Free for All

Borchert, Don.  Free for All: Oddballs, Geeks and Gangstas in the Public Library.  New York: Virgin Books.  240 pages.  $21.95.  [ISBN: 9781905264124]

Don Borchert worked a series of random jobs until marriage and several small children produced a desire to find a “real job.”  A friend suggested he apply for a Civil Service job in the library.  He was hired and has worked as a library assistant in a branch of the Los Angeles Public Library for over 12 years.  Mr. Borchert came into the position of library assistant rather haphazardly but found a lasting career.  Although he does not have a librarian degree, the author shows a great admiration for the library.  He states, “I think the library is an outrageous perk.  I think being able to take out fifty books at a time is an astounding luxury" (pg. 82).

This book is a personal observation of life in an urban public library.  The author provides one view of one library, but he touches on personalities and situations that might be encountered in many public libraries.  The author addresses the variety of patrons served: the teens that arrive every day after school, parents that use the library as a babysitter, patrons irritate that they owe over $2 in library fines and a few patrons who cause “ . . . the hair on the back of your neck . . . ” to stand up (pg. 149).

The library staff, both the paid staff and the volunteer workers, contributes largely to this story.  In his new Civil Servant job, Mr. Borchert is first introduced to a library page named Maria.  Even though pages are " . . . paid the least, have the fewest benefits . . . ” and “ . . . do the most work . . . ,” the author recognizes that, “ . . . a library will continue to function nicely without every other position, but without the pages it would grind to a stop within a quiet afternoon” (pg. 17).  When the author initially learns about the “Friends of the Library” group, and that they contribute significantly to the library’s budget, he humorously asks, “Who are these pro-library, free-spending, deep-pocketed friends?” (pg. 95).

The children’s librarian is well-loved and works hard to provide exciting reading programs each summer.  One summer, the staff is excited when a generous donor contributes a trip to Space Camp in Houston, Texas as the grand prize.  To enter the contest, children are given one ticket for each book read.  A problem arises, however, when a girl starts ‘reading’ 15 books each night.  The staff has serious doubts about the girl reading approximately 1600 pages per night, but who wants to call a little girl a liar?  The child wins the trip to Houston and the following year the reading program returns to giving out pencils as prizes.

The author details several challenging aspects of his job.  He admits that the limitless nature of the Internet presents a “Pandora’s box dilemma” (pg. 37).  Although he is asked on a regular basis, Mr. Borchert states that librarians need to be “ . . . careful not to offer legal or personal advice.” (pg. 34).  He laments on the fact that the Senior librarian, who entered the library field because of her love for books and reading, rarely has time to do either because of the paperwork and problem-solving efforts required in her job.

Although occasionally irreverent and sarcastic, I thought the book was very entertaining and enlightening.  Rather than provide theories of library work or a thesis on the importance of reading, this book provides a slice of real day-to-day work that is completed by librarians and staff.  Several of the stories are ‘laugh out loud’ funny, one is completely disgusting and the final account is very touching.  In this story, a young patron runs to the library for help after her step-father threatens the girl’s mother.  When asked why she ran to the library rather than school or the police, the girl responds that, “ . . . she went to the one place she could think of where she felt really safe. The public library” (pg. 205).

Because I am a student in a library program but have never actually worked in a library, this book was an enjoyable introduction into "Library Life 101."  I would recommend this book to anyone interested in working as a librarian.  I think most people entering a library program would say they love reading and spending time at the library.  However, actually working in a Public Library presents a variety of situations and many do not involve books at all.  The ‘people aspect’ of library work was well represented in this book, and it illustrates the variety of bizarre situations encountered when working with the public.

Jill Slater
Wayne State University MLIS Student
jillslater4@gmail.com