Getting Back into the Groove

Did anyone else have a hard time getting back in to the routine after the week off?  I had a great spring break, did some reading and cleaned out a closet.  This week, when I should have been working on classwork, I kept falling asleep. That will teach me to get used to sleeping 7 or 8 hours a night!

Week 11 Prompt Response – E-books and Audiobooks

I love to read books in all formats.  I love snuggling up with a good book and a cup of tea on a cold day or sitting on the beach with a book.  I also love listening to audiobooks; I try to never be without one in the car and currently get most of my “reading” done on my 45 minute commute to work.  I also enjoy eBooks and find them indispensable when traveling or sitting in a waiting room somewhere.  Ebooks and audiobooks provide new challenges in readers’ advisory.  Working the circulation desk, I push all formats! 

When a patron requests a particular book and all our print copies are out, but the audiobook is in, I always mention it.  If they are not interested, I don’t push them to get that particular book, but tell them how much I love audiobooks, and encourage the patron to give them a try at some point.  I always start with my drive and how having an audiobook in the car makes me look forward to my commute instead of dreading it, then mention listening while folding laundry or doing dishes. 

Audiobooks provide specific RA challenges. They, like their print versions include Sarick’s elements of appeal, but also include others specific to the audio format such as narration and sound effects.  Pacing and characterization in particular are affected by the narrator. When I listen to an audiobook, the narrator makes a huge difference.  One of the things I loved most about The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd was the fact that the narrator’s voice sounded like a young girl.  I love Susan Erikson’s voicing of the characters in J.D. Robb’s In Death series, and James Marsters’ voicing of Harry Dresden in Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series (although I’ve only listened to two of them so far.)  I really like Robert B. Parker’s Spenser books and have listened to many by several different narrators.  My favorite Spenser narrator by far is Joe Mantegna who voices all the characters fabulously.  I have tried a couple of Spenser novels narrated by different people and, while I still appreciate the story, I never enjoy them quite as much.


I enjoy reading eBooks, but they do read differently than paper copies.  I rely on the amount of pages in my left hand growing while the number in my right hand shrinks to judge the possibilities left for the characters and have felt the pressure to “absolutely finish the book tonight even if it’s 2:00 a.m.” (Dunnebeck, 2011) This affects me much more  with a physical book than the page indicators in an eBook.  While I do not believe that eBooks will completely replace print books, they are definitely here to stay and will continue to grow in popularity.   Portability and storage are major reasons for this.  

I do not have a device that is specifically an e-reader, but can read all kinds of eBooks on my iPad.  One of the things I most enjoy about eBooks is the ability to check them out from anywhere.  When I had to make a flying trip to Chicago because both of my parents were in the hospital, I grabbed some clothes and jumped in the car without thinking about bringing a book.  I spent quite a bit of time in a hospital room just being with my Dad who was not conscious.  Because I had my iPad with me, I went to my library website, checked out a book, and read it without ever having to leave his hospital room.  Wow!  It really helped me pass the time.

I have recently subscribed to BookBub, an awesome service that alerts you to discounted and free eBooks.  I have been building my eBook collection; whenever I get my daily email from BookBub, I use Amazon one-click purchase to send any of the choices that sound interesting to my iPad – especially the free ones!  That way, the next time I’m looking for something to read, I have a selection ready, and I just might discover authors I might not have checked out otherwise. 

References

Dunnebeck, K. (2011). E-books and Readers' Advisory. Reference and User Service's Quarterly, 325-328.

Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers Advisory and Audiobooks. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 318-323.

Venjamuri, D. (2012, December 11). The Wrong War Over eBooks: Publishers Vs. Libraries. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidvinjamuri/2012/12/11/the-wrong-war-over-ebooks-publishers-vs-libraries/

Landscape Genres - Westerns

Blue-eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker

Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch cleaned up the town of Appaloosa once, but when they return some time later, a new corrupt chief of police, Amos Callico, has taken over with 12 deputies.  Cole and Hitch are asked to protect some local merchants who are being harassed for protection money from Chief Callico.  Cole and Hitch are true friends who clean up the town and try to figure out women, with considerable more success at the first than the latter. Along the way, Cole is forced to draw on the spoiled son of an influential landowner, defend himself against a hired killer, and keep a party of angry Chiracahua Indians from destroying the town.  Parker’s spare but elegant prose, flawed characters with a strict code of honor, and witty dialogue, along with the fast-paced action make this book hard to put down.

