I have big posts in the works. They aren't done yet, so you get some minor library filler. Hobby posts, a big current events/politics/economics post, and maybe even some poetry or fiction may show up soon, but not today. No, today I rant and rave. Oh, and I close on a high note of sorts.
I HATE DECKLED EDGES!
In traditional paper-making, a deckle is the frame holding paper fibers and forming a sheet. The edge is rough and uneven. We don't do that anymore, but for some ungodly reason, publishers emulate this fancy paper edge when publishing disposable fiction as if making a book objectively worse is a mark of quality.
Way back when, that rough paper edge was part of the process, and many books were printed in such a way that the buyer would have to cut apart the edges due to the number of pages printed and folded in a folio.
Nowadays, we have rolls of pristine paper bound perfectly and trimmed to size by precise machines, resulting in smooth edges and easy page turning so I can quickly flip through a book and check for stains, markings, tears, or odd bookmarks when they are returned. But not for all books. No, some of these had an extra expensive step in production t change those pristine pages into this abomination. STOP IT!
I HATE SHORT DUST JACKETS!
This is less common than those deckled edges, but I hate hate HATE it. Dust jackets that don't do the main thing dust jackets are designed to do: protect the entire cover of the book. In my library district, we add a plastic overwrap to the dust jacket and secure it to the cover so we can more easily clean off fingerprints and grime. These stupid partial jackets undermine that entire process. This is bad design, plain and simple.
I hope whoever started this nonsense stubs their little toe every day for the rest of their life.
I LIKE OUR BOOK DROP MONSTER
We have been swapping out our book drop monster, first with a generic Thanksgiving turkey, and now with Snowball Sasquatch.
My favorite books are LARGE PRINT!
—Snowball Sasquatch
Yes, I am responsible for the Bigfoot pun. Ms. A made him out of construction paper sheets and many cotton balls plus, my blue googly eyes. More recently, Ms. M the youth librarian decided we needed a new scavenger hunt for the kids, so baby Snowballs are hidden among the childrens books. Their eyes are made with giant dot markers and smaller Sharpie pupils.
That's it for now. Stay tuned for more substantial content, hopefully coming soon. Now I just need to survive the local holiday festival. I have a suitable costume.
