"A mecca for scholars and students of all ages, the library is the dullest place in the world - 91 percent of the time. It also attracts the homeless, the mentally ill, occasional pedophiles, Internet junkies, unattended children down to the age of two, con artists, thieves, beggars, cultish homeschoolers, and people who are in general angry with every level of state and federal government. Most of these people decide to fill out an application and get a library card."

He details the perils the librarian faces the othat other 9 percent.  My favorite story details the fight on the last day of the school year.  The library staff notuced that the kids had drifted outside to watch a fight in the parking lot.  Usually. the arrival of the librarians is aenough to send the fighters running but this was different.  Two girls were rolling around on the ground, punching. kicking, and hair pulling.  When they realized the combatants weren't girls, but rather the girls' mothers the police were called.  The police had to threaten the combatants with pepper spray before they stopped fighting. 

In a more heart wrenching story, he recounts how one of the regular fifth graders came into the library.  Crystal was in a fetal position and couldn't talk.  They ushered into the staff room where Crystal tells one of the librarians that her step father was beating her mother.  Crystal ran to the one place she felt safe for help- the public library.

Free for All is a fun book to read about one of the most mundane places imaginable. You won't be bored.  Don Borchert is a fine writer.  He blends humor with pathos and lets you know how a libary operates. 

As I stand here looking over my glasses, I have to say I'd give it an 7 on my readibility scale.  I probably would have given it an 8 or 9 except he sometimes uses words that should never be uttered inside a library setting.  Whatever language used, Free for All is thoroughly enjoyable read.