Archive for November, 2008

Theological Librarians: Odd and Neurotic? Not Always.

Posted by Paul Roberts on November 17th, 2008

We must all admit that the librarians of Southern Seminary are, in all seriousness, a hip, edgy, stereotype-busting lot. Realizing that we are not your average librarians, I picked up Librarians in Fiction (by Grant Burns) in which is offered a list “reasonably representative of the dark side of librarians”. I include it not to point out the similarities (I for one, couldn’t find any), but to court a greater appreciation for the exceptional librarians at the disposal of our seminary community. The list:

awkward bald chunky condescending cranky cruel desiccated devious dirty disagreeable dreary dry dull dumpy emaciated exhausted feeble florid friendless frightened frustrated glowering hesitant huge humorless hysterical idiotic ill-tempered inhuman interfering lonely mincing myopic narrow nasty nervous neurotic odd old maid pale peculiar portly possessive red-faced repressed sad sexless sex-starved shapeless sharp-tongued shy slow sly spinster stiff thin tired tortured trapped ungainly unhealthy unlovable unnatural unscrupulous vengeful waxen wilted withered wizened

Burns, Grant. Librarians in Fiction: A Critical Bibliography. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co, 1998. p2-3

Popularity: 36% [?]

Custom Leather-Bound Greek and Hebrew Testaments

Posted by Paul Roberts on November 15th, 2008

Some of you may know that I do custom bookbinding and bible rebinding. I have a bindery in my basement and though at this point I have a bit of a backlog because my time has been in short supply, I am considering simplifying my schedule and returning my focus with a bit more purpose to binding.

So here, then, is my question: if I were to custom bind Hebrew bibles (BHS), Greek new testaments (UBS or NA), or even the Biblia Sacra Utriusque Testamenti (BHS and NA bound together) in a fine bookbinding leather and sell them new, would people actually want one?

If so, what do you think would be the most popular format? It is hard to find a strong sewn leather binding on either the Hebrew Bible or the Greek New Testament., and I’ve never seen a Biblia Sacra Utriusque Testamenti bound in anything other than hard-cover.

So what do you think? Should I do it? If you had your pick, which format would you prefer to have in a leather binding that will actually last longer the existing flimsy bindings?

Popularity: 40% [?]

Bean in the Archives

Posted by Paul Roberts on November 13th, 2008

I never used to think Mr. Bean was all that funny. I must be growing up at long last because I think this is hilarious. Just don’t try it in my library. If our Archives and Special Collections librarian doesn’t dispense his humble but effective justice upon you, my Patron Services staff will catch you at the door with an undeniable efficiency. Doubt me? Don’t even try.

Popularity: 28% [?]

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