The other night while staffing the Science & Business reference desk at Central Library, a young man came in and asked if we had any books on “methamphetamines”. We, of course, are programmed to ask if he wanted stuff on the health issues? or? No, he just wanted some books on “how to, ya know, make methamphetamines”. We actually, in a horribly incorrect librarian moment, snickered and said that no, and we also don’t have any books on how to build bombs available for check out either. We finally did force upon him, the call numbers for health (6l6.864) and addiction (362.29), but I’m afraid that wasn’t what he wanted, and he was amused by us acting like stereotype librarians.

We also keep the books on how to make fireworks pretty much locked up. If we didn’t, they would be stolen in a NY minute; that and tattoo books. About the tattoos, patrons ask if we have any books on celtic designs, and we ask, specifically, if they are considering tattoos, and they are shocked, shocked! How did we know?? Well, it’s easy: apparently celtic designs are popular for tattoos. We get asked this once a day; that’s how we know. It’s a fact, librarians have heard everything.