Elements of Appeal:

Setting - Blue-eyed Devil takes place in the Old West of the late 1800s.  The descriptions are vivid and atmospheric.

Storyline – Classic good vs. evil, but in this case, the law is the evil and Cole and Hitch find themselves in the difficult position of fighting for good without the law on their side. 

   

Mood – This story is fast paced, exciting, gritty and a little melancholy, but hopeful. 

Characterization – The main characters, Virgil and Everett, are witty and intelligent with a strong code of ethics that doesn’t always line up with the law.  Virgil loves Allie even though he doesn’t always understand her.  There are cleanly defined good guys and bad guys and a couple who might go either way.

Style/language – The language is spare, but elegant.  Virgil Cole is quiet man who speaks little.  He reads and has a larger vocabulary than he knows how to use.  Everett Hitch is a West Point graduate.  The dialogue is sharp.  Everett and Virgil have a great understanding of each other and communicate easily with a few words and a nod of the head.

Point of view – Everett tells the story in first person. 

 

My opinion:  I chose Blue-eyed Devil as my western because I am a huge fan of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series.  The friendship between Cole and Hitch is much like that between Spenser and Hawk.  Cole, who is not the narrator, but is in truth the main character, has as strong a moral code as Spenser. The dialogue is also sharp and witty, so I enjoyed this very much.  I am not usually a fan of Westerns, but I think I will pick up the other books in this series to spend more time with Hitch and Cole.

If you liked Blue-eyed Devil, you might also like:

Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker

This is the book that introduced Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch.  It has been made into a movie of the same name.

Brimstone by Robert B. Parker

Cole and Hitch track down Cole’s sweetheart, Allie and the three head to Brimstone to start over.  Cole and Hitch have a reputation and hire on as lawmen in the town.  When trouble arises, the two struggle to keep peace.  

The Book of Murdock by Loren D. Estleman

Page Murdock is and honest lawman going undercover as a priest to catch a gang of bandits.  This story of the Old West is also fast-paced, melancholy, and atmospheric with rich dialogue.

The High Rocks by Loren D. Estleman

The High Rocks, another fast-paced Page Murdock tale, also features flawed characters, rich dialogue, and a melancholy, atmospheric tone.

The Big Gundown by Bill Brooks

Doctor Jake Horn is a fugitive from the law for a murder he didn’t commit.  He finds refuge as a lawman in a small town in the Old West where he also serves as doctor and coroner.  

Potshot by Robert b. Parker

Robert B. Parker’s tough guy protagonist, Spenser and his faithful companion Hawk team up with a mix of old friends from both sides of the law to protect Potshot, a small town in Arizona from local thug “The Preacher” and his gang of bad guys.  While not set in the Old West, this book has the friendships, values, and sharp dialogue found in Blue-eyed Devil, and a plot-line very similar to many Western novels.

Landscape Genres - Urban Fantasy

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Harry Dresden is a wizard, working out of an office in Chicago, maybe the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country.  His major source of income is consulting for the Special Investigations department of the Chicago Police Department, who investigate any crimes dubbed “unusual”.  The new millennium has brought about a renewal in awareness of the paranormal.  No one in the police department wants to admit it, but supernatural crimes happen.  Solving crimes involving witches, vampires, and demons is dangerous and very often misunderstood.  Harry is a modern wizard with old-fashioned values, and a strict code of honor which causes him some trouble.  He tries to protect the police officer he consults for, but she feels she can take care of herself.  This story is populated with interesting characters, both human and nonhuman.  From the first gruesome crime scene to the ultimate showdown, Storm Front is a wild ride.  Harry will make you laugh, groan, sweat, and sometimes roll your eyes, so buckle up and get ready to be entertained. 

      

Elements of Appeal:

Setting – Harry’s world is not a different place, but rather a different version of the world we know.  Storm Front takes place in Chicago in the present, but the paranormal elements that have always existed, have become more open – vampires run escort services, drugs can help you see the paranormal world, and magic can stop your heart.  The world building is very convincing in its subtlety. 

