ANGLICAN
LIBRARY
SOCIETY

 
 

HOME
About Us
Directory
Forum
Librariana
Link Library
Search
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

LIBRARIANA ANGLICANA


The Sublime The Ridiculous The Sublime AND The Ridiculous
For librariana of a more general nature, see our Link  Library.
If you have material suitable for this page, please tell our webmaster.



Collect For Church Librarians, Archivists, and Webmasters

Almighty Father, who was pleased to have your Word set down in the script of man, grant skill and inspiration to church librarians, archivists, and webmasters  that they may faithfully continue the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth.  Accept the work of their hearts and hands as an offering of love and thanksgiving.  By your grace, may their labors help spread the knowledge and love of God through all the world, and at the last day, may they be found worthy to read your Word as it flows forth from the pen of your own hand.
Amen
 


 

Collect for Holy Scripture
Blessed Lord, 
who has caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning;
Grant that we may in such wise hear them, 
read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, 
that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, 
and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, 
which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen

Book of Common Prayer, 1928


 

Collect for Reading

Blessed Lord, who has given us the gift of reading,
Grant that we use this facility wisely,
And that it help us understand your holy Word. 
Guide us in discerning what is true in the writings of men,
That it will make us receptive to your grace, 
Inspire us in the love and service of others, 
And strengthen our faith in you, 
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
One God, now and forever.
Amen
 


 

Intercession for Libraries and Librarians

Blessed Jerome, patron of libraries, pray that our library may prosper as it serves God through the written word.  Pray that the materials contained therein bring our readers closer to God and to one another in God.  That it be protected from theft and damage and disaster.  That all souls be welcomed and respected.  That it never lose its focus as an instrument for the spread of God's Word.

Blessed Jerome, patron of librarians, pray for those who work with books for God, that their labor be always a suitable offering to God through service to man.  That their work be pursued with diligence and love, and that they be guided in right decisions and use of resources.

Blessed Jerome, pray especially for our readers, that they be inspired in the knowledge and love of God through the materials prepared by librarians and provided by libraries.  Remind all who work with libraries and all who use them that the highest end of all learning is in the love of God and their neighbors.

Gracious Lord in heaven, hear our prayers and the intercessions of our patron St. Jerome.  Grant that all who work in and for your libraries be inspired by the skill, scholarship, dedication, and tireless love of God shown forth by our blessed patron.  Accept your people of the book as humble servants and their libraries as agencies of your purpose.  Let them be found worthy to serve you always.
Amen
 


Learn more about Saint Jerome.


 
 

Paul-- His Cloak and His Books

St. Paul wrote to his son Timothy:

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, 
and above all the parchments.  (2 Timothy 4:13)
                 In an 1863 sermon, "Paul -- His Cloak and His Books,"; C.H. Spurgeon said of Paul:
He was inspired, and yet he wants books!
He had been preaching for thirty years, and yet he wants books! 
He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! 
He had a wider experience than most men do, and yet he wants books! 
He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things that it was 
not lawful for a man to utter, and yet he wants books! 
He had written a major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!

Upon Signing the Contract 

to Produce His Great Dictionary

[Suitable for librarians feeling a little overwhelmed.]

      O God, who hast hitherto supported me,
      Enable me to proceed in this labor,
      And in the whole task of my present state;
      That when I shall render up, at the last day,
      An account of the talent committed to me,
      I may receive pardon,
      For the sake of Jesus Christ.
      Amen

      Samuel Johnson, 1753



 


Beyond this point lies foolishness and tomfoolery


 



 
 
 


Ann Owed two the Spelling Chequer
      Aye halve a spelling checker, 
      It came with my pea sea 
      It plane lee marks four my revue 
      Miss steaks aye can knot sea. 

      As soon as a mist ache is maid,
      It nose bee fore two long,
      An die can put the error rite,
      Its rare lea ever wrong.

      Eye ran this poem threw it, 
      Your sure reel glad two no. 
      Its vary polished in it's weigh. 
      My chequer tolled me sew. 

      A checker is a bless sing, 
      It freeze yew lodes of thyme. 
      It helps me right awl stiles two reed, 
      And aides me when eye rime.

      Each frays come posed up on my screen 
      Eye trussed too bee a joule. 
      The chequer pours ore every word 
      Two cheque sum spelling rule. 

      Beef ore a veiling checker's 
      Hour spelling mite decline, 
      And if we're lacks oar have a laps, 
      We wood bee maid too wine. 

      Butt now bee cause my spelling 
      Is checked with such grate flare, 
      Their are know fault's within my cite, 
      Of nun eye am a wear. 

      Now spelling does knot phase me, 
      It does knot bring a tier. 
      My pay purrs awl due glad den 
      With wrapped word's fare as hear. 

      To rite with care is quite a feet
      Of witch won should bee proud, 
      And wee mussed dew the best wee can, 
      Sew flaw's are knot aloud. 

