Legal Research

I am Librarian ? It?s not funny.

By scott

I’m a qualified librarian ? a lot of you reading will already know that. I spent almost 10 years working in public libraries and think public libraries are still hugely important in our society. I’m also a fan of comedy and humour, including material that is occasionally close to the bone. I’m a firm believer that no topic should be taboo as far as comedy is concerned.

Why am I telling you this? I followed a link on Twitter (via CILIPInfo) to a piece on US Library Journal site concerning a line in a recent Jay Leno monologue where he made light of proposed library cuts in California. Leno said “People here in Los Angeles are upset that the mayor’s proposed plan to cut the budget of libraries… This could affect as many as nine people.”

You may or not find this a funny line as written or as said by Jay Leno. But would you as a Librarian then write to Mr Leno to tell him it wasn’t funny and that he was making light of a serious situation? Well, City Librarian Martín Gómez did. He wrote a letter telling Leno how he was ‘dismayed’ by his attempt to find humour in the proposed cuts, and that his nine people jibe “added insult to injury”. He added: “Despite what you may think, these cuts are no laughing matter to the 17 million people who use the city’s libraries each year.”

Now I am pleased that Mr Gómez cares deeply for the plight of Los Angeles libraries, really, I am. However, If I were in that situation I’d also be quite embarrassed to have a boss who plainly does not understand the concept of comedy and humour. (the LJ seemingly doesn’t either: “Does Tonight Show host Jay Leno think libraries are worth much? Apparently not”).

I don’t think the Leno line is particularly funny but should it be off limits to try and make light of it for comedic value? No, don’t think so. Leno is not a news reporter, he is not there to report ‘the facts’, he is there to try and get a laugh. And no-one who was watching would have been sitting there thinking - wow, only nine people use the libraries, yes, let’s axe them.

If I were Leno I’d respond on air - apologise and say “It seems I said it could affect as many as nine people. I accept that was wrong. Apparently it is 17 people.”

Full post as published by Information Overload on May 19, 2010 (boomark / email).