Story line – Harry is trying very hard to help good triumph over evil, but is conflicted by his worry that something within him is not good.  Good wars against evil in this tale and good triumphs, but not without extreme effort and sacrifice. 

Mood – fast paced, dark, and gritty, but Harry adds his own brand of humor.

Characterization – Harry is definitely battling for good, but sometimes that struggle is internal.  He is not a Knight in shining armor.  He battles evil in human and supernatural form.  John Marcone is a gangster with a merciless soul, but he is at least mortal.  Harry also must overcome acid spitting demons and supernatural scorpions that grow to giant size. 

Style/language – Storm Front is urban fantasy; its language is conversational prose with some jargon, not the more elegant and stylized language of classic fantasy. 

Point of view – Harry tells this story in first person point of view.  We know only what Harry knows, but as he tells the story, he sometimes refers to things he should have seen coming or found out later.

My opinion:  I really enjoyed Storm Front and have since read Fool Moon, which I enjoyed even more.  Storm Front started off a little slow for me, as the author introduced Harry and his world. It took me a few chapters to figure out where it was going. Once the action started, it was non-stop! As I got to know Harry, I discovered he is a complex and likable character.  He's not great at relationships, but always tries to do the right thing, even when no one else understands.   

If you liked Storm Front, you might also like:

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

This second in the Dresden Files series will not disappoint Harry Dresden fans.  Many of the colorful characters from Storm Front are back including Karrin Murphy, Susan Rodriguez, and Bob, the spirit residing in a skull in Harry’s basement who assists him with potions and knowledge.  

 Box Office Poison by Phillipa Bornikova

The tone of the urban fiction novel is not as gritty as Storm Front, but it also features an irreverent protagonist dealing with supernatural villains and solving crimes.

Moon over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

This story is also a first person POV urban fantasy.  Peter Grant, the protagonist is a London Constable and apprentice sorcerer solving a crime too bizarre to have been committed by a mere mortal in a strong urban setting and dealing with police procedure.

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

This is also a Peter Grant tale

Hot Lead, Cold Iron by Ari Marmell

Mick Oberon, private detective in 1930s Chicago and former fae prince, is hired to track down a missing person who was replaced 16 years ago by a changeling.  Mick, like Harry goes after supernatural bad guys in Chicago, while maintaining a sense of humor.

My First Book Club

           My library has a book club on the third Monday of each month.  Since my department organizes the book club, it is moderated by a retired employee who comes back to lead the book club, and I had never been to a meeting; I decided this was the perfect opportunity for me to attend.  I was feeling bad about not doing this sooner, but since my drive to work is about 45 minutes, I leave the house just after 8:00 and don’t get home until 7:00, I guard my time away from work – plus I have to do my classwork sometime!  I discovered the book title just two days before the meeting – entirely the fault of the Alien Space Bats – so was unable to read it ahead.   The members were gracious and let me come anyway.

We met in one of the library’s meeting rooms with cookies and coffee to discuss the book chosen for this month’s meeting, The Lion by Nelson DeMille.  Mary Ann, the moderator passed out a list of discussion questions from LitLovers. (LitLovers, 2015)  This list included questions about the motivations and likability of the characters, their training and skills, strengths and weaknesses, and the believability of certain situations. Mary Ann began the discussion by reading a little bit of background information on the author.  Nelson DeMille was born in 1943 in New York and lives in Long Island.  Mr. DeMille began writing in the mid 1970’s using several pen names – Jack Cannon, Kurt Laudner, and Ellen Kay; knowing he would want to write better novels under his own name someday.  DeMille, a former First Lieutenant in the army saw action in Viet Nam, is a member of American Mensa, has 3 honorary doctorates, and writes in a “compulsively readable style.” (LitLovers, 2015) 

Some of his works include:  By the Rivers of Babylon, Word of Honor, Charm School, Gold Coast, Up Country, and The General’s Daughter.  Word of Honor and The General’s Daughter are now major motion pictures and several others are in the works.  The Lion is the fifth of seven books featuring protagonist, John Corey.  As the discussion began, Mary Ann mentioned that the question sheet was just for suggestions and wasn’t written in stone.  The participants began to discuss the book.  The topics of conversation began with discussion about the main characters – Corey, and Khalil, the antagonist.  Members of the group mentioned that they loved the sense of humor present in the book, that it offset the terrorist violence, and that they liked DeMille’s conversational style of writing. 

