My boss tells the following story from her days as a reference librarian. One day a patron approached her and asked for a book about snakes, particularly snakes in that region of Florida. After she had retrieved some snake books, her eyes fell on the paper bag that the patron had placed on the counter. “What’s in the bag?” she asked. “Oh, this is the snake I want to find out about, ” he answered nonchalantly. “I want to make sure it isn’t poisonous.”
Lynette says
What’s in the bag? reminded me of one of my favorite short stories by Ken Roberts titled “Dear Mr. Winston” in the book, When I went to the library, edited by Debora Pearson. Hope you enjoy it, too
Jan says
I have a similiar story. I was working the reference desk and a gentleman brought in a huge orange fungi wrapped in a newspaper and wanted to know if he could cook it and eat it. I found information and a picture in a book about state mushrooms that said it was highly poisonous. He was mad at me because he really wanted to eat it. Hmm.
matt nathanson fan says
I like what you have to say