library, we're very philosophically invested in patron usage. I'm lucky enough to work for a particularly well-funded library, and we have the luxury of being able to live our ideals to a certain degree. We of course don't have the monetary incentive, but there are a lot of people who go into library work because they have the ethical incentive. But the sad truth is we don't live in an ideal world, and I think a lot of the time public libraries don't get what they need in order to really up the stakes.

But yeah, we do tons of programs in our libraries, which is cool. I'd hate to see a library move away from being thought of as a community-builder, which sounds like where your unfortunate system is at right now. Which is really too bad. Bah.

(You are one of the lj-friends I have the most "back and forth" with and I love that about you. I hope you don't just think I'm argumentative--okay, well, I *am*, but not in a bad way?)

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

I've never gotten an argumentative sense from you at all - I defintely appreciate good "back and forth!"

It's funny, because when I said "obvious stake in patron usage," I was aware that in reality that's not the case, because the libraries rely on funds generated by petitioning the city or state based on how much usage they get. So of course there's a big stake in maintaining relevance, so I imagine that's why they make some of those choices to compete - you can generate more use in many ways with a "drive-through" experience than you can with a browsing experience, because the browsers go to the bookstores, becaue they're shelling out cash for something and want it to be good.

And yet because it's cash-driven, the bookstores have the marketing thing down, and the libraries often don't, or so it seems from the patron perspective. Maybe that's a spillover form the fact that it IS a governmental body?

I love that this conversation is taking place between two booklovers with joint bookstore experience, but one as a library clerk and the other as a patron!

[decemberthirty.livejournal.com]

Wow, did she actually say that last line? Because that's the point at which I would have been unable to resist the temptation to yell, "That's why I'm getting out! WA HA HA HA!"

I can think of few things that I would find more frustrating and personally oppressive than having to pretend to be reading some "appropriate" book, and then having watered-down conversations about why I like it so much. If you can't do it in a way that allows/encourages people to actually engage with books and with each other, then it shouldn't be done at all.

Besides, wearing a picture of a book on your chest only provides more encouragement for people to look at your tits.

[te-amo-azul.livejournal.com]

however, telling them the truth about what you're reading might just encourage them to actually engage with you as a real human being. and if it's a really lucky day, they might even be encouraged to question their own repression.

and hey, zenithblue, you're a short-timer!

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

It's true, I did realize as soon as I walked away from this post that I should think of it as a intellectual freedom experiment. Let's find out what happens when I put Lolita or something similar on my tag.

I think part of my knee-jerk dislike of the thing comes on the heels of a whole string of Lost Girls conversations I've had with coworkers in the past month, conversations which just seem to reveal a lot of the quiet hypocrisy of carrying books we're not comfortable talking about or alluding to in a measured way.

Admittedly, I've had more positive interactions with patrons over books than negative ones (I certainly don't avoid talking books when it feels appropriate). I just don't want to put my beloved totems out and subject them to "book-club-itis," where we only talk about the really easy and superficial parts of them.

Still, the tag as a form of deliberate mischief might be something I can get behind.

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

...laughing my ass off at that...

All my library posts seem to end with tits one way or another. I wonder if this is something I should be concerned about. Heh.

[decemberthirty.livejournal.com]

No need to be concerned; embrace the tits!

(Take that as literally or figuratively as you choose.)

[musashi270.livejournal.com]

Go for the deliberate mischief and tits!

[johnnybrainwash.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen these tags yet. I wonder if everyone knows better than to show them to me.

I foresee mayhem.

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

See, you're quicker than me. I had to yell about it a few days before realizing the mischief-potential. Now I'm getting a little excited.

And actually, our respective reactions probably are fairly good measures of our respective personalities.

[kiwikat.livejournal.com]

i would feel exactly the same way.

[punkybrister69.livejournal.com]

I agree wholeheartedly with your position. Years and years ago when I applied for a position at the Riverside library (that I didn't end up getting), the thing they really kept stressing to me was that I could not, must not ever Ever EVER recommend a book to anybody. Then again, this is a conservative county, so maybe it had something to do with that.

Alternately, though, I nerdily would wear a "What I'm Reading" tag in my civvies just to scare the straights.
(And why I lapsed into 70s era dialect there, I can't say.)

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

I've always liked "freak the mundanes" myself. Speaking of which, did you hear about the kids who got arrested in Minnesota for having a "zombie party? (http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_206080042.html)

It's not exactly breaking zombie news since it happened last summer, but yeah. Zombie parties. The second greatest threat to these United States of America, right after the Mooninites.

[infloresence.livejournal.com]

You're awfully passionate for someone who works in a bureaucracy.

Um, has she met many people in bureaucratic positions? Half of them are arts majors who wish they had other jobs. Of course they're passionate!!

