“... one of those librarians who rules the stacks with an intimidating scowl, whispers quiet sharply enough to lacerate the tender inner tissues of the ear, and will pursue an overdue-book fine with the ferocity of a rabid ferret.”

“...writing with ferocity is a gift, provided that ferocity is a monomaniacal devotion to pursuing the truth ...”

“Watch out for those overdue fines..... Oh I think I can afford them”

“The Sun rules our inner personalities - who we are to those who know us best.”

“An even more pointed example of the the power of the silence tabu in libraries occurred in Duluth in 1981. The police were pursuing a fugitive from justice who ran into the public library. Uniformed police surrounded the building, and the library director was notified that only unobtrusive plainclothesmen were entering the building. Their instructions: “When you find him, overpower him. Quietly.” It was done, and only a few people in the crowded building saw a handcuffed man being ushered past the checkout counter. “See,” one librarian remarked quietly to an amazed person, “that’s what happens when you don’t pay your book fines.”

“Rule number one: Don't fuck with librarians.”