We all know that librarians are not the prototypical sensible-shoes-wearing little ladies with buns, but did you have any idea how much fun we can be? Here's a collection of news stories I've assembled about some image-busting librarians and the imaginative parties, programs, competitions, and stunts they've staged for their communities. To get an idea of what I had to say in this presentation, see my column, "Party People," http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib307.html.

Image-Busters

Canton Public Library, http://town.canton.ma.us/library/ - Join the Friends for a 5-hour fiesta of books - Buy a bag 'o books for $5 bucks. - Buy 'em here - Take 'em home! - For the first 5 customers who were born on the 5th of May the Friends' Mariachi a Capella Quintet will sing a chorus of "Happy Birthday" - or for a $5.00 donation they won't.

InfoIsland in Second Life - Official site and blog, <http://infoisland.org/>; Library Success Wiki entry, <http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Info_Island_I>; Slide Shows Tagged with InfoIsland, <http://www.slideshare.net/tag/infoisland> - See slide 47!

Library School Avatars, http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2410/library-education-goes-virtual

The Hollywood Librarian

Break-dancing librarian, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK0GmiSMNGI

Library Workers Picket with Flair, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070823.BCSTRIKE23/TPStory/National

Pimp My Library, http://www.pimp-my-library.blogspot.com/

Unshelved! http://www.unshelved.com/Default.aspx

Calendar girls: "Move Over, Marian," http://www.helenair.com/yt/?p=734

Wyoming Libraries campaign, http://www.wyominglibraries.org/campaign.html

Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto - YouTube video a la Burning Man, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZblrRs3fkSU

"Not so prim and proper," http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/living/books/s_525170.html

Interesting librarian backgrounds: http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2007/09/27/be-librarian.html

Some image-busting librarians: comics maven Robin Brenner, <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6423406.html>; Jessamyn West, <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA200903.html>; and <http://librarian.net>; "Lunar hunk" Aaron Coutu <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA385872.htm>; Library director, juggler, and teller of tall tales Michael Sullivan <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA510783.html> and <http://www.talestoldtall.com/>

Parties

Harry Potter parties galore! See <Haunted Harry III, at Escondido Public Library> and <http://www.flickr.com/photos/escondidopubliclib/sets/72157594354391253/>; Harry Potter Prediction Party at Wallingford Public Library, <http://wallingfordlibrary.blogspot.com/2007/07/harry-potter-prediction-party.html> and the Deathly Hallows Prediction Contest at the St. Charles Public Library; a costume designer's presentation on making your own costume or adapting your Muggle wardrobe at Oshkosh PL; making slime at the Summitville (Indiana) Library;

Library Princess Tea Party, <http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070819/NEWS01/708190363/1001/NEWS10>; also, the Pink Princess Party Story Time at Oak Bluffs (MA) Public Library <http://childrensobpl.blogspot.com/2007/06/pink-princess-party-story-time.html>

Retro parties: Fabulous Fifties Sock Hop week at Imaginon; 80s Party, Kinderhook (NY) Memorial Library <http://teen-o-mite.blogspot.com/2007/03/teen-night-80s-party.html>

Teen Lock-ins - Unquiet Fridays at the Princeton Public Library; Lights Out at the Library Sleepover at Wilton (CT) Library; Locked in at the Library, at Seattle Public Library, Somerset County (NJ) Library, and Bridgeport (CT) PL; more about NJ library lock-ins, <http://librarygarden.blogspot.com/2007/09/2007-summer-reading-program-in-review.html>

Teddy Bears Picnic, at Bethlehem (NY) PL; also at Prospect Heights (IL) PL, where it's combined with a parade

Pool parties: Lakewood Public Library; Oak Hill (OH) Public Library end of summer reading program swim party

Library anniversary parties, like Bristol Public Library's reproduction of the original dedication program <http://www.bristolpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18691452&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=571108&rfi=6>

Ender’s Back-to-the-Future Costume Party with Stargazing on the Roof, Forsyth County (NC) Public Library, http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_RelishArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352640908&path=!living&s=1037645509005

Ghostbusters, Gross Out Challenge and Costume Party, Kinderhook (NY) Memorial Library http://teen-o-mite.blogspot.com/2007/06/teen-night-ghostbusters-gross-out.html

CeLIBration at Georgia Tech, with speed dating, improv comedy, ninja tag and more http://theubiquitouslibrarian.typepad.com/the_ubiquitous_librarian/2007/08/celibration-200.html

