What is the one thing you should never ask of a Book Store Employee?

[Hon'ya-chan]

"Where is your Non-Fiction Section?"

[RootedPhoenix]

That's.....just.......wow.

[Becks]

That's still better than "Do you sell books here?".

[Soulstealer]

"Where is your Non-Fiction Section?"

I can think of a few more questions you shouldn't ask bookstore or library employees. I have not had that paticular question in thankfully, considering it's the university's main library it would be harder to find the fiction.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

That's still better than "Do you sell books here?".

Not by much, though.

[morwynskya]

"Where is your Non-Fiction Section?"

Thank you. Another head-banger: "Have you read all these books?"

[Soulstealer]

Not by much, though.

We seem to be mistaken for an office supply store with the amount people keep asking to "borrow" paper, pens, etc. Not five minutes walk from the library there's the bookstore which also sells these supplies. Oh I forgot, they're entitled to our office supplies because they're such special snowflakes for being students here.

[Chanlin]

Ok I'm gonna go way out on a limb here and ask why is this question so bad?

I'm genuinely asking here. I can understand that a good number of books in say a university reference library are going to be non-fiction but I would expect most books in your average bookstore to be categorized by fiction and non-fiction in some way shape or form.

I'm probably missing something blindingly obvious here but meh

[GingerBiscuit]

Because in most bookstores it is fairly obvious, with signs stating 'fiction' and 'nonfiction'. Non-fiction is huge, bigger than fiction, and is further divided by topic. A better question is 'excuse me, where are the books on world war two?" or "Excuse me, do you have any books on the Aztecs?" Helps the staff narrow down what you want and means you don't wander around a huge non-fiction section for hour.

[fireheart]

I thought the question was "Have you read any of the sex books?"

But yes, that would make sense. The bookstores in Australia at least, are grouped by topic. So asking "where are the non-fiction books?" would most likely result in a

[Chanlin]

I'm probably missing something blindingly obvious here but meh

Fair enough

I figured it was something easy. I'm not sure where blame could be placed on any smaller scale. Maybe some people just like to browse the non-fiction and don't have a particular topic in mind

[PepperElf]

I can see asking that at the local Borders here, but only because it's 2 levels and cramped.

but if it's a university store... they're most likely 90% non fiction text books with a smattering of fiction books for english classes, and maybe a tiny paperback section for when you're bored etc.

the real problem though with asking that at a regular book store... the non fiction is usually separated into topics, so it's easier to go that route...

[kendiara]

Actually I think my favorite was:

"I am looking for a book...it's blue and was on the news."

[LibraryLady]

but if it's a university store... they're most likely 90% non fiction text books with a smattering of fiction books for english classes, and maybe a tiny paperback section for when you're bored etc...

I've found just the opposite, PepperElf. When I go into University book stores I usually find a terrific variety of the sort of books I want to read. Yes, there's the grim text book section with titles arranged on industrial metal shelves. I don't go near that.

There is usually also a vibrant section of books to satisfy all tastes. There are cook books, DIY books, craft books, children's books, books about the area and much, much more. As to be expected, they're all nicely arranged by topic. One of my favorite book stores is the one at the edge of the campus of U. Wisc. in Madison.

[LibraryLady]

"Where is your Non-Fiction Section?"

Unfortunately, Hon'ya-chan, I'm getting the feeling that people who are not dedicated readers don't know the difference between fiction and non-fiction. In a way, I can't blame them. These days it can be hard to tell the difference.

There have been heart-breaking memoirs that were said to be true. These books made the best-seller lists and were widely touted in the media. A classic of the Genre is "Go Ask Alice". It's a very instructive and horrific cautionary tale for teens. Everything in the book actually happened but it didn't all happen to the girl who supposedly wrote the book. "Go Ask Alice" is a pastiche.

As I've mentioned in other posts, I worked with a highly-educated man who believed that "The X-Files" were documentaries. He also believed in "The Amityville Horror" Odd isn't it, that "The Amityville Horror" appeared in both the publisher's fiction and non-fiction catalogs for a while?

Often, the people who ask for the non-fiction section of a book store or library don't know what's true. They're looking for a succulent spare-rib that will give them the answer they want rather than what they really need to know.