A misdirected snarky message that wound up going to the mayor of Virginia, Minn., has led to a memo reminding city employees there about appropriate e-mail usage.

The Mesabi Daily News reports that an unnamed library worker who is on leave heard about how busy things were back at work and sent an e-mail via the city's system suggesting that perhaps the mayor and city council members might pitch in and help put books in the stacks.

“I had a scathingly brilliant idea as I was watching a little TV down here ... in one of the towns the Mayor was mowing the lawn at the golf course. Why not have the Council people who get insurance money come and shelf books in the morning. Hmmmmm good idea?”

Responded Mayor Steve Peterson:

And then as I am shelving books to earn insurance benefits, would you be willing to come over and do my job so that my employer doesn’t fire me for not performing my duties?”

And then the mayor introduced a motion at the council meeting to send the e-mail usage memo.