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Unshelved #8
Large Print
What do you get when you mix adults, teenagers, children, babies, seniors, professionals, parents, teachers, students, homeschoolers, and the homeless? That very funniest of places, your local public library, home of the hugely popular Web comic Unshelved.
127 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Gene Ambaum
18 books29 followersI 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 21, 2025
Boy, don't library patrons say the darndest things?
Always amusing in its gentle and repetitive way.
Despite all the negative things the strips say about working in a library, they remind me how much I enjoyed working at the various ones I've been with over the years. Good times.
FOR REFERENCE:
Reprinting Unshelved comic strips originally published on the Unshelved website from Feburary 16, 2009, to April 26, 2010, and ALA Cognotes newspapers in June 2009 and January 2010.
Always amusing in its gentle and repetitive way.
Despite all the negative things the strips say about working in a library, they remind me how much I enjoyed working at the various ones I've been with over the years. Good times.
FOR REFERENCE:
Reprinting Unshelved comic strips originally published on the Unshelved website from Feburary 16, 2009, to April 26, 2010, and ALA Cognotes newspapers in June 2009 and January 2010.
October 17, 2019
Sometime around 2010 I started reading this comic strip series online. I got to the equivalent of completing book 7 and stopped reading. For reasons I do not recall now. The other month I picked up all but the last book of the series (I mean starting with book 8).
The series is set in a library and follows the activity that occurs in a public library, largely from the point of view of those who work there. It’s humorous, funny, entertaining, but at a mild level. I am quite happy that I read the books I did, but there isn’t much I can say about a comic strip series. Beyond what it is about, which I just did.
Rating: 3.75
October 17 2019
The series is set in a library and follows the activity that occurs in a public library, largely from the point of view of those who work there. It’s humorous, funny, entertaining, but at a mild level. I am quite happy that I read the books I did, but there isn’t much I can say about a comic strip series. Beyond what it is about, which I just did.
Rating: 3.75
October 17 2019
November 7, 2018
I wasn't familiar with the Unshelved comic and wanted to investigate futher, as I have a background in library science. During my skim of this collection, I recognized many common librarian complaints and problems, so it was certainly accurate in bringing those mysterious aspects of a librarian's job to light. But I couldn't get into this. It's definitely best in small doses, but even during those small doses, I was exhausted by the punchy, sarcastic dialogue. All the characters--especially Dewey--are constantly annoyed by each other. I'm not a Dilbert fan, and this is like Dilbert in a library.
May 6, 2023
Unshelved is a comic strip about working in a public library. Sadly, it is no longer being created. But you can buy these books of the strips in date order. You can tell the authors are actual librarians because the humor and scenarios are spot-on! These are a must-read for anyone who works in a public library.
July 1, 2023
I enjoyed this installment, although I’m embarrassed to admit that it took me until 3/4 of the way through to realize that it’s formatted differently from the other books because it’s supposed to be large print 🤦🏻♀️ no movement in the macroplot, but I enjoyed not having any book pitches in the back.
July 30, 2018
Everyone was very bitter in this edition. Not one of my favorites.
January 6, 2020
Pretty funny with a lot of jokes librarians can relate to.
October 3, 2020
A great collection! Sad that this one didn't include more "reader's advisory" comics at the end, though. I really love this series--Dewey's coffee addiction speaks to me on a very deep level, haha.
October 22, 2020
A series of comic strips that take place in a public library. Humorous comic with quirky characters. Such a fun series.
July 3, 2021
Would make a [verb ] mini TV series.
July 16, 2024
I've really enjoyed this series. I wish I could find the last few at my library.
December 4, 2024
I love this series! I swear I was a librarian in a past life 🤣
February 18, 2018
Very funny, but pretty heavy on the snarking. It wore on me a little.
March 21, 2019
As a library employee, this was fabulous and unbelievably hilarious! I'm in love with Dewey's dry take on culture from his circulation desk, and the irony shtick that happens in the little library that could. And Tamara is such a sweetheart, such a delight (if a little bit of a strawman, but hey, that's comic strip writing for you).
I just wish I could figure out how Dewey's hair is supposed to work...
I just wish I could figure out how Dewey's hair is supposed to work...
May 19, 2013
Everything in this comic is eerily familiar: it tells the daily life of the staff from a dysfunctional library. Large Print is the eighth yearly compilation of Unshelved, a daily online comic strip originally published on the Unshelved website.
This volume is noticeably more hillarious than the previous one. Everyone will laugh at the funny and often absurd situations happening in the Mallville public library. I am probably laughing even harder because I recognize myself a lot in there, since I experienced first-hand many of those situations. It's written by a real-life librarian and it shows. Of course, the art is a little crude and cartoony, but —as I often say— it's the story that counts.
This volume has something new: it has a few comments from the writers underneath the strips. It's interesting to read and I would have liked to have more of those. Also, this time the book is in a smaller format and in b&w only. Unfortunately, the color “Book Club” pages (where the authors illustrate book recommendations) are absent and I am quite disappointed with this. All in all, it offers a good laugh, particularly if you have ever spent some time in a public library. Highly recommended.
