{"id":55634,"date":"2014-08-20T09:29:52","date_gmt":"2014-08-20T14:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=55634"},"modified":"2014-08-20T09:27:56","modified_gmt":"2014-08-20T14:27:56","slug":"the-doctor-is-in-the-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=55634","title":{"rendered":"The Doctor Is In\u2026.the Library!"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Kate Kosturski<\/a>, Senior Editor
\npreviously published 12\/27\/13<\/em><\/p>\n

The Doctor Is In\u2026.the Library!<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n

\"kate_kosturski_photo2\"<\/a>For the last INALJ blog post of 2013, I decided to embrace the merry of the season (though not that Elf on the Shelf thing), and switch to something lighthearted about libraries\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n

23 November 1963 was a momentous date for Britons, and for sci-fi fans.<\/strong> In the midst of mourning the loss of a President, we were introduced to a mad man with a box that was supposed to take the shape of its surroundings, but really just looked like a police box. \u00a0We met Cybermen, Daleks, Silurians…and a man who raced through time and space with friends by his side. \u00a0\u00a0I am, of course, talking about Doctor Who, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last month and set a world record for most simultaneously viewed program<\/a> (the 50th anniversary The Day of the Doctor, \u00a0was simulcast in almost 100 countries)!<\/p>\n

Now, what does this have to do with libraries? \u00a0\u00a0Perhaps you have spotted this quote on the bottom of many a librarian\u2019s email signature:<\/p>\n

You want weapons? We’re in a library. Books are the best weapon in the world. This room’s the greatest arsenal we could have. Arm yourself!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, that\u2019s from Doctor Who, in particular, an episode titled \u201cTooth and Claw\u201d<\/a> that aired in 2006 (with a werewolf in a library, but I\u2019m not telling you more than that, you\u2019ll have to watch to see for yourself).<\/p>\n

There was also an entire episode (well, a two-parter, actually) that was set in a library – \u201cSilence In the Library<\/a>\u201d and \u201cForest of the Dead<\/a>\u201d featuring what could be the archivist\u2019s worst nightmare, sentient beings living in the library that first appeared to be feeding on the books…but then on something else. (Again, I\u2019m not telling you more that that – because, spoilers!)<\/p>\n

Libraries also pop up in plot lines throughout the classic series (which aired from 1963 – 1989), the current revival (2005 – present) and some of the audio series and books published in between. \u00a0A search for the word \u201clibrary\u201d in the TARDIS Wiki provides 1,200 results<\/a>; here are some of my favorites.<\/p>\n