Sadly, due to a winter blast that closed many libraries in New England, and the general confusion surrounding separating fiction from reality that’s gripping our nation, American Libraries is unable to provide our annual roundup of April Fools’ pranks from Libraryland this year. Fortunately, we’ve got an alternative. We’ve switched this year’s batch of library pranks with Folger’s Crystals. See if you can tell the difference:
Okay, okay, on to the real library pranks.
Go for the gold
The National Library of Scotland has launched a campaign to make speed-reading an Olympic sport, with a video profile of Declan, an aspiring long-distance nonfiction competitor, and other top contenders. The sport’s not without its controversies, mostly involving the Polymer Handbook, but it’s still got a great chance to join sport climbing and skateboarding on the 2020 program.
https://www.facebook.com/NationalLibraryOfScotland/videos/10158521763455381
LibrarInk Masters
Using just the tools in its makerspace, Hillsboro (Oreg.) Public Library created a self-tattooing kit for patrons to check out, giving them an opportunity to “try something new and learn a valuable skill.” Unfortunately, some of the staff have chosen to use the tattoo gun for evil, branding themselves as Death Eaters or, worse, Team Jacob.
No escape
Sterling Municipal Library in Baytown, Texas, offered several bits of whimsy on its Facebook page, including one with a decidedly astronomical bent: This month only, the library’s interactive Think Tank is offering a (potentially) one-way trip through a black hole.
Silence in the library
Apparently fed up with collaboration and sound in general, and finding that quiet areas didn’t go far enough, the Rodney A. Briggs Library at the University of Minnesota Morris established an extra quiet zone on its fourth floor. Patrons are expected to think quietly.
Don’t take the elevator
The Wisconsin State Law Library turned its April newsletter over to some law-related hoaxes, including a new judicial robe dress code, a new text on human modeling law, and an announcement of the library’s rare book room hosting an L.A. Law reunion show.
Classics return
We’ve spotted a few pranks that have been done in previous years, including drone deliveries, Airbnb rentals, and pet-lending, but props to Bryn Mawr College Library and Information Technology Services for bringing back a personal information security prank retro enough to feel fresh again.
