Here’s the situation: someone, maybe one of your kids, has something overdue. You call the library and politely ask that they tell you what it is so that you can go look for it. AND THEY WON’T TELL YOU WHAT IT IS! They tell you that YOU have to have the library card number so YOU can find out what your own kid needs to bring back so that YOU don’t run up a bunch of fines. Whose idea was this?

Well…we have this policy about not revealing to anyone (at least without a court order) what anyone else happens to be reading or watching. That means we won’t tell parents what their kids are reading, and we won’t tell kids what their parents are watching. The policy is based on a philosophy that goes clear back to Saint Lawrence the Librarian, who was martyred in A.D. 258 for refusing to tell the Roman authorities who was checking stuff out of the Church library. After all, if the Romans had a list of borrowers from the Church library, they would have a list of Christians all ready to persecute. One stop shopping.

Anyway, Saint Lawrence wouldn’t squeal, and, according to legend, the Romans were so angry that they grilled him, literally (which is why he’s also the patron saint of cooks). Supposedly, at the moment of his death he told them (this is so cool) “Assum est, inquit, versa et manduca,” or, “This side’s done, turn me over and eat!” The moral of the story is, sorry, we can’t tell you what anyone else has checked out. If you want to keep track of your kids’s stuff, or even your parents’, write down their card number so you have it.

The Feast Day of Saint Lawrence is August 10^th, and if you feel like celebrating along with the library community, we recommend that you throw a barbecue. Here’s a good barbecue recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook:

Snappy Barbecue Sauce

1 cup catsup
1 cup water
¼ cup vinegar
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. celery seed
2 or 3 dashes bottled hot pepper sauce

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Use to baste pork, beef, or poultry. Pass any remaining sauce. Makes about 1 ½ cups.

Whenever anyone asks me what I do for a living, I’m always very proud to say that I’m a reference librarian. My colleagues are the same way. We mostly love our jobs. Every day is a kind of treasure hunt to find the right information for the people who ask for our help. I may get asked to help locate the newest books by Patricia Cornwell or how to sign up for the library’s online language learning program. I can show people the website for the U.S. Census or books about ways to make your home more eco-friendly. It is always interesting, to say the least.

I thought you might be interesting in books and movies that feature librarians. Take a look at some of these offerings and see if you don’t agree, being a librarian can be an adventure every day!

The Librarian from the Black Lagoon

Rex Libris I, Librarian

The Librarian DVD

The Librarian book

Alcatraz Vs. the Evil Librarians

The Time Traveler’s Wife

Party Girl