Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes, the dynamic duo of bibliothecal humor, have added an 11th book to their collection of acerbic and unforgiving Unshelved comic strips, offering wisecracks and biting observations on just about every aspect of patron (and librarian) behavior. Old-school reference librarian Colleen is retired (though she makes occasional appearances to cite broken rules). In her absence are unattended children, meaningless staff-training seminars, user-unfriendly website redesigns, laconic computer users permanently parked at workstations and fickle patrons who would jump ship at the first sighting of advanced technology (iPads and game rentals) at a competing library.
With witty sarcasm and characteristic ribbing, Ambaum and Barnes address a variety of topics in Reads Well with Others, including what authors really mean when they write, great books that are made into awful movies, dwindling library budgets (and resources) and enforcement of cell-phone policies (which always elicits sighs of exasperation and disgust). The strips offer valuable tips on how to hoard advanced copies and other freebies while attending annual book-industry conferences--strategies conference-goers of any stripe can appreciate. With graphic-novel critic and teen librarian Dewey, Mallville Public Library's underachieving and underworked antihero, they aim to debunk the myth that librarians read everything.
Also included among the strips (a mixture of new and previously published Web comics) is an insider's look at the creation and development of Barnes and Ambaum's beloved Mallville family, including some of Barnes's penciled storyboards. In a matter of a few panels, their caustically charming characters winningly vent their frustrations about an underappreciated and misunderstood profession. --Nancy Powell, freelance writer and technical consultant