Adventures in Libraryland: A joyful event and a plea for civility: The library becomes 'cruelty free zone'

Wednesday, September 12, 2007
By AMY CRUMP/Library Director

Every now and then, something happens that makes a person is glad to be working in a library. Last week, one of those stellar moments came about in a quiet way. A husband and wife came into the library and the woman requested that we change her name on her library card. Her husband mentioned that they had just gotten married -- ten minutes earlier! It was such a glad feeling to realize that the first place they stopped after getting married was at the library! What a gift those newlyweds gave us.

On the other side of the coin are those people who sadden us with their behavior. As anyone working in public service can testify, some people think it is okay to come in and abuse our staff verbally. Typically, a person is angry because of an overdue fine or a rule that limits their use of the library. Every one of our policies is in place for a reason. Library workers are required to enforce those rules in order to keep the library running smoothly and keep the library materials available for all our customers.

Past incidents include people yelling at staff members, calling staff members racist, making snide comments, and even making racist comments to staff members. Sometimes mistakes happen. Nobody likes to be yelled at, especially in a public manner. So I hereby declare the library to be a Cruelty Free Zone. Please be kind to those who work hard to maintain the library.

In other news, we are now accepting all book donations again with the following exceptions: no encyclopedias, no magazines, no textbooks, and no Reader's Digest Condensed Books.

On beyond Google

For those avid readers out there, there are a variety of websites that offer lists of books grouped by similarities. Did you like the last Nora Roberts book and want something to read while waiting for the next one? Go to any search engine on the internet and type in the work readalikes. You will get a list of websites that have many suggestions based a wide variety of authors.

Check it out

I am pleased to present Katye Elsea providing a gardening program this week. Putting Your Garden to Bed: Everything You Need to Know About Winterizing Your Garden, Flower Beds, and Plants takes place on Thursday, September 13 at 7 pm. Everyone is welcome.

Circle of days

-- Marshall Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.

-- Putting Your Garden to Bed: everything you need to know about winterizing your garden, flower beds and plants, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m.

-- Pitch Game, Sept. 15, from 2 - 4 p.m.

-- Computer Class: How To Boil Water, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m. Registration required.

New materials

Fiction

"You've Been Warned" by James Patterson

"Bones to Ashes" by Kathy Reichs

"Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade" by Diana Gabaldon

"The Rest of Her Life" by Laura Moriarty

Non-fiction