Muns, Raleigh. "What do librarians want most for Christmas? "
The Current (University of Missouri-St. Louis) February 6, 2006 (vol. 38, no. 1174), p. 5
So, what
DO librarians receive as gifts from friends and family at Christmas
time? I had been pining all year for the "Nancy Pearl Librarian
Action Figure with amazing shushing action" and was not disappointed
to find it in my stocking on Christmas morn. I had to take her out (she's
modeled on a real librarian from Seattle) and run around the room using
the "amazing shushing action" on the kids. I even shushed
the Baby Jesus in our diorama on top of the fireplace. (1) Lock left
arm in lowered position; (2) push button in Nancy's back and watch the
extended index finger flash up to her pursed lips; (3) Shush, Baby Jesus,
Shush! I was especially
touched when I realized that I had not been given the pedestrian common
Nancy Pearl action figure. My sister-in-law sent me the DELUXE version!
The divine Ms. Pearl's dress has been upgraded from the earlier version's
frumpy black dress to a frumpy burgundy one; this new, improved version
also now comes with a tiny book cart, reference desk, and desk-top computer.
At five inches tall, you can get your very own Nancy Pearl action figure
at the Archie McPhee web site (www.mcphee.com). If you're uncomfortable
playing with a librarian doll, McPhee also
offers the "Deluxe Jesus Action Figure" which comes with "five
loaves of bread, two fish and a jug for turning water into wine (not
guaranteed to work for real). Also features 'glow-in-the-dark miracle
hands!' " I may get that for my birthday
so I can have "Godzilla vs. Mothra" kind of battles with Jesus vs. Nancy Pearl. I
know that wouldn't be a fair fight - the powers of Jesus vs. mere shushing? No surprise,
but I also get books as presents. This season I was given another copy
of "The Von Hoffman Bros.' Big Damn Book of Sheer Manliness"
(1998 and out of print) which I can't recommend highly enough if you
can find a copy. With this book in hand you can learn how to build potato
cannons, find out about the histories of WD-40 and McIlhenny
Tabasco Sauce, and discover that "Spartacus" is deemed the
manliest movie of all time. I consider myself a manly librarian, ignoring
the fact that you might catch me playing with my "Nancy Pearl Librarian
Action Figure" now and then at the reference desk. And if you don't
like that, I will just shush you. What does a librarian give as gifts you may ask? I gave my teenage son duck-down filled slippers; my 8 year old daughter a gift certificate to Build-a-Bear; and my wife a copy of "The Beatles - Complete Scores." It was each what they wanted. And then I shushed them all a Merry Christmas and Happy 2005-2006 Holiday Season! |
Email Address: muns@umsl.edu
WWW Home Page URL:http://www.umsl.edu/~muns