Comments on: Reference Question of the Week – 2/17/08

By: The Shadow

The Shadow — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:27:51 +0000

I have worked in bookstores and similar situations arise when self-published authors call in under assumed names and special order their own books, then “forget” to come pick them up. The books, being from vanity presses, are often non-returnable, so the bookstore is stuck with them and has to put them out on the shelf, where generally they languish forever because they are not professionally produced. I have no idea if that is the case here, but it sounds familiar.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:14:07 +0000

Our library in Oregon just received this exact same email. I had gone to NPR’s website to look for the review and of course didn’t find one, but with further googling I found your blog entry. Thanks for posting – it will save us $20, which is no small sum to our struggling library system.

By: Brian Herzog

Brian Herzog — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:15:20 +0000

I do see your point, but my take is this: I’m providing information, and people can make their own informed decisions. They say there is no such thing as bad publicity, but I did not buy this book after I read what other people wrote.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:50:38 +0000

Isn’t the irony that by posting those emails – you’re actually helping advertise that author!

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:34:08 +0000

I’ve encountered this before, too. I have to admit, it’s an interesting and time-consuming idea, but also completely annoying. It’s really easy to tell at a college if the person is affiliated or not. I always write back something similar to what you did – implying I know they are not affiliated, asking if they are affiliated, etc. They never respond.