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How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All
by Marilyn Johnson
"Show me a computer expert who gives a damn, and I'll show you a librarian."
~Patricia Wilson Berger, former president, ALA
This is the opening salvo for Marilyn Johnson's second book in which she delves into the world of public libraries, research, the virtual arena and, of course, librarians. Librarians, and the places in which they work, form a cornerstone for civilization. With their guidance, we are provided with the tools to learn, create, and manage anything our imaginations can devise.
Johnson manages to cover the wide ranging area governed by librarians with style, humor, and just a touch of awe. Over the course of 12 chapters, the author illustrates the ever changing world of librarianship and the effect technology has on it. In her chapter titled, "How to Change the World," Johnson discusses how the use of online programs can help bring the necessary virtual skills to students of poor nations. "Gotham City" is about the changes happening to the New York Public Library system and how its focus is changing. "What's Worth Saving" focuses on archiving. "To The Ramparts" shows the impact librarians can have on activism and introduces the reader to Radical Reference, an online reference site dedicated to answering questions by activists and independent journalists. "Wizards of Odd" explores the boom in virtual libraries and reference activities in Second Life. "Follow That Tattooed Librarian" shows that librarians are not the buttoned down, staid creatures the stereotype describes. I would really love to see the bookcart challenge some day. "The Blog People" introduces the variety of librarians online and the breadth of their sites. "Big Brother and the Holdout Company" reveals to the world the intrusions of the Patriot Act upon libraries and group of librarians who fought to protect their patrons. The final chapter, "The Best Day," gives hope in the creation (and continuation) of libraries.
Johnson closes by writing,
"I was under the librarians' protection. Civil servants and servants of civility, they had my back. They would be whatever they needed to be that day: information professionals, teachers, police, community organizers, computer technicians, historians, confidantes, clerks, social workers, storytellers, or, in this case, guardians of my peace.
They were the authors of this opportunity - diversion form the economy, and distraction from the snow, protectors of the bubble of concentration I'd found in the maddening world. And I knew they wouldn't disturb me until closing time."
BIS Rating: 4 Nightlights
Amazon.com: This Book Is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson
BIS Rating system:
1 nightlight = put it down and didn't care to pick it back up
2 nightlights = finished the book
3 nightlights = enjoyed the book but probably wouldn't re-read it
4 nightlights = had a hard time putting the book down
5 nightlights = stayed up way too late to finish instead of going to bed
Season 4, Episode 6
While investigating a series of unusual heart attacks, Dean is infected with 'ghost sickness' which will slowly scare him to death. It takes Sam and Bobby to save him.
Coroner: Everybody drops dead sooner or later. That's why I've got job security.
Dean: Hang on.
Sam: What?
Dean: I don't like the looks of those teenagers down there. Let's walk this way.
Sam: Dude, you're going 20.
Dean: And?
Sam: That's the speed limit.
Dean: Oh, what? Safety's a crime now?
Sam: Dude, where are you going? That was out hotel.
Dean: Sam, I'm not going to turn left into oncoming traffic. I'm not suicidal. Did I just say that? That was kinda weird.
Sam: Turns out all 3 victims share a certain personality type. Frank was a bully and the other two victims? One was a vice principal. The other was a bouncer.
Dean: Ok.
Sam: Basically, they were dicks.
Dean: So you're saying I'm a dick?
Sam: No. No. It's not just that. All 3 victims used fear as a weapon and now this disease is just returning the favor.
Dean: I don't scare people.
Sam: Dean, all we do is scare people.
Dean: Ok, well, then you're a dick too.
Sam: Apparently, I'm not.
Dean: I don't wanna be a clue.
Dean: You know what? Screw this.
Sam: Whoa, whoa. Dean, come on.
Dean: No. I mean, come on, Sam. What are we doing?
Sam: We're hunting a ghost.
Dean: A ghost. Exactly. Who does that?
Sam: Us.
