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Superheroes of Library Land - Part 2

8/17/2014

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The second in an occasional, continuing series...

Because sometimes laughter is the only thing that saves us...

Batgirl

PicturePutting her librarian's efficiency to use (DC Comics)
Librarians have always been rather self-effacing about their superpowers. Because, at the end of the day, we are all about empowering others. And then there's Dr. Barbara Gordon, Ph.D. Zealously committed to justice, she yearns to follow in her father Police Commissioner Jim Gordon's footsteps and join the police force. However, in an effort to protect her from Gotham's meaner streets, he puts the kibosh on that ambition.

So she becomes a librarian instead. Sounds about right.

Barbara earns her doctorate and becomes the director of the Gotham City Public Library, where she presumably:

  • redesigns the floorplan into an efficient, user-friendly space;
  • purchases multiple copies of banned books and displays them prominently;
  • inaugurates a "One Book, One Gotham" reading program;
  • expands the children's section and promotes the Every Child Ready to Read campaign;
  • enlarges the Tweens and Teens hangout space, adding additional computers and Wi-Fi access to enhance the Minecraft tournaments that her young patrons adore;
  • adds a café featuring organic juices, teas and coffees, as well as an assortment of delicious AND healthy baked goods and snacks; and
  • installs a fabulous MakerSpace with a 3-D printer, iPads, videocameras, recording equipment and Beats by Dr. Dre headphones.

PictureHer 1967 debut (DC Comics)
But that still leaves her with plenty of spare time to kill. She's constantly improving her computer skills, through coding classes and hacker tourneys. She takes karate and judo lessons as an outlet for her pent-up aggression. She snags an invite to a costume ball (sponsored by the Policeman's Benevolent Society) and decides to attend dressed as a female version of Gotham's caped crusader, Batman. Well, wouldn't you know, traversing those mean streets, she happens upon an attempted kidnapping. The victim? None other than bazillionaire reprobate playboy, Bruce Wayne. The villain?  Killer Moth. Using those martial arts skills, she kicks some moth butt, allowing Bruce Wayne to escape. And, once unleased, you can never put the crime-fighting genie back in the bottle.  Or the librarian back into sensible shoes...

Picture
Looks like something I wear to work every day... (DC Comics)

There's always another adventure waiting on a higher shelf...

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Superheroes of Library Land

8/9/2014

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The first in an occasional, continuing series...

Batman

PictureThe Miller/Mazzucchelli update
I have a thing for Batman... I like my superheroes dark and brooding and shorn of "superpowers," except for their exceptional brains, a few incredible gadgets, and the brawn necessary to go mano a mano when the situation arises.

The Dark Knight indeed...


Picture
So I was extremely pleased to discover Batman's library connections and the depth and breadth of his knowledge of library science (with a little help from a Gotham City librarian). In Detective Comics #643, Peter Milligan, a fabulous British writer known for his work in television, film and comic books (X-Men and X-Force), crafted a tantalizing story titled "The Library of Souls," with artwork by Jim Aparo. In the story, Gotham City is bedeviled by a serial killer... who is employing the Dewey Decimal System in his heinous crimes. Get the gist and a look at a few of the panels at A Year of Cool Comics blog.

Holy Classification System!


There's always another adventure waiting on a higher shelf...

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    Author

    Joanne Zienty is, in no particular order, a reader, a writer, a teacher and a librarian who resides in the western suburbs of Chicago. She's been a library aficionado since early childhood.

    She was recently named the winner of the first Soon to be Famous Illinois Author Project sponsored by RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System) and the Illinois Library Association.

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