They discussed various happenings in the story that surprised them, plot twists they didn’t see coming and some that they did.  I did not see anyone refer to the sheet of questions – they didn’t seem to need them.  As the discussion moved through the book, someone mentioned a parallel to current events, which led to discussion of world politics.  Many felt the book could be taken right out of the headlines.  We moved on to other topics, including the book Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand which has recently been made into a movie.   As I had read and loved Unbroken, I was able to contribute to the discussion and felt like part of the group. 

Towards the end of the scheduled time, Mary Ann passed out the book for the next month’s book club.  The club will be reading Home Again: Essays and Memoirs from Indiana.  I don’t think I will make it next month, but in April, they will read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  This is the One Book One Michiana selection this year, and I have read it, so I think I will try to make it then and see how different the experience is with a book I’ve actually read!

Since EPL is participating in One Book One Michiana, and kicking our month celebration with a circus at the library, I mentioned that to the club.  At our circus we’re having balloons, popcorn, and games.  We discussed this and all the other fun things we’ll be doing that tie-in with the book, including showing movies, a steampunk make and take craft, make your own mask, a silhouette craft, and lots of children’s activities as well.  These wonderful, creative ladies had all kinds of wonderful thoughts and gave me some great ideas!  One of the ladies even found me at the desk and gave me the name of an acrobat troup that might be willing to come to our circus.

This was my first experience with a book club, and I really enjoyed it.  The book club members were all very welcoming and invited me to come back.  I’m looking forward to meeting with them again.  I’ll have to get The Night Circus and brush up on details before April!  I also discovered LitLovers, which I think will be an excellent resource for Readers’ Advisory as well as future book club experiences.  I might even enjoy leading a book club someday, but I’ll want to participate in many more before that happens. 

               

References

DeMille, N. (2015). Retrieved from Nelson Demille: www.nelsondemille.net

DeMille, N. (2010). The Lion. Grand Central Publishing.

LitLovers. (2015, March). Retrieved from LitLovers: http://www.litlovers.com/

                                               

The Future of Readers' Advisory

            Readers’ advisory has been around since the late 19^th century, becoming prevalent in the 1920s and ‘30s.   In the beginning, “the general goal of early readers' advisory services was the self-improvement of patrons.” (May, 2001)  This was a process involving several meetings between the patron and the librarian and a reading plan designed by the librarian for the moral betterment of the patron.  Reading fiction for pleasure was generally looked down upon.  Readers’ advisory services have come a long way in the intervening years, particularly through the work of Joyce Saricks, Nancy Brown, and Nancy Pearl. 

            Current trends in RA owe much to the groundbreaking work of these individuals.  Identifying elements of appeal have made it universally possible to suggest titles that readers will enjoy based on their reading preferences.  During the last 25 years, Readers’ Advisory services have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and have become patron centered, non-judgmental, and aimed at finding the reader a book that he or she will enjoy.  Library staff should be knowledgeable and courteous, and seek to make a connection between the reader and book.  As the world changes and readers change, libraries grow, continuing to serve their users.   

Where will readers’ advisory services take us in the future?  In coming years, as needs change, readers’ advisory services will change to keep pace with innovations in format, methods, and tools.  Newer formats such as audiobooks and e-books provide opportunities and challenges.  The methods that have served readers’ advisors for many years are being seen in new ways, and opportunities for interaction provided by new technologies are providing new tools.

RA has traditionally been about books, but as library collections have grown to embrace many different formats, readers’ advisory services are growing in scope and technique.  Library staff are no longer called on merely to provide the next best book to read, but now supply readers’ advisory for E-books and audiobooks.  Each format provides its own unique challenges and opportunities. 

The appeal factors of print books also appear in audiobooks, including pacing, setting, characters, mood, and language.  However, audiobooks, by their very nature add the additional factor of audible presentation.  “Narration changes and intensifies every element of a book’s appeal.” (Mediatore, 2003)  Does the narrator differentiate between characters and voices?  Do music and sound effects add to the story?   Does the voice of the narrator match the pacing of the story?  Other considerations include where the listener will be while listening (can the narrator be heard over traffic?), and what sort of media format the listener need or wants. (Trott, 2008) 

E-books allow patrons to check out books and read them without ever having to leave their homes, but they, too provide challenges for RA.  One thing readers may miss when reading an e-book is tracking their progress by the number of pages left to read. That feeling of desperation to finish a book when you have only a few pages left is not felt in an e-book; nor is the surety that a clue is a red herring because there are too many pages left for the crime to be solved yet.  This affects how a reader experiences the pacing of the story. 

