This week I spent some time working on Mead’s DVD collection. It’s hard to determine which titles are actually on the shelf and which may have grown legs and escaped the building via clandestine means, which got me thinking about library theft. We all love public libraries and the access to books, movies, music, and other resources they provide. All that and more for free, Free! FREE! Utilizing libraries can save anyone thousands of dollars a year when compared to the retail cost of books, etc, and these things are available to all. That’s why it totally blows my mind when I come to discover missing or stolen items in the collection. Lost and damaged items are part of the public library landscape and honest mistakes happen all the time. Maybe there’s a pattern to it all, one I cannot discern from the relative proximity to Mead’s catalog offerings. I decided to take a look at the things people commonly steal from libraries, bookstores, and archives across the country to try and extrapolate some reasons WHY. 

Photo credit: Vintage/Anchor Books via Twitter

Bookstores

The above photo was posted on a tweet about the most frequently stolen books in a particular bookstore. There’s a bunch of Bukowski, Murakami, Bret Easton Ellis. I see On the Road by Jack Kerouac in there and honestly, I would be upset if I paid money for that brick, too. Not to say that I endorse shoplifting, but that brings me to WHY if one has access to a copy via the library for free, does one insist on shoplifting? One could argue that some of the above authors produce salacious material and it would be an embarrassment to be seen purchasing such a thing, but I don’t think this is the reason. My undergraduate experience with college lads and their inability to shut up about Bret Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk points away from embarrassment as a factor. Perhaps the shoplifter is a thrill-seeker and simply loves the rush. Again, not an endorsement of shoplifting, but I sure hope the thrill-seeking type is ripping off big box and chain stores as opposed to independently-owned bookshops.

That brings me to my next hypothesis: people shoplift books to circumvent supporting a bad actor. For instance, JK Rowling has been in the news of late for terrible reasons (read all about it HERE and then instead of clicking on the link to JKR’s “defense” see instead THIS amazing response by Daniel Radcliffe). So, if someone wanted to read her pseudonymous mystery series without adding to her already sizable wealth, one might shoplift. Again, why not just get a copy from the library? 

Source: Smithsonian Magazine

Archives/Special Collections

Have you ever heard the term “book mutilation”? Me either, until I took a course in art librarianship during grad school. The woman who led my class directed the Kohler Art Library at UW-Madison and had spent her entire professional life in rare book collections. This is the class that managed to teach me the most about libraries, as well as teach me that people get downright bold and sneaky (yes, both at the same time) if they think they can make some easy money. Our professor regaled and horrified us with tales of people cutting intaglio prints or other illustrated plates out of rare, early books and sneaking them out of the building to later sell. This is known as “book mutilation” and it makes the ghost of Johannes Gutenburg cry. The whole point of special collections is to preserve rarities for the posterity of all mankind, so it’s a real bummer when jerks who mutilate archival property make it harder for the rest of us to access the same material.

Sometimes, it’s not even some rando off the street doing the thieving. Behold: the bookseller and ex-librarian who, between the two of them, were able to steal upwards of $8,000,000 worth of rare books from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. It’s a fascinating case, even more so due to how recently the crimes were discovered. Read about it in Smithsonian Magazine HERE. He’s an utter disgrace of a librarian, but the gentleman owns up to his greed. From a capitalist standpoint, book theft makes sense, especially if you have no soul or conscience. But that doesn’t wash with material stolen from public libraries, which tends to be mass-produced. 

Public Libraries

Here’s what I determined when I looked into book theft at public libraries: 1. Popular material vanishes 2. Controversial material vanishes.

Popular: What better title to hold a record for being stolen than the Guinness Book of World Records? This annual collection of world-record-breaking facts is a family favorite at home and for sticky-fingered library patrons, both, apparently. To be fair, books with similar popularity tend to go missing more often than books that attract less attention. Now, would it shock you to know that the most stolen book in the world is the bible? Imagine. I’m no theology major but I’m pretty sure it says “thou shall not steal” somewhere in there. 

