Comments on: How many flaps does a mudflap flap?

By: Teresa

Teresa — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:25:50 +0000

I realize I’m about three years late here, but I wanted to just let you know: I might not be a Wyomingan, but I was appalled when I first heard of this back in 2007.

On the one hand, yeah, it’s kinda cool that the Mudflap Chick can read. If I saw this on someone’s mudflaps, I would laugh and try to signal my approval in some way.

If I saw it in the library? Uh, no. I’d probably complain to someone, or quietly go back to buying used books.

By: The OPLIN 4cast » Blog Archive » OPLIN 4cast #73

The OPLIN 4cast » Blog Archive » OPLIN 4cast #73 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:11:19 +0000

[...] How many flaps does a mudflap flap? (Free Range Librarian) [...]

By: K.G. Schneider

K.G. Schneider — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 10:51:14 +0000

“Whining”; “shrill”; leveraging a sample of five to challenge a question (read my #1: only librarians are *talking* about it; it’s a marketing campaign); hmm, yeah, no baggage there, m.

By: m

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:33:56 +0000

Dorothea says: “I’m sick of TnA being used to sell stuff”

There’s no T in the updated mudflap girl image. And strictly speaking, there’s no A either, since it’s just a silhouette.

I realize that there are lots of people who like to think that the ‘average’ library goer looks like the average ALA Annual participant — overweight, out of shape, sweating at the exertion caused by walking a few meters to catch the shuttle — but in reality, there are thin women who read, too, and some of them even know how to dress! (Not sure why you call the mudflap girl ‘naked — you can’t tell either way.)

Here’s an idea: ask a few non-librarians what they think. Here are my results:
1) mother (lesbian feminist): laughed
2) friend (lesbian feminist): laughed
3) gf: wants it as a tattoo
4) male friend #1: “cool”
5) male friend #2: “the original’s better”

Whining “Only librarians like it!” is pretty ‘shrill’, unless you have the numbers to prove otherwise.

By: Carleen

Carleen — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:37:36 +0000

I realize that I’m piping in about a week late on this post but I just wanted to say that I appreciated your thoughts on this. I can certainly see both sides of this issue from a library marketing stand point, although personally, as a woman I don’t find the image personally offensive. I do think you are right that the discussion on this has been far too limited to librarian opinion and not enough of “what does the public really think.” SJ provided a nice attempt with a post to BlogHer and the response from readers to the library mudflap girl image was mostly negative. http://blogher.org/wyoming-state-libraries-and-nekkid-chicks-flap-over-flaps

By: K.G. Schneider

K.G. Schneider — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:14:38 +0000

Um, yeah, if you’re communicating to other librarians, it’s a great success.

By: E Welty

E Welty — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:45:12 +0000

All this flap over a flap! Some famous pundit once remarked “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Based on the uproar, I’d say the campaign to get attention to Wyoming’s libraries is brilliant!

By: K.G. Schneider

K.G. Schneider — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:05:18 +0000

Catherine, I’ve heard the argument that the girl ain’t nekkid, but really… if she’s not, she’s wearing a spandex bodysuit. And no underpants!

By: Loose Cannon Librarian » flap flap

Loose Cannon Librarian » flap flap — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:26:03 +0000

[...] I weigh in on the Mudflap Flap? Sure, why not? First off, yes to everything over at Free Range Librarian. The only response that isn’t going to be called uptight and anti-sex is [...]

By: lis.dom » Blog Archive » mudflap woman

lis.dom » Blog Archive » mudflap woman — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:27:33 +0000

[...] people’s reactions to the campaign, but quite frankly, I’m tired. I appreciate the variety of opinions I’ve seen, many of which have affected the way I think about the issue. But [...]