Metro Spirit
Reviewed April 30, 2008 by J. Edward Sumerau

AUGUSTA, GA - "Insanity, when used right, can be a true virtue," says librarian Scott Douglas in his hilarious memoir “Quiet, Please:  Dispatches from a Public Librarian," throughout the pages of this work, the insanity of the characters bring the story to life in vibrant color.  

Clearing away the stereotypes that surround public-service librarians while offering an inside glimpse into the chaos found in these sanctuaries of books, Douglas peppers readers with a quick-witted narrative built on brazen humor and historical insight. A valuable book for anyone interested in the business or society of libraries, Douglass offers a glimpse at the changing roles and responses of these institutions of learning in the contemporary world.  
    
A regular contributor to McSweeney’s Web site, this is the debut book of Scot Douglas.  Douglas is a librarian at the Anaheim Public Library, and has chronicled his adventures in the public sector for McSweeney’s for the past five years. Throughout the book he highlights the simple turn of events that led him to fall into his career, but within the pages of his narrative he expresses a growth of passion in the preservation of the public library in the modern world.  
    
While most people see librarians as those people behind the desk who speak little and shush a lot, Douglas offers a portrait of funny characters manning the ship at these local institutions. With an eye for absurdity, Douglas highlights the often-unnoticed humor found in everyday life.  

The cast of characters is the highlight of this story. Whether it’s the insecurity of Brenda or the hilarious ramblings of Art, the story is built on vivid interplay with non-stereotypical librarians.  
    
Considering the pace and humor throughout the story, a fantastic highlight can be found in the running commentary along the bottom of the pages in the form of footnotes provided by the author. This running commentary provides a hilarious glimpse into the inner-workings of the library while showcasing tremendous comic timing throughout the piece. Further interest can be found in the historical accounts of libraries provided mostly through asides titled ‘for shelving’ throughout the piece. These little asides within chapters provide an interesting sidetrack to the read while highlighting the place of the antics in the larger scheme of humanity.  
    
Available from major booksellers across the country, “Quiet, Please” is a fun trip into the public sector so few notice.  With a mixture of history, wit and hilarity, Douglas breathes life into the quiet old lady behind the counter at the public library.