A new Library in America

 In these hard times of library closings and box store openings, my wife, doing what she always does, did the change she wants to see in the world.  It has been a long time coming since she first envisioned creating a community library and this weekend we had our grand unveiling party.  We provided some refreshments and some snacks and asked people to bring 2 books that they think are good books.  I imagine that we will become obsessed with making sure there are good books in this library and not a dumping ground for peoples old Microsoft 2003 owners manuals.

Our good neighbours came up big loading up the library with many excellent books, and a good time was had by all. 

 Moments after a quick speech on the importance of books and the importance of reading CT yanked off the white sheet exposing the library to great cheers... and then the kids got in there to grab a book.

 For the record we are now as a household interested in receiving book donations... clearly to maintain some good reading material it would be wise to have a collection of fine literature so that we can amend this literary supply.

Me being a natural maniac had visions of a sign out sheet and perhaps as the sequence goes into the absurd i show up at somebodies house who has a book out for too long... i saunter in say "he how's it going"... "Nice lamp... is it yours", and the person replies "why yes it is one of my favourite pieces".  I then swat the lamp on the floor watching it smash... "damn shame" i say and then pause... as the home owner gulps and tears well up i casually bring up the over due book.   I guess that's my character in the TV series Portlandia... the library Nazi.

I won't do that of course... I've always been more of an egging kind of guy.  i can see it now, I'll be walking to school with the kids and somebody will be talking about how their house got egged late last night... perhaps i could say "were they organic eggs, oh by the way are you done with that book you took from the library", and then give them a stern eyeballing.

Probably a safe bet my wife would be against an egging of a house down the block, so lets just keep this between you me and the internet OK.

Did i mention some moron brought "The tale of Squirrel Nutkin" by Beatrix Potter, for the library... everybody thought that one was funny as I'll get out... just laughing it up. Apparently it's a good book however... I have it and will read it to the twins as they are very eager to hear a story about a squirrel read by me.

Hey it's great, anything to get people interested in books, the more books we can get in our heads the better neighbourhood we will have.

In fact a local school librarian stopped by the other day and complimented the selection of books we had, she took 4 and said she will come back with 4 good books... I gave her a hug, which was really a cover to plant a tracking device on her backside.

I'm joking of course.  This is a pure experiment in doing good for the sake of doing good, to inspire doing good, putting good ideas in peoples heads and bettering the community.

I was actually in Powell's books the other day, as it is across the street from my kids "do Jump" activity and i think i will approach them.  Perhaps they might end up with some "damaged" but highly readable books from time to time.. is it possible for those books to end up in a community library?    Is it one of those situations where a book store has to send back the cover to the publisher to redeem credit for the book?  If so, a good book without a cover is still a good book.

In our library there are 3 shelves, adult books, kids books.. and i was thinking Canadian books.  Perhaps i can get donations from Dave Bidini, Grant Lawrence, Jenn Farrell, Aaron Chapman, Brian Kaufman... Canadian authors and publishers i kind of know. Dare to dream Robertson, dare to dream.

I have been throwing some music in there as well.. so far 4 CD's i made have disappeared.  I will be feeding the library various Canada Lynx Records albums, because i have them, and i think they are good.  Well i probably won't put the Chicken EP in there, but you never know.

I might put some excess garden produce by the library come high garden production time.. it could be a good place to share fresh organic produce.  I like that idea... somebody goes out for a walk and gets a good book and some healthy food.. you could make somebodies day with that kind of action.  And if you can make somebodies day then you just might inspire positive change

On another level it has been neat seeing the books coming and going... sometimes you just want to read a random book and now i have a stash of them in my front yard... my kids go out and play in the tree and grab a book... all three of them were in the tree reading a book, or at least looking at it (in the twins case).  This can't be bad on any level, and i am having more conversations with the local folk who stop in front of our house.  Just a little thing that was fun to do.