Creators of Unshelved Coming in November

I am excited to announce that I have made arrangements for Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum, the creators of Unshelved (http://www.unshelved.com/), to come and speak to UNCG’s LIS Students on Friday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. on the campus of UNC Charlotte.

For those of you not familiar with Unshelved, it is a comic strip set in a public library written by a real librarian. I urge everyone to become familiar with this comic strip immediately. 😉 Below is the comic’s description from their website (http://www.unshelved.com/primer.aspx).

Welcome to Unshelved, the world’s only daily comic strip set in a public library! Writer Gene Ambaum (the made-up name of a real-life librarian) and co-writer and artist Bill Barnes have been publishing since February 16, 2002. Some of the stories are made up, some of them are based on real life, and some are absolutely true stories sent to us from our readers. And the stranger the story, the more likely it is to be true.

Here’s a quick primer about the library and the people who work there and frequent it. Enjoy your stay!

The Mallville Public Library

Most of the action in Unshelved takes place in or near the Mallville Public Library, a branch library in the same system as Outlet City. Recently the library underwent a significant (and unusually rapid) remodel.

Dewey

Our hero, the determinedly ironic young adult librarian who would rather read comic books or play games than work the reference desk, or indeed do any kind of work at all.

First appearance: February 16, 2002

Mel

Beleaguered branch manager trying to keep the chaos to a minimum. Mel’s great passions in life are fly-fishing and office supplies. It is Mel’s fate that she can’t state an opinion that isn’t immediately contradicted by the events around her.

First appearance: February 16, 2002

Tamara

Children’s librarian. Cheery and idealistic, but don’t cross her. Tamara’s favorite letter is “T.”

First appearance: March 4, 2002

Colleen

Cranky, old-fashioned, computer-illiterate reference librarian who late in life surprised everyone by adopting baby Doreen from China. (“I wanted a clone but the technology wasn’t there.”)

First appearance: February 19, 2002

Merv

Twelve-year old who spends a lot of time in the library for someone who doesn’t like to read. He enjoys action figures, web surfing, and video games. Dewey is either his idol or the only person who will talk to him, or both.

First appearance: February 16, 2002

Buddy the Book Beaver

Former library mascot turned library page who still wears his costume for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. His colorful past is slowly being unearthed.

First appearance: June 26, 2002

Ned

Mallville’s media-savvy attorney is also a civil libertarian who exercises his freedom of expression in a unique way.

First appearance: March 14, 2002

I am very excited about this event. I hope everyone will make arrangements to be at there in November at UNCC. Admission to this event is free to LISSA members, all non-LISSA members will be charged $5 at the door. If you have any questions please let me know.

My best,

Jennifer