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

She works in the administration building, so she doesn't get out much. They're all cowed into complacence there from 40 hours of fluorescent lighting and no windows.

[helpimarock.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is a bad idea. If an employee is 100% honest, it's in the direction of wearing your political party affiliation on your sleeve. However, if they're not honest and just pick some "safe" book, then it really defeats the purpose b/c it creates nothing more than a fake conversation between the patron and employee.

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

I realized, too, that I used to be sort of cheerfully, sneakily subversive about stuff like this...like I'd find something kind of edgy that I loved (like Lolita or Bad Behavior or the like) and try to see how many people I could recommend it to. I think I'm just burnt out, when even the possibility of annoying my supervisors with vaguely inappropriate books fails to appeal to me.

Good thing I'm only there about five more months. Whoo!

[choogy.livejournal.com]

i completely agree with you. aside from the ethical dilemma, it's weird to me to invite conversation of a personal type for workerbees. like, who wants to be stuck behind the guy that's chatting you up while you give him your heartfelt review of the book you're reading? but also, think about all of the skeevy dudes that could use it as an opportunity to just talk to you. why not wear a button that says HIT ON ME or ASK ME WHERE I LIVE? i mean, just on a personal level how do you draw the line between what is appropriate sharing and what isn't if conversation is mandated by the people you work for? this is definitely something you should be writing about and sending to harper's! ;)

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

That's so true. I once fought an epic battle with a district manager in a shitty retail job who was going to force us all to wear nametags. This was a store located downtown (i.e. lots of random weirdos) and 90% of the employees were twenty something women who were pretty cute. He couldn't understand why we wouldn't want our names on our tits for all the world to harrass us with. Sure enough, within a week of his policy (which I ignored) three girls had repeat stalkers.

My supervisor kept scheduling me on days when the district manager wasn't there, because I'd follow the DM around giving him a running piece of my mind, and my super didn't want me fired. Eventually I was laid off anyway.

That was a longer story than it had to be. Heh, Harpers. I'll keep reaching for that rainbow.

[scarredbyitall.livejournal.com]

I can imagine the line of people shifting impatiently as they wait for their turn to have items checked out. A PR nightmare waiting to happen.

Did they base these off of those Dewey comics? That's been a theme in the recent ones.

As far as editing what you're reading (on the sticker, not in your reading life) to avoid a negative conversation, I'd counsel you not to worry about it too much. What you're reading is your choice. I also think it's nobody's business unless you want it to be, which is the big problem with this campaign. If you've put Invisible Monsters on your tag, and someone asks you about it, tell them truthfully that it's a raw read and not everyone's cup of tea. But for plenty of us, it would be our cup of tea. Patrons can hardly complain that the library clerk is reading a book they don't like. I mean they could complain but that would be ludicrous. It might also put a fast stop to this rather stupid campaign. We have a "picks" section at my library and each librarian has a display space for her own picks. I have gotten quite obsessive about mine. Every day I go check. Did someone check out one of my picks? Why hasn't anyone picked this pick yet?! I saw a woman perusing my picks and found myself muttering, "Yes, yes! Pick one! Pick my picks!" And my picks are all super weird. No one has yet complained.

Reader's advisory is a weird thing. I love it but sometimes loathe it too. Now and then feeling of disdain sweeps over me when someone asks for a book recommendation because I know that my idea of a great book and theirs is so different. I find it frustrating because I might be completely in the dark as far as recommending anything. In those cases I try to find something I think the person might like, even if it's a book I'd not touch with a ten foot pole, and I tell them I read very different stuff. It's strange to me because I have always been able to find my own books. It would never occur to me to seek out a stranger to recommend a book to me. I'd just go browse until I found something that appealed. I love book communities and I've been turned on to fabulous books through them, but I don't need anyone to hand me a book.

In conclusion, it seems to me that you certainy shouldn't have to lie about what you're reading. I think it would be a fun rebellious move to put down, "The backs of cereal boxes" or "shampoo bottle ingredients list."

[zenithblue.livejournal.com]

I think the Dewey comics based it off something they're doing in Seattle, and that's where we got it. I'm not sure whose stupid idea it was to begin with.

Yeah, I like talking books to patrons, but I like having some back and forth, and feeling out who they are and what they're about before I offer my opinion.

I like your idea, though, I may steal that.

[lagizma.livejournal.com]

"You're awfully passionate for someone who works in a bureaucracy."

You make a great point about conversations. I *do* have them with my favorite clerks in Rosamond, but not at the bigger city library in Lancaster. I guess I like the small-town "Oh, you are going to San Francisco with these guidebooks? Let me tell you about a great beach walk..." conversations, but only when they are in my small town.

Now, if they wanted comment on political or sexual themes in my books, I'd be firing off complaints to everyone right up to governor Arnie. I guess I have some line about "safe" conversations myself.