Wrap vs. rap is an easy mistake to make — and besides, in a knitting world where there are books like “Pretty in Punk,” I don’t think that “Rap Style” is that far outside the realm of possibilities!

The best way to address this kind of thing is to write a letter (or an email) to the head of the library system. If the person was a librarian, the boss will light a fire under her to get on the ball. And if not, it will provide justification to get some real librarians in there. Either way, you’ll be doing the library system a favor (not to mention doing a favor to patrons like you, too).

I’m sorry you had such a dumb, frustrating experience but please don’t give up on libraries. They provide a mind boggling array of services, all for free (after taxes).

I’d also like to point out that the idea that librarians are supposed to be geniuses who know everything is rather unrealistic. We are human and are subject to the same limitations of other humans.

Perhaps you should write to the Universities who teach librarianship and suggest that knitting terminology is added to the syllabus

It isn’t totally out of the question to ask for clarification on spelling when it could easily be done either way– regardless of the book’s subject. Better to clarify than assume. That said, this person you interacted with did make an assumption and didn’t consider alternatives, which is why I agree that this was poor service on her part. According to your descriptions, they certainly did not act as if they knew what they were doing.

But you would be surprised the titles some books have, and one thing I have learned is not to judge a book by its title and vice versa.

And I assure you, the ability to use a keyboard is not the only requirement for librarians these days. If that were true, it wouldn’t take two years of full-time graduate level schooling, and it wouldn’t be so difficult to find and get hired for one’s initial proper librarian position. Perhaps in some areas in the country they’re lacking qualified applicants, but that is certainly not true everywhere.

To address your friends who think we cannot read or do so at a kindergarten level…. As someone stated above, librarians (not clerks or other paraprofessionals that may assist you when you visit a library) go through a graduate program to receive an MLS. And yes, part of that program is being literate. Try getting into a graduate program without that ability.

But thank you oh so kindly for judging an entire profession by one experience.

As well, at the library where I work, all the librarians speak at least one foreign language, sometimes two or three. One woman has Russian, Hebrew and French. I have Italian and Hebrew. Plus damn near fluent ASL for dealing with our Deaf patrons. So I reckon we’re pretty well educated.

In a public library, not everyone working the desk is a trained librarian. Not everyone working at the desk is involved in your specialty. She could have been having a bad day, could have been dealing with nasty kids (like my cousin, who was threatened by a couple of teenagers at her library, which kind of ruined her day), so cut her a little slack. I’m sure you’re not always on top of your game when you’re at work.