The goal of RA is to make sure the reader has the best reading experience possible.  With e-books the level of technological understanding of the reader and the format of the book will play a part in the reading experience.  So, along with suggesting a great story, the Readers’ Advisor must be a technological advisor as well, sometimes helping a patron figure out how to download, access, or return an e-book, which format to choose, or how to retrieve a pin number.

In addition to adapting tried and true methods to new formats, readers’ advisors will be exploring new methods to supplement the current methods.  “The concept of appeal is . . . being changed and adapted by those who helped to create it and by a new group of librarians eager to help develop new thinking about how patrons react to, and interact with, what they read.” (Wyatt, 2007)  Current studies suggest that reading holds appeal for the reader that is not only book-driven, but also reader-driven.  “Based on readers’ views, reader-driven appeal consists of a) curiosity; b) personal situation, needs, and mood at the moment; c) advice of friends or specialists; and d) overall popularity of a title/author/series.” (Dali, 2014)  Maybe a reader wants the latest Oprah book, not because she is interested in its pacing, plot, characters, or setting; but because Oprah or a friend recommended it.  Perhaps the reader wants an introspective book because she’s sad, or maybe just wants something different to expand her reading horizons.  “It can be as simple as diffusing boredom in the sluggish afternoon hour or killing time waiting at the doctor’s office.” (Dali, 2014)

Dali also suggests providing a comfortable, informal space for readers’ advisory interviews to take place, encouraging confidences by the reader which help the readers’ advisor to gain insight into his reasons for reading.  “The more information gained from the reader about his tastes and interests the more complex he becomes; ambition, real love of books, anxiety to keep up with friends, vocational difficulties all play a part in the reasons for coming.” (Dali, 2014)

Some libraries are now arranging fiction in genres to make it easier for patrons to find what they are looking for.  In spite of the fact that genres are listed in the library’s catalog, many users wander aimlessly through the stacks looking for something to read.  When books are arranged in genres it creates a more user-friendly atmosphere and encourages browsing. A side benefit to dividing the fiction collection into genres, is that is allows statistics to be kept that can be used in collection development. 

 While this is helpful for readers who like a particular genre, the blurring of genre lines can make for tough choices when selecting the genre in which to place an item. Paranormal romance has exploded in recent years.  Should these books be placed with romance, fantasy, horror?  Keeping up with readers’ interests is complex and challenging, but rewarding.  “The readers’ advisor of the future must have a willingness to venture into these less-known areas of the reading world and to come back not only alive but also with an appreciation for what readers in these areas enjoy.” (Trott, 2008)

New tools will provide additional opportunities for readers’ advisory transactions. Catalogers working together with readers’ advisors can begin to bridge the gap between how readers describe and experience books and how libraries catalog their collections.  “If cataloguers begin to understand the difference between their access points and how readers want to access the collection, they may be able to assist in creating readers’ advisory terms and content to bibliographic records.” (Terulli & Spiteri, 2012) This collaboration is leading the way in creating the next generation of library catalogs. 

Mobile app for virtual visit

“Next generation library catalogs are interactive library catalogs that encourage interaction and contribution by users.” (Terulli & Spiteri, 2012)  In the next generation catalog, users would be able to add tags, ratings and reviews.  Instead of providing information generated exclusively by library professionals, users are invited to add their own content and opinions, creating a “social” library catalog.  This “social” library catalog would provide a space for users to interact with library staff and allow a more intuitive use of the catalog, which in turn makes the interaction easy and enjoyable. 

Next generation catalogs extend relationships of trust between staff and patrons, whether their library visit is physical or virtual, bring patrons together, encourage collaboration, and invite user generated content.  The catalog can become more than just a way to locate library resources; it can be a path to information beyond the walls of the library, available on multiple devices, taking readers’ advisory services to the readers.  In the digital age where most people participate in social networking and some prefer online transactions to face-to-face, interactive catalogs could take readers’ advisory services to readers anywhere. 