Controversial: There is a noted phenomenon in public libraries everywhere in which misguided library patrons will steal books to “protect” the rest of us. This is antithetical to public libraries. We are committed to providing high-quality material on a wide array of topics which the public can decide to engage with, or not, by preference. The idea of someone removing materials according to their personal moral compass is reprehensible to me. Mead, and most public libraries, struggle to keep material about witchcraft and the occult on the shelf for this reason. And did you hear about the numpty Iowa who burned a bunch of LGBTQ+ children’s books in 2019? I don’t care what someone’s personal politics are, book burning is never a great look.

Thank you for joining me for my highly unscientific exploration of book theft. The truth of the matter is, we all live our lives in unique ways that will never be totally understood by everyone around us. Book theft is just another, albeit darker and troubling, facet of human expression. Remember: if you ever get the urge to steal a book, even if it’s Abby Hoffman’s Steal This Book, do your best to resist and come see us downtown for some honest reading. 

There’s some debate and snobbery surrounding the consumption of audio versus print books. “Audiobooks are CHEATING” shrieks my Facebook friend with lots of opinions. “It’s not the SUPERIOR way to read books” barks the Reddit random. Being a librarian, I am thrilled to pieces when people are reading books no matter what the format. Not all of us can absorb information the same way. Audiobooks are a godsend for those of us with poor eyesight, dyslexia, or other barriers that make reading print a struggle. Personally, I just enjoy listening to someone read. Below, I listed four audiobooks I listened to and loved in 2020. 

Someone we know by Shari Lapena (2019)

My favorite murder mysteries feature multiple points-of-view, unreliable narrators, and my complete inability to pinpoint the murderer in advance of the last chapter. The work of Shari Lapena fits those parameters to a T. Someone We Know is the fourth book of hers I’ve read. I borrowed it from Overdrive. There was a bit of a wait for the title because she is a fairly popular author and everyone plus their dog are looking for ways to beat COVID boredom. It doesn’t take a market analyst to guess that audiobook consumption skyrocketed over the past year, and that is sometimes reflected in Overdrive wait times. Not to fret, Mead also provides the community with access to Hoopla which offers audiobooks, ebooks, movies, TV, and NO wait time. Which leads me to the next book on my list…

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1) by Becky Chambers (2014)

Are there any sweeter words than “space” and “opera” when paired together? The answer is: NO. By that token, Becky Chambers rules my heart. She is out here writing some of the best science fiction of the 21st century and y’all are missing out if you’re not on board the good ship Wayfarer. Chambers’ world-building is vivid and engaging. Her diverse cast of characters, human and otherwise, leap off the page, and I was sad to say goodbye at the end of the book. Fortunately, there are already three books in the Wayfarers series with another forthcoming in 2021. AND and and and the three already in print are all available on Hoopla in audio form. What’s so great about Hoopla? How is it different from Overdrive, for instance? Let me tell you the defining trait that makes Hoopla rad: no wait time. While you are limited to 10 check-outs per month, you will not spend a single second waiting for them to be available. 

Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear (2015)

This is the steampunk California gold rush-era queer scifi/fantasy that you never knew you needed to read. Narrator Jennifer Grace imparts a soft, appealing twang to Karen’s voice as we watch her find and use her strength to save herself and her friends from the designs of evil men. I was pleased to find Karen Memory for check-out on RBDigital. This platform provides audiobooks in addition to a HUGE array of magazines. RBDigital is our least-utilized digital service behind Overdrive and Hoopla, but that means most titles will not have a wait-time and check-out periods are for 3 weeks! I have good luck finding genre fiction such as mysteries, scifi, and fantasy on RBDigital, so it’s really worth a look.

The Bad Seed by William March (1954)

I kept trying to get my colleagues to run this title for a book club, but to no avail. After listening to it recently, maybe that was for the best due to the less-than-hopeful ending and terrible acts within. Little Rhoda Penmark may only be in the 2nd grade but has gotten her criminal career well underway. The alternately tremulous and forceful narration provided by Elizabeth Wiley created a satisfying push/pull between the deeds of the sinister daughter and the hand-wringing of the hapless mother. Together with some fascinating ruminations on the nature of evil, The Bad Seed mostly stands up to the test of time. Available on Hoopla. 

Which audiobooks have you been listening to lately? What do you do when you listen? I like to go for walks or listen while I cook dinner. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are in need of assistance while you learn to use our digital services. We are also happy to provide reading recommendations, as well, if you’re in a rut. Happy listening!