July 27, 2009

It's got a red cover … You know the one I mean

by

For anyone who has ever worked in a bookstore or library, this one — as described in a story from the Norwood, MA Daily News – is for you:

Librarian: Good morning. Reference. How may I help you?

Caller: Hi. Is this Reference?

Librarian: Yes, sir. You have reached the Reference Desk. How may I help you?

Caller: Gee, I hope you can help me.

Librarian: I will certainly try. Tell me what you are looking for.

Caller: Well, I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but my wife told me to call.

Librarian: Great! What did your wife want

Caller: She said you’d know what that new book is by that lady mystery writer. You know, the one everybody is reading.

Librarian: Oh, that one. Good. Ah. Would you have any idea the name of the author?

Caller: No. Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute. The lady’s name is…oh, I can’t read her writing. It’s impossible. Um…My wife said the cover of the book is a really neat picture.

Librarian: Good! Good! Good! We are narrowing this down. Why don’t I take your name and phone number and do some searching, and then I’ll call you back with some possibilities?

Another patron approaches the desk and mouths, “Can I borrow a pencil?†I nod my head yes, and mouth, “Please return it when you’re done.†Patron nods and mouths, “But of course.â€

Caller: Gee, that would be terrific. But my wife went to the Cape for a girls’ weekend. You know how that is. I don’t know when I’ll be able to catch her.

Librarian: Look, I’ll put together a list of names and titles for you, and you can check with her which author it is.

Caller: You’d do that

Librarian: I’d do that. What’s your name and phone number?

As the caller is relaying his contact information another patron comes up to the desk and asks, “Is there a bathroom on this floor?

Librarian says: “Right around the corner.â€

Caller yells into the phone: Hey, hey, that’s it! That’s the name of the book! Wow! Wow! Wow! How did you figure it out?

Right Around the Corner by Steven G. Traylor (2004), is a work of inspirational self-help fiction.

Valerie Merians is the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.

  • http://angie-ledbetter.blogspot.com/ Angie

    I heart librarians & bookstore clerks.

  • http://angie-ledbetter.blogspot.com/ Angie

    I heart librarians & bookstore clerks.

  • http://samuelamato.tumblr.com Samuel Amato

    Dispatches From a Public Librarian over on McSweeney’s is similar to this, maybe a bit funnier (can be pretty unfunny, though).

  • http://samuelamato.tumblr.com Samuel Amato

    Dispatches From a Public Librarian over on McSweeney’s is similar to this, maybe a bit funnier (can be pretty unfunny, though).

  • http://www.mwittle.wordpress.com Michelle Wittle

    I worked in a bookstore for about ten years and I can’t even tell you how many times people asked me for the book with the blue cover and they would add it was on a talk show…normally I would be able to find it but sometimes it was just sitting right there as if divine intervention (most likely a lazy customer just putting a book down where ever).

  • http://www.mwittle.wordpress.com Michelle Wittle

    I worked in a bookstore for about ten years and I can’t even tell you how many times people asked me for the book with the blue cover and they would add it was on a talk show…normally I would be able to find it but sometimes it was just sitting right there as if divine intervention (most likely a lazy customer just putting a book down where ever).

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