      And  that is why aye brake in two averse
      Caws eye dew wan too pleas
      Sow glad eye yam that I did bye
      This soft wear four pea seas.
       

Attributed to Jerold H. Zar, Candidate for the Pullet Surprise

This poem has bin republished and altared sow many thyme's that its 
hard too easily discern it's origin.  Won story is that it was written bye 
Jerold H. Zar, Ann administrator at Northern Illinois University, from 
opening lines suggested bye Mark Echman and first published bye the 
Journal of Irreproducible Results , Jan/Feb, 1994.  If this is true, the 
original missed words that could have bin misused, witch 
resulted inn other people supplying them on there own, and even adding
Anne extra stanza oar to. This prompted a cottage industry inn knew 
variations resulting inn know end of confusion. 

 

TheChurch Librarian's Psalm
from the Book of Melvil, 
a Non-Canonical Book of the Old Testament

The church librarian is the shepherd of our books.
For what we pay, we have no right to want.
He maketh us desire to lie down and read.
He leadeth us beside the still reference section.
Yea, though we walk through the valley of the information  blizzard, 
We will fear no evil clutter.
Thy Decimal System and thy Subject Headings, they comfort us.
Thou restoreth our library, and putterest away in it for the Lord's sake.
Thou preparest our books before us in the presence of kibitzers and committees;
Thou annointest our card pockets with glue;
Our shelves runneth over.
Surely order and retrievability will follow us all the days of our lives,
And we will dwell in the house of Melvil whenever we can finagle the time.

Translated from the library-speak Ur-text by Steven Olderr, MA, MLS, 2001


 

Dr. Seuss Explains Computers

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,
and the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,
and your data is corrupted 'cause the index doesn't hash,
then your situation's hopeless and your system's gonna crash.

If the label on the cable on the table at your house,
says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,
but your packets want to tunnel on another protocol,
that's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall,
and your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss,
so your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse,
them you might as well reboot it and go out with a bang,
'cause as sure as I'm a poet, your system's gonna hang.

When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy on the disk,
and the micro code instructions cause unnecessary risk,
when you have to flash your memory and try to RAM your ROM,
quickly turn off the computer and be sure to call your mom.

This wasn't really written by Dr. Seuss; it was found floating in cyberspace, unattributed.


 

Library Dietary Laws
from the Book of Melvil, 
a Non-Canonical Book of the Old Testament




Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and of all foods that 
are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but not in the Library.

Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may eat, 
but not in the Library.

Of the cloven-hoofed animals, plain or with barbecue sauce, you may eat, 
but not in the Library.

Of the cereal grains, of corn, and of wheat, and of oats, and of all the 
cereals that are of bright color and unknown provenance, you may eat, 
but not in the Library.

Of the round pies of baked dough, topped variously and wondrously 
with the goodness of the Earth, especially with pepperoni and double 
cheese, you may eat, but not in the Library, neither may you carry such 
therein.

Of quiescently frozen desserts and of all frozen treats, you may eat, 
but not in the Library.

Of the juices and other beverages, you may drink, but not in the Library. 
And you shall follow this commandment even if it be that drink of two 
portions hydrogen and one portion oxygen and even if such mixture be
held in a container of such cunning nature that it does not spill, yea
though it be upended.

Indeed, whenever you reach the place where the Library begins, there 
of any food or beverage you may not eat, neither may you drink.

Adapted for St.Paul's Parish library from Jim Farrington of 
Wesleyan University, who adapted it for use in his library from Ian 
Frazier's article, "Lamentations of the Father," originally published in the Atlantic Monthly.


 

Life of a Project

1.  Optimism and enthusiasm.
2.  Disillusionment.
3.  Panic.
4.  Search for the guilty.
5.  Punishment of the innocent.
6.  Reward and honor for the undeserving.

These observations have miraculous properties.   Anyone in charge of anything is instantly struck with the firm belief that they apply to everybody but themselves.

 

Ye Olde Lybrarian Meeteth Hys Publysher
Attributed to Hugh Beakwyatt, 
Second Sub-Assistant Cataloger at the Bodleian Library, 1602-1637
        Mye Lybrarie Paste, it dryeth upp,
        Mye Stampe Padde has noe Inke,
        Alle mye Bookes are oute of Printe,
        O Lorde, I'm overdue, I thinke.

        Yea, for when I shooshe thee Reader now,
        It maketh me lye down to wheaze,
        And Duste dysturbed upon thee Stackes,
        Doth taxe me Coughe & Sneaze.

        'Tis alle this poore olde Soule can doe,
        To shelve my Bookes somehow.
        I've spent mye Lyfe with Payper Wordes;
        & Talke seems emptie now.

        Mye Circulation getteth poore;
        It hath nott escaped Detection.
        Now cometh my Overdue from Godde;
        He weedeth me from Hys Collection.


Discovered on a garderobe wall by Steven Olderr, MA, MLS, 1972

  1 October 2002
+