{"id":1635,"date":"2008-10-16T05:51:50","date_gmt":"2008-10-16T13:51:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stwallskull.com\/blog\/?p=1635"},"modified":"2008-10-16T05:52:58","modified_gmt":"2008-10-16T13:52:58","slug":"interesting-links-allan-holtzs-library-of-congress-survival-guide-october-16th-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stwallskull.com\/blog\/2008\/10\/16\/interesting-links-allan-holtzs-library-of-congress-survival-guide-october-16th-2008\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERESTING LINKS: Allan Holtz’s Library of Congress Survival Guide: October 16th, 2008"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"STWALLSKULL'S<\/a><\/p>\n

TODAY’S FEATURED ITEM:<\/strong> Allan Holtz at The Stripper’s Guide<\/a> has been recounting his recent comics research trip to the Library of Congress<\/a>, and has many tips for wading through the bureaucratic nightmare of getting what you want out of the LOC. Part I here<\/a>, Part II here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Here is a choice quote from Mr. Holtz:<\/p>\n

\n“I really can’t stress enough how important it is to stay on the good side of these people. If you annoy them, and they are VERY easy to annoy, and they can make the rest of your time there a living hell. There are a practically infinite number of rules that they can choose to enforce if they so decide, and you will run afoul of them pretty much no matter what you do. In fairness I think I understand the reasoning behind it all. If you’ve spent a lot of time in research libraries you will have noticed that they tend to attract a certain percentage of weirdos and nuts. The LoC is no exception, and once it becomes obvious to the staff that they have one of these on their hands, they use their deadliest weapons — that laundry list of vague rules, some of which they come up with on the spur of the moment, to gradually convince these fruit loops to take their craziness elsewhere. I’ve seen the strategy put into action and it is remarkably effective.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n