I Work At A Public Library by Gina Sheridan Book Review

Good Morning Lovelies!

I’m continuing to make up some much needed and owed reviews. So today I’m talking about a January read of mine: I Work at a Public Library by Gina Sheridan.

If you’re sort on time, then check out my Need to Know section for a quick summary of my review!

Straight from the library--the strange and bizarre, ready to be checked out!
From a patron's missing wetsuit to the scent of crab cakes wafting through the stacks, I Work at a Public Library showcases the oddities that have come across Gina Sheridan's circulation desk. Throughout these pages, she catalogs her encounters with local eccentrics as well as the questions that plague her, such as, "What is the standard length of eyebrow hairs?" Whether she's helping someone scan his face onto an online dating site or explaining why the library doesn't have any dragon autobiographies, Sheridan's bizarre tales prove that she's truly seen it all.
Stacked high with hundreds of strange-but-true stories, I Work at a Public Library celebrates librarians and the unforgettable patrons that roam the stacks every day.

Ownership: gift from a friend 🙂
Genre: non-fiction, humor
Publisher: Adams Media 
Published: 2014
Pages: 152
Price: $13.99 (paperback);
Place: Amazon, B & N, Book Depository, GoodReads, IndieBound

My Rating:

To be honest, this review might be a tad shorter than my normal ones. To put it simply, I really enjoyed reading this book. Gina Sheridan brings about a lot of laughs with her stories from her years working in public libraries. As a Library & Information Science graduate student with aims to work in a public library, I couldn’t wait to delve into this short book–and it definitely didn’t disappoint!

I Work at a Public Library is a collection of non-fiction short stories from Gina Sheridan’s experiences or stories she’s heard from other public librarians. The stories are mostly humorous and give a glimpse into the life (and types of questions received) of a public librarian. I loved getting a glimpse into all the crazy situations and reference questions I might encounter in my future. And no worries, this didn’t scare me off from the profession haha. I’ve already had a lot of retail/customer service experience growing up and I am ready for almost anything this profession will through my way. I’m thinking of it as a life-long adventure 😉

Moving back to the actual book, I really enjoyed the chapter layouts (and the inclusion of the Dewey Decimals to make it truly all about libraries!) and how the book kind of came together as a whole. Also, the inclusion of an Index was great too! Most, if not all, of the stories were written in dialogue transcripts which made it super easy to read and follow. The quick topical antidotes gave just enough of each story and made reading quick and enjoyable.

Overall, there wasn’t really anything negative to say about the book. It was mainly a one-time read for me. I might reach for it again as I enter (and hopefully grow) within the profession to see if I end up with any similar stories. However, for right now I’ve enjoyed the story and will keep in on the shelf until I’m next inclined to read it. The only real negative thing I can think of is the subject matter itself. This book is definitely a niche subject matter and will most likely not appeal to the masses. However, if you like libraries, books, or are in need of a quick humors read then I’d suggest picking this one up! I read it in one sitting and I’m so thankful to my friend for gifting it to me 🙂 Also, if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work as a librarian in a public library or if you want an alternative look at the librarian stereotype, then read this! It won’t leave you disappointed and it’s super fast to read 🙂

• I Work at a Public Library is a collection of non-fiction short stories from Gina Sheridan’s experiences or stories she’s heard from other public librarians
• The stories are mostly humorous and give a glimpse into the life (and types of questions received) of a public librarian. Most, if not all, of the stories were written in dialogue transcripts which made it super easy to read and follow.
• I really enjoyed the chapter layouts (and the inclusion of the Dewey Decimals to make it truly all about libraries!) and how the book kind of came together as a whole.
• The only real negative thing I can think of is the subject matter itself. This book is definitely a niche subject matter and will most likely not appeal to the masses.
• 4 Stars! It was mainly a one-time read for me, but I really enjoyed delving into experiences I might encounter in the future as I enter the profession! While a niche subject, I’d still recommend it for anyone who loves books, libraries, and reading! It’s a great peak at life “behind the scenes” or even “on screen” in a public library. 🙂

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you’ve read this book and your thoughts on life as a public librarian! Have a favorite antidote or quote? Let me know! 🙂 

As always, Happy Reading!

*Disclaimer: None of my links on this post or on this blog are affiliate links. If I ever begin to participate in affiliate links, I will let you know. 🙂

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