J.K. Rowling eggs on Twitter rivalry between Scottish libraries
Two libraries in Scotland's Northern Isles have an intense — but friendly — Twitter rivalry going and author J.K. Rowling just keeps stirring the pot.
In the latest development, the Orkney Library's Twitter account was verified Tuesday morning, bestowing it with the coveted blue checkmark, or "tick."
The librarians couldn't resist rubbing their new status in the faces of their counterparts on the Shetland Islands.
Do you like our blue tick <a href="https://twitter.com/ShetlandLibrary">@ShetlandLibrary</a>? We know you already have blue ticks but ours isn't caught off sheep <a href="https://t.co/QIt6WWzd0a">pic.twitter.com/QIt6WWzd0a</a>
—@OrkneyLibraryHow rude!
<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ShetlandLibrary">@ShetlandLibrary</a> A low blow, Orkney Library. Naebdy likes a smart arse
—@leonafeensThe Shetlanders wouldn't let that insult stand and compared the Orcadians' blue check to a sale tag on a clothing chain's discount rack.
<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> Assume this "blue tick" business is a bit like when <a href="https://twitter.com/Debenhams">@Debenhams</a> have a sale, identifying what's knocked down & 'had its day'?
—@ShetlandLibrary<a href="https://twitter.com/ShetlandLibrary">@ShetlandLibrary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Debenhams">@Debenhams</a> ha ha ha! well played
—@OrkneyLibraryBut the Orkney Library has a powerful friend in Harry Potter author Rowling, who congratulated the library on joining the elite caste of verified Twitter users.
<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> Welcome to the Blueminati x
—@jk_rowling<a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> Thank you. Are there secret things we have yet to discover? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/excited?src=hash">#excited</a> x
—@OrkneyLibrary<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> All will be revealed in due course. Make sure you have wellington boots with you at all times. Your safe word is 'Thelma.'
—@jk_rowling<a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> Thanks for the heads-up. Will be prepared *shines wellies*
—@OrkneyLibraryRowling has clearly chosen her side in the war between the Scottish island library systems, but the Twitter chirping started long before she got involved.
<a href="https://twitter.com/horton_official">@horton_official</a> Don't blame <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> this has been brewing for years...
—@OrkneyLibraryFor instance, the Shetlanders boasted last month that their library appeared as a location on the BBC crime drama Shetland.
Countdown to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shetland?src=hash">#Shetland</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/djhenshall">@djhenshall</a>! Library might be location unless we've been cut. This was us last series! <a href="https://t.co/gXpgPfQlWN">pic.twitter.com/gXpgPfQlWN</a>
—@ShetlandLibrary<a href="https://twitter.com/ShetlandLibrary">@ShetlandLibrary</a> Shall we start a club for libraries that have been in crime dramas? Leeds Central was in DCI Banks a couple of years ago!
—@leedslibraries<a href="https://twitter.com/leedslibraries">@leedslibraries</a> So we should! Don't think <a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> are allowed to join, they have yet to reach such levels of fame.
—@ShetlandLibraryThat same day, Orkney Library tweeted that The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (Rowling's pseudonym) would be the topic of their Saturday book discussion.
Join us for Saturday Slaughters to discuss The Cuckoo's Calling by <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> 2.30pm Saturday 5 March <a href="https://t.co/7Pep6M51aA">pic.twitter.com/7Pep6M51aA</a>
—@OrkneyLibraryThat's when Rowling first entered the fray
<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> That sounds like a fun event.
—@jk_rowlingThe Orcadians, of course, invited Rowling to hop on the last boat from the Scottish mainland and join them
<a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> It certainly will be. If you set off for Scrabster now you should still catch the ferry...
—@OrkneyLibraryRowling suggested she may just magic herself to the island
<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> Weather looks a bit rough. Might just Apparate.
—@jk_rowling<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> No wait... you want Robert, not me. He can drive (I can't).
—@jk_rowlingThe Orkney Library then sweetened the pot. With cake
<a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> We would be delighted with either of you. Perhaps we should add that there will be cake.
—@OrkneyLibraryBut Rowling wasn't about to drop everything and catch a ferry for just any cake
<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> What kind of cake?
—@jk_rowling<a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> What is your favourite? Or Robert's favourite?
—@OrkneyLibrary<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RGalbraith">@RGalbraith</a> Robert (and Strike) are both partial to fruitcake. Something with a bit of heft to it. I like lemon drizzle cake.
—@jk_rowlingAnd so, the librarians provided the cake — store-bought, alas — and waited. Just in case
And we have the lemon cake on standby just in case <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> turns up <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/shopbought?src=hash">#shopbought</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weapologise?src=hash">#weapologise</a> <a href="https://t.co/AmADuuEE42">pic.twitter.com/AmADuuEE42</a>
—@OrkneyLibraryAnd the wildest dreams of the book lovers of Orkney came true
We had a very special guest at Saturday Slaughters today. Thanks so much <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> Come back soon x <a href="https://t.co/GVaXSVX88O">pic.twitter.com/GVaXSVX88O</a>
—@OrkneyLibraryRowling attended book club night and posed for pictures, including this one with a copy of Organic Gardening with Love by Coronation Street actress Thelma Barlow.
.<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> I had the best time! Thanks for wonderful chat, cake and, of course, letting me touch The Book. <a href="https://t.co/VCrU2lJAT6">pic.twitter.com/VCrU2lJAT6</a>
—@jk_rowling(Why does Rowling call it "The Book"? Beats me. Must be a Northerner thing.)
The Orkney Library's rivals on the Shetland Islands handled the news with the decorum one would expect from respected booklenders.
<a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling">@jk_rowling</a> <a href="https://t.co/9e8eFajrRi">pic.twitter.com/9e8eFajrRi</a>
—@ShetlandLibraryWe wish to remain dignified in our response to the MANY tweets suggesting that <a href="https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary">@OrkneyLibrary</a> are "winning" today... <a href="https://t.co/swJqn1Rsh8">pic.twitter.com/swJqn1Rsh8</a>
—@ShetlandLibraryAnd the Orcadians responded in kind
<a href="https://twitter.com/ShetlandLibrary">@ShetlandLibrary</a> In. Your. Face. <a href="https://t.co/0cmOusnlQI">pic.twitter.com/0cmOusnlQI</a>
—@OrkneyLibrary