# Librarian Mind? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 26, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226 "2008-02-26T15:53:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/1 "2008-02-26T15:53:42Z")
Do you have your library card number memorized? The 2/25/08 panel of [this webcomic](http://www.unshelved.com/) implies that this would mean you have a “Librarian Mind”? I have my library card number memorized. Do you? ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/2 "2008-02-26T15:57:42Z")
I’m an academic librarian, but I never remember my number. In fact, I never remember my card. So I always have to use the super-secret back door into the catalog to check books out to myself. Don’t tell anybody! 🙂 However, I always have my public library card in my wallet…y’know, just in case. No idea what the number even starts with though. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/3 "2008-02-26T16:26:38Z")
I’m a librarian, and I have my card number memorized. I don’t actually carry my card (we have a silly system where employees file their cards onsite, and then no one ever looks at them again because it’s too inconvenient to go look through the file)–so I type in the number from memory when I want to put a hold on a book at home or whatever. My fingers know it cold. I read that comic daily, and my husband pointed and laughed at me for the “librarian mind” one. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/4 "2008-02-26T16:38:47Z")
I know my 14-digit number, but I have to enter it in whenever I want to log onto the library’s website, which I use all the time to find out when things are due, renew stuff, request books, find out how much I’ve racked up in fees, etc. It’s got a bunch of repeats in it, making it pretty easy to remember, and I’m not even a good memorizer. I suppose I’ve got Library Mind - who knew? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/5 "2008-02-26T16:41:03Z")
Our library, [the Neilson Hays Library](http://www.neilsonhayslibrary.com/index.shtml), does not have numbers on the cards. Just our names. It has old-fashioned card catalogues, too, which I like. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/6 "2008-02-26T16:57:37Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] It has old-fashioned card catalogues, too, which I like. 🙂 [/QUOTE] I used to be head cataloguer in an academic library with a card catalogue. I don’t miss filing cards, or removing cards to make corrections or to weed the collection. And I don’t know my library card number, though I do know by heart an unreasonable number of [MARC tags.](http://www.loc.gov/marc/bibliographic/ecbdhome.html) ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/7 "2008-02-26T17:04:25Z")
The funny and most accurate part of the strip was the bit about “Librarian shoes.” At ALA last summer, my colleages and I were at a hotel that was one of the ALA recommended ones, and also housed attendees to a Baptist convention. The “Baptist or libraian?” drinking game was much fun after a long day. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/8 "2008-02-26T17:20:43Z")
I have mine memorized, but they’re only ten digits 'round these parts. Took me ages before I had it down, which is surprising as I usually learn numbers really easily. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/9 "2008-02-26T17:32:00Z")
I’m a librarian too\*, and I have my public library card number memorized. I work two very non-traditional library jobs right now, though. \*I will be a full-fledged, official librarian on May 3rd, when I officially graduate with my MLS. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/10 "2008-02-26T17:46:09Z")
All 14 digits of it, yes. And I still remember the significant 5 digits of my library card from 15 years ago. (It made a conveniently easy-to-remember shape on the 10-key.) Knead Librarian ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/11 "2008-02-26T17:57:41Z")
Forgot to say how many digits. Mine is 12. And I’m afraid that the librarian shoes thing probably applies. I’m guessing they mean comfortable, clunky, and maybe showing wear. I’m not a librarian, but I’ve thought about it. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/12 "2008-02-26T18:17:09Z")
[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou] I’m a librarian too\*, and I have my public library card number memorized. I work two very non-traditional library jobs right now, though. \*I will be a full-fledged, official librarian on May 3rd, when I officially graduate with my MLS. [/QUOTE] Congrats in advance! ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/13 "2008-02-26T18:25:40Z")
Another liberrian who doesn’t have her card number memorized. Why would I? ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/14 "2008-02-26T18:25:52Z")
I had my number memorized when I was a kid back in the 1960s, but my number was only 4 digits, probably because I come from a small town. The librarian always asked people if they knew their number before asking for thier cards, and most of the time they did. Sometime in the 1990s my number was replaced with a barcode on a plastic card that’s the same size as a credit card. I didn’t know it had a number too until I looked at it just now. I suppose if I memorize it they’ll replace the barcode with a magnetic strip. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/15 "2008-02-26T22:48:48Z")
[QUOTE=CapnPitt] However, I always have my public library card in my wallet…y’know, just in case. No idea what the number even starts with though. [/QUOTE] If it’s the Erie Public Library system, it probably begins with 2 1211 ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/16 "2008-02-26T23:28:57Z")
I have my number memorized because I use it to log on to the on-line catalog. My account number = my library card number. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/17 "2008-02-27T00:22:33Z")
[QUOTE=Motorgirl] If it’s the Erie Public Library system, it probably begins with 2 1211 [/QUOTE] I’ll be darned…that’s exactly how it starts! ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/18 "2008-02-27T00:26:27Z")
I have mine memorized. It’s only 13 digits and the first 7 are the same on every card so really I only need to know 6 numbers. It’s used as a login for the library website. Even if my mind blanks my fingers know what to type! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/19 "2008-02-27T00:32:32Z")
I’m a librarian and I’ve never had my number memorized. Why should I when I just type my name in? And I know I have that memorized. I think… ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226/20 "2008-02-27T00:38:06Z")
A girl I had a crush on in college became a librarian. (Og, I wanted into her [dewey decimal system](http://www.oclc.org/dewey/)…) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/librarian-mind/439226.md?page=2)