For many years, the New York Public Library kept a written collection of the questions patrons asked over the telephone. Some of our favorites include:
“I went to a New Year’s Eve party and unexpectedly stayed over. I don’t really know the hosts. Ought I to send a thank-you note? Second, when you meet a fellow and you know he’s worth twenty-seven million dollars because that’s what they told me, twenty-seven million, and you know his nationality, how do you find out his name?”
“Do camels have to be licensed in India?
“What is the natural enemy of a duck? A whole flight of them landed in my pool and I have waved a broom at them but all they do is look at my and quack. I thought I could introduce the natural enemy into the pool area.”
“Can I get a book telling me how to be a mistress of ceremonies at a musical orgy?”
“What kind of an apple did Eve eat?
“Why do 18th century English paintings have so many squirrels in them, and how did they tame them so that they wouldn’t bite the painter?
“Is there a law in NYC whereby a child can become unrelated to its parent if they don’t like each other?”
“Do you have any books on human beings?”
Who’s asking these questions and for what reason? How would you respond? To what lengths would you go to find the right answer? What happens next?
