hollywood librarian in vermont
October 1st, 2007 | Uncategorized
In honor of Banned Books Week, Ann Seidl’s awesome film The Hollywood Librarian is being screened in libraries across the country. I’m going to be introducing it at the Huntington Library in Huntington, VT this Wednesday, October 3 . At 7pm. Come on out! Here’s the trailer to whet your appetite.
Oh. It costs $8, and for more info call (802) 434-4030.
21 Responses to “hollywood librarian in vermont”
Goodness, I was first! Love the gangster music in the background. During my undergrad my Middle Eastern studies tried desperately to convert me to library studies.
FYI…they now have Librarian action figures (with shh-ing action)
I love those! My favourite superhero doll, though, is the Crazy Cat Lady.
Hey, I’ll be involved in a Banned Books event too, at the University of Washington. I’ll be reading a passage from Judy Blume’s Forever – by far the most referred-to pages among my friends in fourth grade. I get to be self-righteous, too: I Love Led Zeppelin was banned in at least one library, and was challenged in a number more.
Interesting you mentioned that book, Ellen. I was raised in Queensland, Australia, during an extended (30+ years) right-wing gerrymander which amounted to a theocratic junta. Books, free thought, sex, difference, al fresco dining etc were strictly a no-no. ‘Forever’, however, was available in my primary school library and was read by all. In an age when teachers could lose their jobs for mentioning birth control it was THE sex ed. Presumably the book-burners passed it over, due to their aggressive illiteracy no doubt…
At Baltimore Con I saw a T-Shirt with a picture of Batgirl. It said “Librarians Kick Ass!” Barbara (Batgirl II) Gordon was originally a librarian. Later, she was a congresswoman.
My most egregious encounter with censorship was when I wasn’t allowed in to see Monty Python’s Life of Brian when it came out. The local church passed out a list of reasons we shouldn’t see it. Most of them were bullshit, and the rest were things that any other R-rated movie did worse. It was the final nail in the coffin for my church-goin’ days.
I saw Hollywood Librarian last night, and it was wonderful! The film craft was great, the interviews were really well-edited, and now I have a whole lotta films I gotta request from…my local library! Great, great job, Ann Seidl!
Librarian Action Figure:
http://www.mcphee.com/laf/
They even have a picture of the model for the Librarian, Seattle librarian and author of “Book Lust” Nancy Pearl, shushing!
how fitting! I invested in a set of headphones ($1.00) to hear audio at our library computers, and The Hollywood Librarian trailer was my first listen . . .
yes, librarians rule!!
Oh, god, I have to make a confession. I have over $500 in library fines at the university library, and I feel so guilty I’m having a hard time taking the books back and having to look someone in the face. Most of the fines are actually replacement fees, so when I take them back I’ll actually owe something like 80 bucks, but the guilt is crippling anyway.
Question:
I’m not a real librarian, but I do run the library at my son’s (private) preschool. Does it count as censorship that I’m throwing out all the books based on cartoons, as well as the ones about Barbie and her ilk? Am I a book banner? Or am I just a mother attempting to protect her son and his friends from overexposure to Barney, Barbie, and Disney?
I wish it was being shown closer to my town. I’m going to try to organize a trip from my library to go see it. I wonder if we can get paid to go see it? o i just realized i’m the only one who works that late normaly.
Al, I’ve gotta say Yes to that. You have every right to control what your own son reads, but you have no business controlling what other people’s kids read. If they choose crap, that’s their choice.
How about putting together an attractive display of cool books, like Maurice Sendak and Jules Feiffer and such? Put it up in front so the kids have to go past it to get to the corporate twaddle.
Hmm… Al et al, that’s a tricky one. While your ‘raising the tone’ is fine by me, I think we need a rationale that excuses your actions from the taint of censorship.
Remember when that group, Southern Baptists or someone (please forgive if that’s wrong and correct my mistake) objected to Barney because the actor is Black?! If they had only objected because it’s a pile of steaming dung that would have been perfectly legit.
I love my local librarian, she is my 6’2″ shaven headed crush idol. You can see her stalking between the stacks because she overtops them! What a fabulous role model, sigh…
Dr. Empirical: I do see your point, and I like your suggestion. The thing is, though, that the library is the size of a large walk-in closet, so a certain amount of weeding out goes on every year, to make way for new book purchases and donations. I’m choosing to weed out the crap. There has to be some sort of criterion for choosing what to ditch (since keeping everything isn’t an option), and this is mine.
Al et al and all,
Museums use the term “deacquistion” when they thin their collections. My public library regularly gives away encyclopedias, outdated books on raising goats, or science texts from 1963. I don’t think that is banning books.
Perhaps you could keep one sample each of the Barney and Barbie books and encourage the kids to compare more sophsticated books with the cartoon books.
Al et al-
Perhaps you might want to describe it using something a bit more measurable and less inflammatory than ‘crap’. Like- trying to keep the books that do not have anything that could possibly be construed as advertising.
Thanks for the shout-out, AB! I am so glad you’re going to be part of The Hollywood Librarian release in Burlington. Please god somebody take some pictures, okay? And judybusy: you saw it! And liked it! Whoo-hoo! Which location did you go to?
FYI also, Nancy Pearl, the very same one who modeled for the Librarian Action Figure, makes an appearance in my film. She’s a great interview. Come to think of it, she has the final words before the credits roll.
It screened in Helena MT yesterday and I got an email from the librarian who said, and I quote, “Your film was charming, poignant, thought provoking. Thank you thank you thank you for sharing your passion with the world. You got it *just* right. I had a 60 year old woman come up to me after the screening with tears running down her cheeks wondering if it was too late for her to become a librarian!”
I can die now.
I meant Huntington.
Hey Ann!
Please don’t die.
The Huntington event rocked. Your sister spoke very glowingly of you and the movie. I gave you a nice intro. And there was a big, rapt audience.
Then I cried through most of the film. What a tearjerker!
Dearest Alison:
I spoke to my sis today at length and she told me what a wonderful job you did in your introduction. “Dry and funny” she said, which didn’t surprise me. You give the BEST talks! Apparently the wee library building was completely full, and the streets of Huntington clogged with cars. And she said the “baked goods social” after was highly convivial. Excellent!
I am very gratified and happy. Thank you for your words and tears, my dear.
Could you advise me if the dvd is out and where can i get it
thanks