            In conclusion, many things are leading to a bright future in readers’ advisory.  From its moralistic beginnings in the early part of the 20^th century to the current trends, readers’ advisory has advanced to become a patron centered, non-judgmental encounter intended to improve the reader’s experience.  Innovators such as Joyce Saricks and Nancy Brown have given us standard elements of appeal: tools for readers’ advisors everywhere to help readers find books to satisfy their appetites for genre fiction.   Librarians, however, never rest in their quest to better serve users. 

Advances in readers’ advisory service will continue.  Books are no longer the only game in town.  Audiobooks and e-books have entered the field, providing challenges and opportunities for growth to which RA has responded.  Studies are discovering new techniques which may augment the tried and true methods, and new tools such as next generation catalogs promise to make readers’ advisory ever more interactive.  Learning from the past, blazing new trails and heading into the future aren’t new things for librarians, it’s just what we do!

References

Dali, K. (2014). From Book Appeal to Reading Appeal: Redefiing the Concept of Appeal in Readers' Advisory. Library Quarterly, 84(1), 22-48.

Dunnebeck, K. (2011). E-books and Readers' Advisory. Reference and User Service's Quarterly, 50(4), 325-328.

May, A. K. (2001). Readers' Advisory Service: Explorations of the Transaction. Readers Advisors Companion, 123-148.

Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers Advisory and Audiobooks. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 42(4), 318-323.

Pecoskie, J. (2014). OPACs, Users, and Readers’ Advisory: Exploring the Implications of User-Generated Content for Readers’ Advisory in Canadian Public Libraries. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 52(4), 431-453.

Sweeney, S. (2013, Summer). Genrefy Your Library: Improve Readers' Advisory and Data-Driven Decision Making. Young Adult Library Services, 41-45.

Terulli, L., & Spiteri, L. F. (2012). Library Catalogues of the Future: A Social Space and Collaborative Tool? Library Trends, 61(1),107-131.

Trott, B. (2008, Winter). Buillding on a Firm Foundation: Readers’ Advisory over the Next Twenty-Five Years. Reference and User Services Quarterly, 48(2), 132-135.

Williamson, T. B. (2011). Materials Matchmaking Articulating Whole Library Advisory. Reference and User Service's Quarterly, 50(3), 230-234.

Wyatt, N. (2007). An RA Big Think. Library Journal, 132(12), 40-43.

Fake Memoirs and Debunked Books

          The recent recant by Alex Malarkey of the events in the book The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven, also prompted a discussion at EPL.  We discussed books that have been recalled by publishers, recanted by authors, or proved to be inaccurate.  What should libraries do with these books? 

          Our decision was to leave the decision up to the individual selectors, who use our collection development policy to make decisions.  This is a case where having a good selection development policy is very important.  Criteria for selecting materials to add (or keep) in our collection include reputation of publisher and author, accuracy of information, including a diversity of perspectives, and demand by library users. 

          In the case of The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven, although the reputation of the author and the accuracy of the information have been questioned, we felt that the controversy over the book might cause demand.  I believe the selector decided that the book would be left in the collection until it was no longer circulating and then weeded. I did note the irony of the author's name.  I remember my Mom telling me more than once that I was full of malarkey!

          In the case of James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces, the publisher actually reissued the book with a disclaimer.  Our copy, however, does not include the disclaimer.   It will most likely stay on the shelf as it still circulates.  The Jefferson Lies by David Barton has been pulled by its publisher, Thomas Nelson because several of the claims have been proved to be false, and Charles Pellegrino’s The Last Train from Hiroshima has been pulled by Henry Holt and Company because of fraudulent sources.

          Several alternatives for what to do with these books were discussed.  Should we add our own disclaimer at in the front of the book?  We decided against this as it was felt we should not change a book.  Should we purchase the publisher’s version with the disclaimer?  This wasn’t felt to be a good use of library funds for a book that is no longer a bestseller, and is widely known to be fabricated. Also, most of the books were just pulled by the publisher, not reissued with disclaimers.  We even discussed making a “backroom” (or bathroom) collection of books that have been debunked!  In the end, I guess they’ll have their fifteen minutes of fame and then be weeded because they don’t have what it takes to remain in the collection.