Dean: Us. Right. And that, Sam is exactly why our lives suck. I mean, come on, we hunt monsters. What the hell? I mean, normal people, they see a monster and they run, but us? No. No. No. We search out things that want to kill us, eh, huh, or eat us. You know who does that? Crazy people. We are insane. You know, and then there's the bad diner food, and the skeevy motel rooms, and the truck stop waitress with the bizarre rash. I mean, who wants this life, Sam? Huh? Seriously. I mean, do you actually like being stuck in a car with me 8 hours a day, every single day? I don't think so. I mean, I drive too fast, and I listen to the same 5 albums over and over and over again, and I sing along. I'm annoying and I know that. And you? You're gassy. You eat half a burrito and you get toxic, and you know what? You can forget it.
Sam: So we have to scare a ghost to death.
Season 4, Episode 5
In black and white, Sam and Dean Winchester face down a shifter who favors old monster movies during Oktoberfest in rural Pennsylvania.
Dean: Well, we can't save the world, not today anyway, but we can chop off some vamp's head.
Dean: Still got to see the new Raiders movie.
Sam: Saw it.
Dean: Without me?
Sam: You were in hell.
Dean: That's no excuse.
Jamie: Wait a minute. You're a Fed? You don't come off as a Fed. Seriously?
Dean: I'm a maverick, ma'am. A rebel with a badge. One thing I don't play by is the rules.
Sam: Pretty sure women today don't react well to the whole wench thing.
Dean: I can't get over what a pumpkin pie eyed, crazy son of a bitch you really are.
Shifter: Life is small, meager, messy. The movies are grand, simple, elegant. I have chosen elegance.
Dean: You do realize what happens at the end of every monster movie, don't you?
Sam: Hey there, handsome.
Dean: Shut up.
Dean: Hero gets the girl. Monster gets the gank. All in all, a happy ending with a happy ending no less.
Season 4, Episode 4
An old family friend, Travis, asks for the Winchester's help as he goes up against the second generation of a creature he inadvertently let go 30 years before.
Dean: And we're looking for...?
Sam: Travis said to keep an eye out for anything weird.
Dean: Weird?
Sam: Yeah.
Dean: All right. Well, I've seen big weird, little weird, even weird with crazy on top, but this guy? This guy is boring.
Travis: At first, they're hungry for everything, but then long pig.
Dean: Long pig?
Sam: Human flesh.
Dean: And that's my word of the day.
Season 4, Episode 3
The angel, Castiel, sends Dean back to his hometown in 1973 where he meets his parents before they become engaged. He learns about the history of his maternal grandparents, and when he returns to the present, he gets shocking news about Sam.
Dean: Sammy, where ever you are, Mom is a babe. I'm going to hell. Again.
Mary: And I'm here because?
Samuel: Family business, Mary. Family.
Samuel: Now she wants to hunt. She doesn't want to hunt. Is this some female time of the month thing? What?
Azazel (yellow-eyed demon): Sticks and stones may break my bones and they won't bring your family back either.
Season 4, Episode 2
Hunters are being slaughtered by the spirits of those they could not save. The Winchesters and Bobby Singer fight to stop the spirits.
Dean: All I know is, I was not groped by an angel.
Dean: So what do we know about angels?
Bobby: Start reading.
Dean: (to Sam) You're going to have to get me some pie.
Sam: Dude, when have I ever forgotten the pie?
Dean: Dude, where's the pie?
Spirit Meg: Nice to finally talk to you when I'm not...you know...choking on my own blood.
Sam: You built a panic room?
Bobby: I had a weekend off.
Bobby: This is a sign, boys.
Sam and Dean: A sign of what?
Bobby: The apocalypse.
Bobby: So you thought our luck was going to start now all of a sudden?
Bobby: If you're going to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
Season 4, Episode 1
Dean is pulled from hell 4 months after his death. He, Sam and Bobby struggle to find out who was behind his resurrection.
Dean: If he didn't pull me out, then what did?
Dean: What the hell is that?
Sam: An iPod jack.
Dean: You were supposed to take care of her, not douche her up.
Pamela: Dean Winchester, out of the fire, back in the frying pan.
Dean: I like to think it's because of my perky nipples.
Supernatural Season 4
Are You There, God? It's Me...Dean Winchester
It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester
I Know What You Did Last Summer
The Monster at the End of this Book
Note: All pictures are screen captures whose credit and rights belong to the show's creators.
