the learned librarian speaks

the learned librarian told me last night that he would be interviewed (by some pbs related production company) about why he went into library science and why he decided to learn chinese.

the learned librarian was a little apprehensive about the whole thing. he said, “i don’t have answers they’ll want to hear. i’m a librarian because it’s easy. no deadlines. no bottom line ... i like information and sharing information.” and he started learning chinese so he could read chinese poetry in chinese – not so he could pick up the chinese boys hanging about the library.

i don’t see what is wrong with those answers. they’re honest and make sense.

i did offer as an alternative to tell the truth the following which would make for good interview fodder:

- when he was young he saw the neverending story (*i just learned that the actual title for this movie is Die Unendliche Geschichte) and wanted to be like bastian living in different worlds. living his life though books instead of actual experience.

- he doesn’t trust people and the only thing he can trust is the written word – so naturally the library is his safe place. books are his friends. (i didn’t actually tell him this one – i thought of it after we hung up.)

- he’s gay. and libraries are great places to pick up literate boys. and in his library it is especially useful to speak chinese since they have many chinese patrons. (i mentioned that he might not want to say “boys” when describing the object of his desire – as there are actually boys who go to the library.)

- when the interviewer asks “why did you want to be a librarian?” he could say, “... Fandango.” (ala jerri blank from strangers with candy – see below to listen to the wav file).

Coach Cherri Wolf: "Next up, Jerri Blank" Susie: "Give me a V, I, C, T, O, R, Y" Jerri: "V, I, C, T, O, R, Y" Susie: "What's it spell?" Jerri: "Win!!!" Coach Wolf: " Jerri, uh, what does V-I-C-T-O-R-Y spell?" Jerri: "Fandango? Hobocamp? Ho-hobocamp."-- from "The Blank Page"