Felines on Film: A Tale of Library Cats

Staff -- School Library Journal, 7/1/1998

Baker and Taylor -- not the company but the two Scottish Fold cats that have become synonymous with the book distributor -- are undoubtedly the most famous felines ever to live in a library. But there are many others who haven't made their national debut.

Until now.

Dewey Readmore Books, Dr. Seuss, and Carnegie are just three of the cats featured in Puss in Books: Adventures of the Library Cat, a lighthearted video created by Gary Roma, a Massachusetts-based documentary filmmaker.

Puss in Books explores the lifestyles of cats around the country who roam the stacks, curl up in library users' laps, and sleep on circulation desks. Some, like Kinky at the Kilbourn (WI) Public Library, are deployed in rodent patrol. Others, like Dewey Readmore Books at the Spencer (IA) Public Library, are primarily responsible for marketing and public relations.

Puss in Boots, shot on a shoestring (a pitch to several cat food companies "brought a few bites" but no cash, Roma quipped), is available for $24.95, plus $3 shipping. Send a check made out to Iron Frog Productions, 9 Townsend St., Suite 16, Waltham, MA 02453-6926. Libraries may request an invoice.