A charming article about library cats – felines who take up residence in public libraries and win the hearts of staff and patrons alike:
Library cats greet patrons in about 125 libraries across America. Most live and “work� in cozy, small-town libraries where they don’t get lost in the stacks. Historically, library cats earned their keep doing rodent patrol, but modern library cats have more white-collar duties: to act charming and make the library a welcoming and homey place.
There is even a Library Cat Society which counts many of these cats as members.
Crazy Cat Ladies
There are to many crazy cat ladies that work in libraries. Psychologist call these people “Animal Harborers.” These individuals either fear or distrust human relationships and turn to animals for their social needs. The pets become their family and they sometimes continue to harbor animals when the number clearly exceeds their capacity to care for them.
And in the case of crazy cat lady librarians books as well as cats fill in for the social needs of the individual.
I think it hurts the profession when librarians go on and on about cats because we get connected with the crazy cat lady crowd.
Truth hurts
This is not a troll it is the truth and the truth hurts. We don’t want to be thought of as women with buns in their hair shushing people. But librarians go on and on about cats and then we want the pay of professionals. Cats suck! Cat people need mental help! Join the Association of Librarians Against Cats.
Re:Truth hurts
If you don’t like cats, then don’t have one! You seem to have a lot of time on your hands. Good luck.
ca-ah-ah-ah-choo!
I hate to say it, but if my public library had a cat I would be forced to take my business elsewhere. I am terribly allergic to cats, and only need to be in a room where one has been to feel the ill effects. I’d hate to think that there are others who cannot use these libraries for this reason–or even staff who could not work at such libraries. The same holds true for local businesses with cats–they never get my business for this reason.
Re:Truth hurts
I don’t have a cat. What I don’t like is how librarians are so connected to cats. Why? Because we have to many wack jobs in the profession that are truly obsessive compulsive about cats. People in other professions have pets but they are not linked to their pets. What pets do accountants have? Doctors? Lawyers? Who knows. But librarians, everyone knows, have cats. And we sure as hell have crazy people with cats that make the whole profession look bad.
Re:Truth hurts
Wow… it may not be a troll but it is certainly flamebait. If only you attached your name to these posts then a discuss could begin in earnest. You paint cat owners with a wide and vicious brush. Most cat owners aren’t hoarders, most dog owners aren’t hoarders, and most librarians aren’t hoarders. In fact, near where I live we have had 4 people arrested for being animal hoarders (they kept mostly dogs) and none of them were librarians. The fact that you feel you need to rebuke someone for their choice of pet shows more than your posts intended. Gentle colleague, in the future please keep your baser and nasty opinions of peoples pets to yourself.
QOTD: “People who hate cats must have been mice in a former life.”
Re:Truth hurts
I know more dog owning Librarians than I do cat owning ones. The reason Librarians get associated with cats is not because of the nutjob librarians. It is because in ages past Librarians were generally single, unmarried women and the stereotype was that these “spinster” ladies would spend all their time raising cats and hiding in their house. (Like the crazy cat lady on the Simpsons) Instead of berating Lisnewserz for the pets they own, why don’t you do something more positive: like write an article for your local paper, etc… highlighting the positives of being a librarian (our place in society, our value, etc..). Lashing out like the earlier posts did might make readers lump those writers into “nutjob” category.
Re:Truth hurts
Most people are able to tell the difference between the library staff with one or two healthy, well-cared-for cats on the premises, and single, socially isolated individuals with twenty or more animals that aren’t fixed, are therefore breeding freely, don’t get veterinary care, and are living in filth.
In fact, it’s hard to imagine how sensible people could confuse the two.
That the patrons of any busy public library are likely to include some people who are signficantly allergic to cats is a far more serious objection to the presence of cats in libraries.
Re:ca-ah-ah-ah-choo!
I meant to note that the article doesn’t have any remarks from people who would be averse to having a cat in the library for various reasons, not the least of which are serious allergies. From this story’s point of view, having a cat or other animal on the premises can make the library more inviting, but the story doesn’t mention that it’s at a cost to other potential library users. There are other ways to draw people into the library without posing health risks to others.
Animal hoarding/collecting
… is a serious disorder. You can read more about it at its ODP category.
Re:Truth hurts
Wow, with an argument this stupid and pointless, I’m amazed that Fang and Tomeboy have so far refrained from jumping in. You’d think they’d be chomping at the bit to get some of this action. Where’d you go, guys?
Funny response
One of the libraries mentioned in this article got the following letter, apparently in response to the story. They say it was postmarked Fort Smith, Arkansas and was otherwise anonymous. I’m told this is exactly as the letter was written, wording and underlining included (except I removed the library’s info so no one gets in trouble for sharing, I hope).
OH, OH, what in the world is the meaning of this_________ I, for one, do not think you, or the cat, are so very cute.
When my public library starts allowing dirty animals to roam the shelves and books, I will discontinue my use of the library.
I am a very, very, very, clean person in both my personal care, my home, and my car. A cat will rub itself against my legs and clothes if I allow it. A dog will run up and lick my leg. When this happens, I must return home immediately to bathe and change clothes. (How do I know if the dog has been chewing on a rat???… They do, you know!!!!!!)
When a neighbor’s child developed leukemia and they took him to that famous children’s hospital in Memphis, Tenn. they were given a long list of questions. One of the first questions asked was “Does he have a cat?” WHY did they ask this?? Did they suspect a connection between the disease and the Cat ! He did have a cat and played in the sandbox which the cat used as a toilet. In fact, he wallowed in the sand ! His parents said they allowed this because when he came inside, he was showered from head to toe. Evidently, this made No difference.
So, go ahead, play with the cat and develop some deadly disease, but don’t enforce it on others.
I am healthy_____Totally Healthy____ never an ache or a pain, sleep like a log !!!! and have endless energy, but then, I have never had extremely close contact with an animal___ never, ever lived with one !!!!!!
password?
So what’s the username/password?
— Ender, Duke_of_URL