I'm on the reference desk - alone, since the "library assistant" who was supposed to be here called in sick, or something. A woman called in wanting to know if we carried a textbook.

Here beginneth rant:

In a close race between questions such as this and "assignments from hell," it's almost a dead heat. How, I wonder, do people expect the library to purchase the current edition of every textbook for every class taught in public or private schools or other academic institutions, and make them available for every student in those classes? Yes, we sometimes have textbooks - usually donated by former students - but we usually don't keep any that have been heavily marked up or with highlighted text.

We have more worthwhile things to spend the public's money on. If we have sufficient notice, we can make available supplementary materials such as books or periodical articles. But don't expect us to buy your textbook.

Here endeth rant.