Primrose Road

A library employee in Michigan was fired after she wrote a book that portrayed co-workers and library patrons in an unflattering light. The book, while labeled a work of fiction, takes place in a rural community called "Denialville, Michigan" and offers, according to a letter written by the District Library Director, "detailed descriptions of their unique characteristics and mannerisms make them easily identifiable in our small community."

First, let me make it clear that I don't quite agree with the library's decision to fire this woman for writing a book. She's probably right to argue that "the public library is a pillar of free speech," and for this reason alone they shouldn't have used the book against her. Still, she's wrong to think that the library "invaded her privacy." Here's why:

- The publisher is none other than PublishAmerica.

- Upon "publication," PublishAmerica asks its authors for a list of names and addresses of up to 100 family and friends (they explicitly request that the author does not supply the names of press contacts).

- The library employee supplied a list of names and addresses of family and friends in her small Michigan town.

- These contacts received notice via snail mail and email that the book had been published.

- Not only were the "characters" in the story easily identifiable, but the book's cover was (this is the best part) a picture of the Ludington Library, the library at which she works.

And she wonders how her employers could have possibly found out about her book.

I am reminded of my spring term Business Writing students' argument about why diploma-mill "degree" holders who don't realize they have invalid credentials should be fired.