Overdue: The Final Unshelved Collection

Unshelved #12

by Gene Ambaum, Bill Barnes, Chris Hallbeck

Unshelved entertains tens of thousands of library workers, teachers, and book nerds around the world with tales of what really goes on behind the desk, between the stacks, and in the staff lounge of your local public library. In this, the final collection, you'll find over two years of full-color comic strips including the third Unshelved graphic novella, Lights Out.

Genres: Humor, Graphic Novels, Comics, Books About Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

I write Unshelved with Bill Barnes. I've worked as a paper boy, auto mechanic, courier, English teacher, operations manager, teen services librarian, and staff development coordinator. I enjoy a wide range of graphic novels and am currently obsessed with the work of Lewis Trondheim, Emmanuel Guibert, Hope Larson, and Kazu Kibuishi. My favorite book without words is Owly The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton. My favorite book without pictures is Ursula LeGuin's A Wizard of Earthsea.

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series found its groove early on and stuck with it right to the very end: static, one-note employees of a public library complain about the static, one-note, weird people who come to read the books and use the other services the library provides.

Fittingly, the creators choose to leave everyone in this state of limbo instead of blowing everything up in some uncharacteristically dynamic series finale.

FYI: Co-writer Gene Abaum may have left Mallville Public Library behind, but he has a new strip about life in a library with the on-the-nose title of Library Comic.


FOR REFEFENCE:

Reprinting Unshelved comic strips originally published on the Unshelved website from September 29, 2014, to November 11, 2016, and Conference Tips originally published in ALA Cognotes newspapers in January 2015, June 2015, January 2016, June 2016, and January 2017.

[Rift Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a kickstarter I helped finance... I got a signed copy! :) Unshelved was a free web comic for 15 years and this is their last book, sadly. A great book -- I laughed! And I love Tamera the vegan, children's librarian.

Here are some of my favorites:
Irresponsible
Hold Your Horses
Read a book (not your phone)
Books as gifts

[Jessa Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so sad it's over, but I'm glad they didn't continue with the new illustrator. He's ok, but I much preferred the original looks.

[CatholicBibliophagist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read this web comic for years. Anyone who loves libraries and/or has worked in them would love this series -- both for the recognition factor and the zany characters and situations. I'm sorry this comic has come to an end, though you can still reread old strips online and the books are still available.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome finale!!! I'm going to miss you guys. Best of luck in your future and ongoing work!

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The daily interaction of the staff and customers of the small suburban Mallville Public Library are recorded in only slightly exaggerated form in this final collection of the online comic strip “Unshelved.” For example: displays for Banned Books Week (often seen in real libraries) is joined by a lineup of customers beneath the sign “CELEBRATE BANNED PATRONS WEEK,” each one holding an individual placard before them reading respectively, “internet time limit abuser, Ranter/shrieker, Book thief, Rude. Just really, really rude,” and “Cord chewer” (something not seen in actual libraries). But also included are real stories from the field, e.g. a boy ask the children’s librarian, “Is my nose bleeding?” When she answers no, he pokes at it until it is, and then asks, “How about now?” to which she answers yes, and he responds, “Cool!” Also included is the “graphic novella” Lights Out depicting how to keep a modern library functioning during a power outage and there are many additional tips for library conference goers. While it’s sad to see this strip come to an end it is encouraging that Ambaum and Hallbeck are creating a new strip, “Library Comic.”

[Rex Libris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alas, this volume contains the final strips of the Unshelved web comic. It was a great run while it lasted.

Some of my favorites in this volume are:

Dewey has a program where the kids make lip gloss.

The utter failure of Mel's fine forgiveness program (but then, everything she does fails).

Tamara the children's librarian not wanting to hurt the feelings of the books.

The introduction of 3-D printing into the library. (Now there is the most over-rated phenomenon in libraries. Libraries pretending they are cutting edge because people can print out toys!).

The Grammar police and the Like, Books! poster.

[Evan Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The end of Unshelved," and I'll miss it; was part of my daily routine for years. Quirky, rascally library/service humor w fun characters. 'Overdue' is a transitional volume, with Hallbeck coming onboard as artist (I love how he draws hands) and Barnes bidding adieu. Ambaum & Hallbeck have a new http://LibraryComic.com strip, but it can't replace Unshelved.

[Lewis Szymanski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and amusing, but not great. Better than syndicated comics in newspapers. Someone who has worked in a public library would probably appreciate this more. There is nothing in this collection as good as their internet-famous "Reading Level" comic.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect ending to the series.

[Bookkitten (collector of nice things) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Yes, I know, I know, I spoilered myself....)

It´s really a shame that this is the last volume.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all these books. Perfect grasp of patrons and the library world that is transferable to any kind of library

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sad to see this classic library series come to an end. Many thanks Gene and Bill for 15 years of laughter at patrons' expense.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved this series. They actually portray life in a public library!

[Barnaby Haszard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Garfield, but with librarians. Two very generous stars.

[Karrie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great ending to a fun collection of comics.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of comic strips that take place in a public library. Humorous comic with quirky characters.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy send-off for the gang at the Mallville Library.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last hurrah from Unshelved, comic strips about life in the library trenches.

It's perfect for librarians and those who frequent libraries. You'll find yourself in some of the crazy situations Ambaum draws for his readers.

[GoBeIt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and fun- if you're considering this, you know precisely what you're getting into, and it meets expectations very nicely. Plus, my copy was personalized by Gene Ambaum with a library pun, so it gets an extra star.