Fiore Stern: Good afternoon. I’m looking for books about poisonous plants,
particularly those with flowers.
College Librarian: Okay. Well, all the books about plants are in the 580s.
Why don’t you follow me into the stacks?
Fiore Stern: Okay, thanks.
College Librarian: I might be able to narrow it down further. What is the
assignment asking you to do?
Fiore Stern: It’s not for an assignment. I’m just learning about them on my
own.
College Librarian: Oh, all right. Let me see. Yes, 582 is all about
flowering plants. I’m not sure there’s a section about toxic plants, though.
I would say 581 is your best bet, though. Those books get really specific
about plant life topics. Oh, here we go. Here’s one that looks promising.
This one might be of use to you as well. I also recommend something like
this. It appears to contain a lot of beginner’s information, so you know
where to start with your research. Let’s see, this one is about hiking, and
what to do if you come across poison ivy, or something.
Fiore Stern: Nah, I don’t really need that. I’m more interested in plants
that can be turned into teas, or something.
College Librarian: I thought you needed to know about poisonous plants.
Fiore Stern: Yes.
College Librarian: Mister...
Fiore Stern: Stern.
College Librarian: Mr. Stern, are you looking to do something bad or violent
with this knowledge?
Fiore Stern: Of course not, that would be ridiculous. Besides, how could
anything I learn in the library be bad?
College Librarian: Actually, lots of information in these books can be used
for malicious purposes. Why, even a sports book that teaches you how to
swing a bat at a ball could theoretically also teach you to swing it at
someone’s head.
Fiore Stern: What are ya gonna do, call the cops, or something?
College Librarian: If you tell me you’re planning to use these books to hurt
someone, in any way, then I have to do what I can to help you channel your
emotions into something positive. Is there someone who’s angered you? Are
you having unwanted feelings?
Fiore Stern: I wouldn’t call any of my feelings unwanted.
College Librarian: Well, the psychology books are all in the 150s, and
that’s as far as someone in my profession is going to be able to go for you.
If you think you need some real help, might I suggest the mental health
floor in the university clinic? I can walk you down there, if you would
like.
Fiore Stern: I don’t need any help, I’m fine. You’re blowing this way out of
proportion. I just wanted to study hemlock, and all the ways people have
died in history. Like, I wanna know how we found out they were poisonous? I
mean, nobody had a bunch of science equipment hundreds of years ago, or
whenever it was, yet we figured out it should be called poison sumac. Well,
how did that happen? Who got hurt figuring that out? Who had to die first?
College Librarian: So, your interest is purely academic?
Fiore Stern: Absolutely.
College Librarian: Okay. In that case, this book here is about botanical
history. I’m no expert in the field, so I can’t tell you if it’s going to
give you exactly what you’re looking for, but you should be fine if you take
this whole stack.
Fiore Stern: I really appreciate it, thanks.
College Librarian: You’re welcome.
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