Disco Fever

The Official Guide to Disco Dance Steps
Villari
1978

“Revolutionary step-by-step approach shows you how to be a hit on Saturday night.”  They had me at revolutionary.

So, who are these “new” women?

Careers in Education for the New Woman
Skagen
1977

In case you haven’t noticed, the career books are slowly killing me.  As an old woman of 49, I cannot imagine who this “New Woman” might be.  Oh wait maybe I am the new woman since I was in HIGH SCHOOL when this was published.  Okay, then the question is when does the NEW woman become an OLD woman?

Only Boys Get to be Doctors!

Men of Medicine
Shippen
1957

I plucked this gem from a small library’s youth collection. Aside from some yellowing, the physical condition was good and the content is okay, but I think we might want to include some folks from the last 50 years.  Maybe even some WOMEN????   Send this one to the museum!

Library Advocacy

This is an Acquisitions Libarian!

An Audiovisual Aid

And the best of all...Computer Operator

Careers in a Library
Rebecca Anders
1978

Don’t you want to become a Librarian after seeing this book? Young minds are SURE to want a piece of the library action!  ALA has spent too much time and money trying to advocate for librarians and libraries for one public library to ruin the profession with this book.  Seriously – this is so far from what a career in a library is really about that they’re actually damaging the profession by having this book on the shelves.

I did enjoy the fashion flash-back, though.

Attention girls! You too can have equal rights!

Girls are equal too! The Women’s movement for teenagers
Carlson
1974

This book is a blast from my past!  As a 49 year old librarian this book was a stroll down memory lane.  I loved titles like this when I was a teenager and would have read everything even semi radical and subversive!  That said, in 2009 this book is beyond stupid.  Teenagers  today will HATE the stupid cartoon people on the front and wonder what idiot believes that girls aren’t equal. This book belongs in a museum NOT in a youth nonfiction collection in a small public library!

Your Mama’s Cell Phone

Introducing Cellular Communications: The New Mobile Telephone System
Stan Prentiss
1984

You knew this was coming, didn’t you?  Don’t you love the picture on the cover?

Anyone looking for a book about how to use their new iPhone or how to send text messages is going to be very, very disappointed in this.  There is no mention of voice mail either.

Party Like it’s 1957!

Time for a Party: The Complete Home Party Book
Brent
1957

Move over Martha Stewart, because Ruth Brent is back in town.  Er, “still” in town…  This would be a cool book on display in a rare books collection or Henry Ford Museum maybe.  It’s not so cool when you’re looking for fresh ideas for entertaining.

What a Gas!

Gasoline Prices and Competition
Harold M. Fleming
1966

Wow, I bet library users who are interested in all the talk in the media about gas prices, new energy sources, and oil reserves will be impressed with this book!  NOT!

Not Your Mama’s Internet

Exploring the World of Online Services
Resnick
1993

So I want to set up a wi-fi network in my home, and I’d like to compare bundling services for the internet connection between various cable TV and phone services companies in my area.  Is this the book for me?

(Thank you, Anonymous Submitter!!)

“Complete, Up-to-Date, Authoritative Guide”…NOT

Child Support
Marianne Takas
1985

I’m so glad that this is “A Complete, Up-To-Date, Authoritative Guide to Collecting Child Support!”  Whew, I didn’t know it was this easy to find support and legal information.  If I were a single mother looking for child support, I’d be super glad a librarian handed me this helpful book.