The Lives and Deaths of Academic Library Staplers

This Stanley Bostitch 606 did not survive Final Exams Week.

Found at the reference desk.

Swingline Clinch stapleless stapler.

Flamingo stapler by yoobi.

This gifted novelty stapler will soon be the alpha of the library’s reference desk collection. The resin-cast “faux stone” wolf stapler is heavy, weighing in at 13.9 ounces.

Swingline 747 in lipstick red. ❤️

This vintage Swingline 27 tan stapler was found in a desk drawer in Acquisitions during preparations for an office move.

This shimmering metallic beauty was a gift from a colleague. Look for it at the reference desk in the spring semester.

This tiny stapler was part of a promotional freebie kit from referenceUSA distributed at last week’s Charleston Library Conference. The quarter is for scale. The kit also included a tiny hole punch, tiny sticky notes, tiny tape dispenser, paperclips, and rubber bands. (Thanks to my colleague for grabbing this one for me.)

Today was a good mail day. A new Optima 70 electric stapler is being unleashed at the library’s reference desk. It has a 70 page capacity and a “Jam Free Guarantee.”

Jamming is not tolerated in the music library. This Staples™ brand stapler was reported dead by the library’s Music Listening Viewing Center.

This Swingline electric cartridge stapler lasted only three days. It staples once and then shoots blanks until it is disassembled and re-primed.

This VERY expensive stapler lasted 235 days.

This Swingline 444 stapler is dead. It is a serial jammer.

This Swingline Tot Grip stapler was donated by a colleague who found it while cleaning out her desk. The "color bright staples" are teal.

This stapler has recovered from a debilitating jam.

This Swingline #444 stapler's name plate is detached and it is irreparably jammed.