Free for All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library

If Don Borchert worked at the Department of Motor Vehicles or the Post Office, he probably could have produced a very instructive and entertaining account of his life on the job. As it is, he works at a public library, and so he has produced an instructive and entertaining account about his life there. He is a thoughtful observer of the passing scene and a careful recorder of the offbeat. He knows what sorts of things can turn up in an overnight book drop, and he knows what sorts of things can go wrong when a police officer introduces a drug-sniffing dog to a children's reading group. More important, he knows what a public library means to the homeless, the latch-keyed, the desperate, and the socially ambitious, as well as to the more general public. He draws upon two decades of experience, and he tells a story that is by turns funny, heartwarming, disturbing, and inspirational. I read the book in a single sitting, and I've never felt better about the portion of my tax dollars that go to the local public library.

So you thought libraries were quiet, peaceful places, hmmm??? And a great place to drop your kids off after school or while you run some errands? Think again! With 8+ years of library work experience I can tell you that this book is all too true. It should be read by anyone contemplating a library career! Pretty much every incident that Mr. Borchert mentions is familiar. I appreciate his humorous way of telling us about his experiences. I started this book and read it straight through, nodding in agreement and chuckling to myself.

Don Borchert's "Free for All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library" will appeal to public librarians (like me) who serve a diverse group of people: young and old, highly educated and barely literate, beautifully attired and dressed in smelly rags, courteous and rude, appreciative and demanding--we somehow deal with them all. Libraries represent the democratic concept of free access to books (in many languages), magazines, computers, multi-media items, and programs suitable for all ages. We, the librarians, trust our patrons to fulfill their side of the bargain--that they will care for the materials they borrow and return them in a timely fashion. A library is not just "a mecca for scholars and students." It is also a magnet for "the homeless, the mentally ill, occasional pedophiles, unattended children down to the age of two, thieves, [and] beggars." Some naive librarians believe that reading is an elixir that will make everyone a better person and bring him closer to "the promised land, page by page." More often, the public library functions merely as a respite from the winter's biting winds and the summer's stifling heat. The patrons relax, browse through magazines, send emails to their relatives, read the latest newspapers without having to fork over fifty cents or a dollar, and even make new friends. In some libraries, people can now eat and drink, chat among themselves (as long as they do not create a din), and even talk on their cell phones if no one catches them and asks them to take their conversation outside. Borchert settled on library work after stints as a salesman in a record store, a proofreader, a grill chef, and other unimpressive gigs. He earned lowly wages, occasionally slept in the back of his car, and enjoyed the carefree lifestyle of an unattached young man. However, when he married and had children, he recognized the attraction of a steady paycheck. A friend told him that she was applying for a civil service job in the South Bay Library system in California. She tempted him by emphasizing the "civil service" aspect: You can be a dolt, but once you pass probation, the only way to be fired is to do something egregiously horrible. "Keep your mouth shut and you're golden." Although he never earned a degree in library science, he is college-educated (Ohio State), a voracious reader, and qualified enough to have held a job as an assistant librarian for twelve years. "Free for All" is fun. Borchert's tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic, and occasionally profane approach to his subject is entertaining, hilarious, and irreverent. He is a terrific raconteur who tells true stories about larcenous, irrational, abusive, and troubled patrons; compassionate, dedicated, and talented colleagues; individuals who bond with the staff and become part of the "library family"; and those few treasured customers who cherish the library and are grateful for all the perks that it provides. With wit and style, the autho

Haven't been in a library in awhile? Still looking for the card catalog? Do you remember your librarian looking like Donna Reed in "It's a Wonderful Life?" Do you think the library is a "safe" place, akin to seeking sanctuary in a church? Do you imagine that librarians have little to do but sit around all day and read magazines until someone comes in needing assistance? Do you harbor warm fuzzy feelings about the library of your youth? THEN THIS IS THE MUST READ BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOU!! I'm a librarian, and the majority of my career has been spent performing tasks and using "skills" never taught in any masters program for librarians. The only problem with Mr. Borchert's book is that it wasn't nearly long enough for me. Everything he describes is so terribly, sadly true, and this is just the tiniest tip of the iceberg. This is a MUST READ for anyone considering a career in this field. This is a MUST READ for any psychiatrist who still suggests to his slightly demented patients that they seek jobs at the library, since it is obviously an easy, pleasant, stressless, quiet job! This is a MUST READ for anyone who belongs to a "library foundation;" a typical monied group I have found most out of touch with reality. This is a MUST READ for anyone who fantasizes about how pleasant it would be to work as a public librarian. In my daily duties as a librarian, I am expected to perform as a social worker, legal advisor, physician, babysitter, mother, teacher, disciplinarian, security guard, computer expert, and clairvoyant, just to name a few. As the nation's changing population has become less and less sure what exactly the library does, libraries everywhere have anxiously attempted to become the be-all and do-all for every citizen, lost soul and ne'er-do-well in the nation. As a result, most libraries continue to provide more and more new mediocre services every day, as library administrators continually attempt new bizarre, all-encompassing visions, missions, and projects. Kudos to Mr. Borchert; at least it was very cathartic reading the truth.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I'm not offended by Borchert's title or the book. Instead, I find it accurately portrays the highs and lows of working in public libraries. After thirty-four years, I've met most of his patrons, and lived through many of his stories. He's accurate, at times funny, and he tells the truth about public libraries as they are today. I don't keep many books, since I have access to so many. This is a keeper for me.