Suggestions: Most Influential People Who Never Lived Party http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib295.html; 43-Man Squamish event and party http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/43-Man_Squamish

Programs

Garage band nights and other rock events: Michigan YA Librarian Bill Harmer's widely imitated idea to bring rock group High Strung into the library <http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/ENT07/708270308/1046>; Douglas County (CO) Library's Battle of the Bands; Fargo PL annual teen rock festival

Duct Tape crafts. "Sample the colors of the Duct Tape rainbow--try your hand at a duct tape cell phone holster, wallet, picture frame or bookmark" at Springfield-Greene County Library (MO); making Duct Tape Ties for Father's Day at Imaginon; Duct Tape Craft sessions at Southfield (MI)Public Library

As seen on television: "Antiques Roadshow" type events: Rare book appraisal at San Francisco Public Library, also at Lincoln City Libraries (NE); Antiques Evaluation Day with Wes Cowan at the Allen County (IN) Public Library, <http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/>; Brown County Public Library (IN)

As seen on television: extreme makeover program: Martin Library, York, PA, Room Facelift Contest with presentation by HGTV hosts of Room by Room, http://www.yorklibraries.org/martin/programs/GO/families/contest%20application.pdf

Anime, Manga, and CosPlay events: Westhampton (NY) Free Library Cosplay Party and Comicon, <http://westhamptonfreelibraryclubmanga.blogspot.com/2007/08/cosplay-party-comicon.html>; Cincinnati Public Library, <http://teenspace.cincinnatilibrary.org/library/>

Interactive Murder Mysteries: Way Library (Perrysburg, OH), Mayhem at the Murder fundraiser; Lincoln City Libraries (NE) cohosted a Mayhem in the Midlands Mystery Convention

Dance classes: Hip Hop Dance Classes at the Houston Public Library, Belly Dancing classes at Mount Laurel Library and Queens Library

St Joseph County (IN) Public Library's Dungeons & Dragons event

Time Capsule, Mitchell Memorial Library, http://public.travis.amc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123068250

Things That Fly, Houston Public Library - making paper airplanes, gliders, kites, flying saucers

Queens Library: "Nicole Bass, the world's largest female bodybuilder at 6 ft. 2 in. and 236 lbs., former WWE and ECW wrestler, who will speak on nutrition, bodybuilding, pro-wrestling..."

Low Rider show at the Ft. Worth Public Library, http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6312500

World Cup Soccer viewing, Princeton Public Library, http://librarygarden.blogspot.com/2006/07/soccer-serendipity-success-ppl.html

Go Hog-Wild at the Roxbury (NJ) Public Library. Michele Reutty, president of NJLA and member of a motorcycle club called Spokes-Women, staged an all-day motorcycle event, http://www.spokes-women.org

Make a Movie Night, teen event at Asheboro (NC)Public Library http://tametheweb.com/2007/04/teens_can_make_movies.html

Queens Library: What to Do with Tape & Glue, Grown-ups' Style

Sidewalk Drawing - St. Charles (IL) Public Library

RhythmWeb - "Learn about the drums of the world and how to make homemade ones." Houston Public Library

Connect up with the International Space Station: Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL, http://www.dailyherald.com/column/?id=34179

Turn old computer parts into jewelry at the Ann Arbor District Library

Model train exhibit, Smyrna (TN) Library, http://www.murfreesboropost.com/news.php?viewStory=4936

Science on Patrol, King Count Library System, in collaboration with the King County Sheriff's Office, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/2003836977_library15e.html

Giant Chess at Hennepin County Library

The Art of T-Shirt Slashing at the Hennepin County Library

Women's Business Expo, Middle Country (NY) Library http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzlibe0919,0,5883047.story

"Local Public Servants Read to Children as part of the fifth annual American Hero Bookfair," Yuma County (AZ) Libraries, http://www.yumasun.com/news/children_36409___article_news.html/yuma_zinn.html

Community festivals

Librarypalooza - Princeton Public Library, Everett (WA) Public Library - http://www.towntopics.com/oct0803/gallery.html; http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6423395.html;

Arts Festival, Las Vegas Clarke County Library District, http://www.lvccld.org/events/event.cfm

Sample the Arts at Springfield Greene County (MO) Library, http://thelibrary.org/programs/other/samplethearts.cfm

Community Tile Day, "Birthday Mural" at Corvallis-Benton County Library (OR) - http://www.gtconnect.com/articles/2007/07/26/news/people/2gwd01_july21.txt

Queensborough Library - something for all 142 nationalities in the community - http://queenslibrary.org/index.aspx?page_id=27§ion_id=6 - Polish Folk Music and Dance, A Musical Journey, from Hebrew to Yiddish, Brazilian Music Concert & Dance Performance, Traditional Puerto Rican Music of Cuatro Puertorriqueño, etc.

