I had a little moment of Society May Save Itself today after a very ordinary transaction with a patron. She was picking up holds, renewed some material, I told her about her fine -- when we were done she said I love the library, I'm so glad it's here, especially now. I said ME TOO, which I know sounds kind of dumb because I'm sitting behind the desk, but it really is true. She went on to say that she was so glad that libraries already existed because in the current cultural climate, she didn't think the concept would fly. (Can't you just hear Fox News going on and on about what kind of socialist slippery slope we're on if we spend a bunch of public money so people can READ for FREE??) I agreed and said it was kind of like aspirin. It's only vaguely related (under grandfather clause), but she was patient let me get to my point -- if aspirin were to come on the market today, there's no way it would be as cheap and readily available as it is. You would need a prescription if it was legal at all, because it interacts with all kinds of things and is powerful and unpredictable.
Yeah, she said. Libraries and aspirin. I'm glad they were grandfathered in.
(in other news, this week, like last week, has gone bananas. But all is not lost in the Getting My Act Together sweepstakes -- just slightly delayed.)
(in other, more related news: if you live in the greater Portland metropolitan area and are thinking about clearing out some books to make room for new books, please consider donating to the Friends of the Library! You can drop off donations at any branch and get a tax receipt if you want one!)
That reader made a good point--read for free, in a democracy? "Must be the invention of that socialist president!"
ReplyDeleteLove the library--in fact, one of the great reasons for living in Multnomah County!
I don't quite follow your first paragraph, but I wholeheartedly agree with the second!
ReplyDeleteSo we can drop off books at any branch? Is this ongoing on a month long thing? In regards to your strawberry post, I have discovered the wonders of fruits and berries. A little later than most, but the pictures look so much tastier now!
ReplyDeleteYes, you can! Although at smaller branches I probably wouldn't take more than one bag at a time. It's an all the time thing, not just a for a month thing. The donated books go to the Friends of the Library, who sell them in their huge twice a year sales.
ReplyDeleteHooray for the wonders of fruits and berries! Better late than never!!