If You Want Time Travel, You’ll Need The Nobel Prize In Physics

The Nobel Prize for literature has just been announced. As always, the moment the name has left the permanent secretary’s lips, I’m looking through our catalog to see if we have any books in and, if not, if there are any I can order.

Twenty minutes later at the information desk:

Patron: “I want everything you have by [Nobel Prize winner]!

Me: “We only have one title in our collection, and it’s already been checked out. I’ve ordered the rest, but it’s probably going to take a little while. The publisher has to print new editions. I can put them on hold for you, though!”

Patron: “Why don’t you have more? It’s the Nobel winner; you ought to know people will want to read his books.”

Me: “We just found out who it is this year, just like you. It’s not like they send us the books in advance.”

Patron: “Why not?”

Every. Single. Year.