Wilton Library's all-community concert with Chris Brubeck

Cinco de Mayo celebrations and Dia de los ninos; dia de los libros celebrations, http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/diadelosninos/diacelebrations/diacelebrations.htm; see Omaha Public Library's contribution to Cinco de Mayo parade http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2252206039125231411

Storytelling Festivals - Multnomah County (OR) Library's Tapestry of Tales, <http://www.multcolib.org/events/tales/>; Orem (UT) Public Library Timpanagos Storytelling Festival, <http://www.timpfest.org/about/library.html>; Tampa-Hillsborough County Library, <http://www.tampastory.org/>.

Book Crawl - Ann Arbor District Library, Chelsea District Library, Ypsilanti District Library in concert

Food!!

Barbecue for Books, Ashland (OR) Library fundraiser, http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070908/LIFE/709080313

Snacking the Middle East Way - Bettendorf (IA) Public Library

Cookie Swap, Stillwater (OK) Public Library, http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Programs_for_Adults

Marshalltown (IA) Public Library fund-raising event: the annual downtown chocolate walk

Salsa Making Contest - Ocean County (NJ) Library

Books, Blooms and Baked Goods Sale, Bonham (TX) Public Library http://heralddemocrat.com/articles/2007/04/14/life/life03.txt

A Night To Remember - Titanic fare at the Ocean County Library, http://tritown.gmnews.com/news/2007/0913/Front_Page/015.html

Cakepan Collections: North Liberty (IA) Public Library, http://www.northlibertylibrary.org/vttwo/cakepans/cakepans.html; also Reed Memorial Library (OH), whose collection includes Sponge Bob, Barbie, Spiderman, etc.

Willie Wonka Design a Candybar Contest, Cuyahoga County (OH) PL

Dayton&Montgomery County Library teen event celebrating National Potato Chip Day

Cookies in the shape of the new library building - St. Ambrose University Library

Competitions and Stunts

The Smelly Six of the Henderson District Library, <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA633315.html>; also see <http://www.flickr.com/photos/12764830@N00/>; cf Read for the Record at Howard County Library, to break the world record for the largest shared reading experience, <http://www.hclibrary.org/about/press_readrecord.php>; also, the Reading Relay, Washoe County (NV) Library System, <http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070929/NEIGHBORHOODS/709290326/1247>

Teen video, photography, and art competitions: Princeton PL's Student-Made Film and Video competition; Lakewood Public Library's Photos of the city of Lakewood competition, <http://www.lkwdpl.org/art/photocontest/index.html>; Kids' Art Fair at Ann Arbor District Library <http://www.aadl.org/node/4512>; Pet and Wildlife K-12 Photo Contest, Ann Arbor District Library; Asheboro Public Library's video editing contest <http://tametheweb.com/2007/04/teens_can_make_movies.html>

As seen on television: American Idol competitions: Chesterfield Township Public Library, <http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070902/CFP06/709020357/1110/NEWS>; also, Louisville Free Library's Library Idol competition, <http://public.lisnews.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/07/1725206>

Geocaching events: Penn State Library, <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/10/051017071602.htm> and <http://www.psu.edu/ur/2005/geocaching.html>; also Case Western Reserve Library's Geocaching contest, <http://library.case.edu/ksl/csgd/geocaching.html>; and Nampa Public Library; What IS geocaching? <http://www.case.edu/pubs/cnews/2003/4-17/schneider.htm>

LEGO contests, Ann Arbor District Library, <http://www.aadl.org/node/4869>; also Marshall District Library (MI) <http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070719/LIFESTYLE08/707190305/1032/LIFESTYLE08>

Costume contests: FantasyFest Costume contest for teens at the Douglas County (CO) Library; or come to the Ann Arbor District Library to create your own superhero costume; Society for Creative Anachronism program at the Fargo Public Library (motto: "where the fun is free") ;

Writing contests: St. Joseph County Library's Eerie Imaginings short story contest, http://sjcpl.org/whatsnew/libraryevents/eerie/default.html;

Athletic events: Library Walkathon, Waterboro (ME) Public Library <http://www.waterborolibrary.org/labels/waterboro>; Read and Run for Your Health 5K and 1 Mile Walk at Henderson Libraries <http://www.mypubliclibrary.com/programs/5KRun.html>; Huntley Area (IL) Public Library Kick-a-thon <http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/08/15/news/local/doc46c287daacdd7168083014.txt>; 5K Race for the Kennebunk Free Library (Its 10th annual) <http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/NEWS/707120364/-1/rss07>

Gaming contests: Dance Dance Revolution contests, Super Smash Brothers Melee at St. Joseph County Public Library; Forsyth County Public Library; Imaginon, many others.