Read my full comment on : http://clodjee.blogspot.ca/2010/09/un...
This volume is noticeably more hillarious than the previous one. Everyone will laugh at the funny and often absurd situations happening in the Mallville public library. I am probably laughing even harder because I recognize myself a lot in there, since I experienced first-hand many of those situations. It's written by a real-life librarian and it shows. Of course, the art is a little crude and cartoony, but —as I often say— it's the story that counts.
This volume has something new: it has a few comments from the writers underneath the strips. It's interesting to read and I would have liked to have more of those. Also, this time the book is in a smaller format and in b&w only. Unfortunately, the color “Book Club” pages (where the authors illustrate book recommendations) are absent and I am quite disappointed with this. All in all, it offers a good laugh, particularly if you have ever spent some time in a public library. Highly recommended.
Read my full comment on : http://clodjee.blogspot.ca/2010/09/un...
December 19, 2011
Collection #8 of the web comic Unshelved.
If you work in a library, if you use libraries, or even if you just work with the public, you'll love reading Large Print.
Set at the Mallville Public Library, the cast of characters is as diverse as the inhabitants of your own public library. On the one hand, you have the staff: the library's manager who is in love with office supplies, the children's librarian who is professionally and perpetually cheerful (and has a favorite letter of the alphabet), the old school reference librarian who can track down anything without resorting to the Internet, the cynical and ironic Young Adult librarian, and the library page who is still wearing a beaver suit from his stint as a summer reading program mascot.
And the patrons are even weirder.
Read current strips at http://www.unshelved.com .
If you work in a library, if you use libraries, or even if you just work with the public, you'll love reading Large Print.
Set at the Mallville Public Library, the cast of characters is as diverse as the inhabitants of your own public library. On the one hand, you have the staff: the library's manager who is in love with office supplies, the children's librarian who is professionally and perpetually cheerful (and has a favorite letter of the alphabet), the old school reference librarian who can track down anything without resorting to the Internet, the cynical and ironic Young Adult librarian, and the library page who is still wearing a beaver suit from his stint as a summer reading program mascot.
And the patrons are even weirder.
Read current strips at http://www.unshelved.com .
July 30, 2014
Another year in the life of the Mallville Public Library featuring eccentric, yet ubiquitous, behavior by its customers and staff, with snarky commentary provided by Young Adult Librarian Dewey. It includes the routine challenges of broken air conditioning, customers who plug incompatible equipment into the public access computers, keeping up with the newest technology while keeping up with the outdated technology that’s still in the library, book recommendations and challenges, what to do if someone says a bad word during story time, and what is that strange smell?
November 30, 2011
This was pretty funny, but probably not as funny to me as to someone who has worked as a librarian. I had some good chuckles, and appreciated some of the insight into the life that might have been mine if I had chosen a slightly different path.
I enjoyed the collection, but probably not to the point that I would actively seek out the other books or subscribe to the webcomic (as my feed reader already floweth over).
Rated: G
I enjoyed the collection, but probably not to the point that I would actively seek out the other books or subscribe to the webcomic (as my feed reader already floweth over).
Rated: G
May 29, 2012
A comic about librarians - what could be better for a heavy library user? Entertaining, instructive, and embarrassing to contemplate that you just might be "THAT library patron". Now I need to go order the volumes that were checked out last week. Through the interlibrary system, of course!
September 21, 2012
A little eerie to be traveling back into the recent past reading this; but on the other hand, enough time had passed that I'd forgotten most of these strips, making them really entertaining to re-read. Almost like new!
April 2, 2016
I'm reading my way through these, the ones I own and the ones I don't. This particular compilation is notable for the visit of characters from another on-line comic strip by the same author, urging the digerati to use libraries. Right on!
July 22, 2010
Latest funny and relevant collection of library humor from the Unshelved guys. If you work in a public library why aren't you reading this already? :)
July 24, 2010
If you want to know what librarians really go through, read any of the collections of the Unshelved web comic!
July 28, 2010
Unshelved is so spot on to libraries and librarians. There were so many things I could relate to with working in a library.
September 27, 2010
Okay, Cheryl found this one and like her other finds I was not disappointed! This one is going on my Christmas list.
September 27, 2010
"Every time we teach someone about a resource an angel gets its wings."
Dead-on.
Dead-on.
October 25, 2010
Can I participate in work themed humor? Still unsure.
November 4, 2010
Anyone who works at a library will love this comic collection. Unshelved hits the mark when it comes to the daily life of a librarian. A must for any fan of library humor!
June 24, 2011
Writing out of praise words for this series. This is my sixth Unshelved book to read and they just keep getting better and better; funnier and funnier. Library employees must read this!
February 28, 2017
LOVED IT!!! every librarian should read this and laugh out loud :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews