Mr. Bean is a comedic character played by British actor Rowan Atkinson. Like Inspector Clouseau of the "Pink Panther" movies, Mr. Bean is incredibly incompetent yet blessed with extreme good fortune and quick wits. "The Amazing Adventures of Mr. Bean" (Tiger Television Production for Thames Television, c1991), one of several videotape compilations, includes a skit never aired on TV titled "The Library."
Archivists and librarians will cringe in horror at the researcher from hell as portrayed by Atkinson. Mr. Bean visits a rare book and manuscript library where he's allowed to examine what appears to be a medieval illuminated manuscript. After more or less unintentionally destroying the work, he resorts to a dastardly ruse to exit the library before his handiwork is discovered. In his haste to leave, however, he manages to reveal his culpability.
The Fictional World of Archives
Submitted by David Mattison, 1996.12.30. Updated 1996.12.30.