Pimp My Bookcart contests, <http://www.unshelved.com/blog.aspx?post=877>; winners: <http://www.unshelved.com/blog.aspx?post=745>

Bookcart drill teams, <http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0627/p20s01-algn.html>; videos: <http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=3D22BCD718780C1C>; photo sets: <http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanlibraries/641160172/>

Library moving day stunts: human chain at St. Ambrose University Library; the Great Mount Kisco (NY) Library Book Race, http://mtklibraryfoundation.org/newsbookrace.html

A Day in Allen County on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsphotos/434085021/

Voluntary Public Humiliation: "Wackiest librarian in Texas" perches on roof until $20,000 is raised <http://www.main.org/tla3/rosealeta.htm>; Turn library staff into the superheroes of your choice, <http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=128697&ac=PHnws>; Aaron Coutu of the green hair (see above)

M&M mosaic Guinness Book event at Evergreen Park Library (IL), http://mosaicinfo.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/library-has-sweet-way-to-break-a-record/

Teen YouTube Contest for a library promotion - Eden Prairie Library (MN), http://tametheweb.com/2007/08/eden_prairie_library_contest_e.html

Nampa (ID) Public Library Contest for Ideas for the new library, http://nampalibrary-sketchbook.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html

Teen Songwriting Contest, Nashville Public Library, http://www.library.nashville.org/teens/songwriting/songwritingsongs7.asp

Fantasy Baseball Competition at the Krauss Memorial Library, Rockford MI, http://folusa.org/sharing/programs-projects.php

Celebrity Doodles Auction, Bettendorf Public Library, http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/libraryfund/events.htm

Win an iPod Shuffle at our Guitar Hero Contest, Corbin Public Library (MA), http://chesterccorbinyouthservices.wordpress.com/2007/07/30/win-an-ipod-our-guitar-hero-contest/

Partners in a Great System (P.I.G.S.) promotion, Alliance Library System, <http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA510552.html>; cf Painted Bears fundraiser for the Park County Library in Cody, WY, http://www.codyenterprise.com/articles/2007/08/08/news/news1.prt

Gname this Gnome at the Jones Library, Amherst MA; cf name the cartoon dog's sidekick at Anderson (IN) Public Library for Library Card Signup Month in 2005.

Spooky Superstitions Day Friday the 13th at the Hartford Public Library, http://www.hplct.org/teen/superstitionday.htm

Cupstacking competition, Ann Arbor District Library

Easter egg and book hunt staged by junior Friends of the Reno Library (?)

Googlewhack@your library, http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0928sr-arts28sideZ8.html

Build a Scarecrow on the front lawn contest, Clapp Memorial Library, Belchertown MA, http://folusa.org/sharing/programs-projects.php

Car Rally treasure hunt adventure, Fort Frances Public Library, Ontario, CA, http://www.fftimes.com/node/204027

Baker & Taylor Cat Calendar Contest, Payson (AZ) Public Library, http://www.paysonroundup.com/section/localnews/story/30287

Whining Contest at the Chesterfield Township (MI) Library's Stilton Cheese and Whine Party, http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070828/NEWS01/708280311/1002

Quilt Me a Story Contest, Pelican Rapids (MN) Public Library

Recycled Art Competition, Delphi (IN) Public Library, http://www.carrollcountycomet.com/news/2007/0905/local_News/077.html

Displays, Design and Decorations

Prospect Heights PL (IL) decorates for Christmas with children's hats and mittens, to be given away to children in need

"For Dummies" Book Display, Lansing Public Library, http://www.flickr.com/photos/lansinglibrary/454834828/

Chicago Public Library's To Kill a Mockingbird promotion

Anonymous library: "Follow the Yellow Book Road; "Read My Lips" displays, both based on appearance of book jackets

Mural project at the Belleville (Ontario) Public Library

Addenda

Ideas from FOLUSA members http://folusa.org/sharing/programs-projects.php

Maybe a little TOO cool? "Walworth Library Director accused of furnishing alcohol to minors." http://www.theweekextra.com/news/0807/082407library.html