Area librarian to make game show appearance

Shrewsbury - When "I survived a Japanese Game Show" premieres its second season Wednesday July 8, local residents will see a familiar face: Dan Barbour, young adult librarian at Shrewsbury Public Library.

The first show of the season will air at 9 p.m. on ABC. The reality game show brings 12 Americans to Japan to compete in "the ultimate Japanese game show," according to an ABC press release.

Barbour, 27, is restricted from discussing the show until the episodes he appears in air, but his biography, provided by ABC, says: "Willful yet likable, Dan is a librarian who 'has an opinion about everything.' Whether the topic is politics, movies or the color of the sky, Dan's the type of guy who 'always believes he's right, and everyone else is wrong.'"

Library Director Ellen Dolan said Barbour is a good pick for the show.

"I knew he was into popular game shows, and I know teenagers are interested in game shows," she said. "He tries to connect with what teenagers are interested in because that's his area."

Barbour has a chance to break through the stereotypes of librarians, Dolan said.

"I'm not surprised he was selected. He's a very personable young man," she said. "I think [Barbour's appearance on the show] can help overcome that whole idea that librarians are quiet and not interested in pop culture."

As for the library making prime-time television, Dolan was positive.

"I think he was a very good pick, representing libraries pretty well," she said. "I think it's an interesting kind of exposure, but one that we're defi- nitely willing to have related to the library."

The game show will put Barbour through his popular culture paces, with games such as "Alien Took My Teddy Bear," in which the contestants, dressed as aliens, try to cross conveyor belts and spinning platforms carrying as many teddy bears as possible. "Gopher Make You Crazy," which involves ping-pong balls and inflatable hammers, is described as a "homage to the arcade classic, 'Whack-a-Mole.'"