Jessy Randall's Blog

Aptos, California has a Doggie Stick Library!

Thanks, Bill Stoesen!

The Los Angeles Public Library finds many parallels between the work on Severance and the work in library cataloging. I agree with the commenters who think these folks deserve a waffle party.

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A post shared by Los Angeles Public Library (@lapubliclibrary)

The Columbus Metropolitan Library in Ohio has been perpetrating all kinds of good shenanigans lately.

For April Fool’s Day, they made a video about laminating every page of their beach reads: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15CcBjt63z/

And here’s a video about “Duckling Day” https://www.facebook.com/reel/1387026352437158

Lots more at https://www.facebook.com/columbuslibrary

Script by Gen Z, delivery by Gregg. Prince William Public Libraries, Virginia.

Thanks, Suzie DeGrasse!

Jonathan Caws-Elwitt has been a great friend to Library Shenanigans over the years, and continues his awesomeness with this little shenanigan from ca. 1995.

“Way back when, as a public library inaugurated their first automated circulation system and Hilary Caws-Elwitt was responsible for training her co-workers, she wrote up some beautifully onomatopoetic instructions! Note that “no sound effect” is the exceptional case. Bonus points for any library-IT-history nerds who can identify the specific software merely from the sound effects described. I’m assuming it’s Brodart, but we’re gonna need a version number before any prizes are awarded. (Caveat: I don’t know the answer, though HC-E might. Or perhaps these specific sound effects were important Brodart trademarks that carried over from each version to the next?)”

Andy Crocker’s multi-library “Bureau of Nooks an Crannies” is pretty great.

https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2024-08-07/bureau-of-nooks-and-crannies-los-angeles-public-library

Thanks, Wendy Lovell and Jonathan Caws-Elwitt!

The Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library in Blissfield, Michigan made a video showing their priorities if the library is on fire.

@schultzholmes

If the library was on fire, we have our priorities. #library #librarytok #summerreading

♬ оригинальный звук – 𝟘𝟟𝟟

August 2023: The St. Thomas Public Library in Ontario, Canada has an exhibition of books by people named Ken.

Presumably, Kenneth Grahame, Ken Kesey, Kenneth Koch, Kenneth Patchen, and Kenneth Rexroth are just out of view.

Thanks, Ilana Armzallag!

The Bay County Library System in Michigan is tearing it up on tiktok with hilarious library shenanigans such as

@baycountylibrarysystem

Wait, is this not standard practice? Brightyn slays in the stacks @Cincy Library #librarytiktok #fyp #library

♬ original sound – Cincy Library

@baycountylibrarysystem

#duet with @Troy Public Library #Duet Easy enough for us to do!! Libraries are a hot trend – come visit us! #library #librarytiktok #michiganlibraries

♬ original sound – St Charles City-County Library

The New York Public Library is offering some fantastic deals for Black Friday!