Comments for 'The Librarians' Blog

Comment on Jokes by Alana

Alana — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:48:03 +0000

How many librarians does it take to change a light bulb?
Three… One to change the light bulb and two to discuss how unprofessional it is for librarians to change light bulbs!

Comment on Image of library workers by Quirky Librarian

Quirky Librarian — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:22:55 +0000

I must admit that the script and characters are a little disappointing, and boy, did the last episode cross some boundaries! Whatever you think of TL, it has got people talking and we all know “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

Comment on The writers respond by Shane

Shane — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:17:59 +0000

While i can appreciate the time and effort the actors and script writers have invested in the show. I have to say that after watching the first episode I won’t be going back. Why? Where do I start?

As someone who’s both disabled and worked in Libraries for over 20 years. I found the humor, and I use the term very loosely, to be degrading to anyone who’s ever worked ina library and has a passion for it.

There was very little humour that was actually library related. It seemed like a second rate rip off of the office, but set in a library.

Rather than inducing laughter, while making you reflect and think, which is what good satire should do. I found myself cringing uncomfortably, at both the implausability of the situations and behaviour of the characters, I’m all for non PC where warranted, but this was just plain ugly.

The sad thing is I wanted it to work, There’s so much material to be mined from both sides of the Library desk, not too mention the amazing characters that you meet, again on both sides of the the desk. That it makes it all the worse that we were presented with a bunch of stereotypes which were anything but steroetypical.

I mean aren’t all female librarians anal repressed control freaks, and yes most people in wheelchairs don’t know how to operate them, and yes posties are thieves, and any suitable non qualified hairdresser can walk off the street and get a job as a Children’s Librarian.

I’ve gone on a bit of a rant here, and again I have to reiterate that I have nothing but respect for the cast and crew who are trying to put some local content back on the idiot box, but sadly we’ve been let down by the writing. I felt as if my brain had been excoriated with a nail file.

Comment on Image of library workers by Cheryl

Cheryl — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 04:50:37 +0000

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I work in a library after seeing such a portrayal of libraries and library staff. I know we have a reputation for being boring, but talk about going the other way.

Comment on ALIA thank you - no cardies allowed by Tony Foskett

Tony Foskett — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:50:09 +0000

I watched episode 1 and half of episode 2; I didn’t find it funny, so stopped watching.
I was also embarrassed by the girl in a wheelchair. People who have to use wheelchairs quickly become good at it; they don’t bump into people or furniture. And to see someone working in a library throwing books at a shelf out of reach wasn’t funny, it was humiliating for a particular group. No, I’m not one of them, but I’ve known plenty of people who were.
I agree with the other negative comments such as those from Neil and Anna.

Comment on Premiere night activities by Robin Lee

Robin Lee — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 01:35:47 +0000

Trevor, you are on the mark (or pretty close anyway!). I have had pizza in the book chute but the worse one was a bucket load of cane toads. They had spent the night clambering out of the bin and hiding all over the ground floor. Horrible.

Comment on Questions to the writers by Robert Rungkat

Robert Rungkat — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:52:16 +0000

Love the show; and staff I work with ditto this as well. About time someone had the nouse to send our industry out to the public and in time it will kick the CHASERS off the top 10 listing on Auntie. Which this fantastic satire will no doubt do. Re Bruce comment 25th Oct ‘majority of characters are men’ dont worry, the writers arent Librarians so wouldnt be too phased about that, no doubt as this program continues its course of success we fellows will be phased out and more gals slotted in as the boys might go into different areas of Public Service Jobs. Just one thing though- I do hope the writers start selecting some patrons we in this industry have to ‘put up with’ (in a witty sense) on a weekly basis and not just those on the Net porn sites as there are far diverse patrons whom use our organisation where I work in those areas than that-
Cheers Rob…

Comment on ALIA thank you - no cardies allowed by Anne

Anne — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:47:14 +0000

Very dull, and Frances overracts embarrassingly. Gave it two shots and that’s it. Puerile nonsense about covers it. What an opportunity lost.

Comment on The writers respond by Margaret Galbraith

Margaret Galbraith — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:07:13 +0000

I was thoroughly looking forward to this and thought it may have been along the lines of “Black Books” - but I was very disappointed. I think you should have researched what happens in libraries more before endeavouring in this venture. My whole family generally kid me about working in a library (I am in a University one) and say how boring it would be. It is anything but and we have a great laugh and meet some ’strange’ people - we could have written a better script from here!

Comment on ALIA thank you - no cardies allowed by Neil

Neil — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:53:33 +0000

Well, I’m sorry to disappoint all those who were excited last week about having a comedy TV program about librarians, but, having watched episode 2, I can only repeat that “The Librarians” is puerile nonsense.

It’s worse than undergraduate humour. It is not funny, and certainly not even remotely related to real life in an Australian public library. It projects a negative and silly image of librarians, not a positive professional one.

Let’s just hope it quietly fades away and we can all get back to normal.