Day 16: What I miss

Posted on by M.K. Waller in Uncategorized

What do I miss about working in a library?

The book budget. I loved buying books with other people’s money.

Books. I loved opening boxes, lifting out new volumes, turning pages, taking them home to preview (if I could grab them before my colleagues did).

Book people. I loved doing booktalks for both students and adults. I loved recommending books to patrons and colleagues. I loved saying, “You’ve got to read this. It’s wonderful.” I loved being around people who loved books.

We spent this evening with friends who worked with me at the library. At the last minute before embarking on our seventy-mile drive, I gathered books from shelves, from chairs, from the cedar chest, from the floor, and put them into a bookbag–mysteries for Sally, a hodgepodge for Maryellen.

They seemed pleased to get them.

It was almost as good as being back at work.

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8 thoughts on “Day 16: What I miss”

  1. It must be a wonderful job. They’re closing libraries left right and Charlie here. And with them, we lose another opportunity to be quiet and reflect, and bring away something to learn from.
    But I never did that, because I was always the one at the front desk in sackcloth and ashes, settling outrageous fines and apologising because a book had disappeared down the piano and I was unable to reach it.

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    1. I’ve never known a librarian who was unhappy with the job. With the people, sometimes, yes, but never with the job. It’s like a great big jigsaw puzzle–lots of parts, all of them different.
      Libraries aren’t having an easy time here. I was lucky to have good funding, but things have become more difficult since I left. As for fines and apologies, I’m a better librarian than I am library user. I find it less expensive to patronize the bookstore than the library. I’ve never had a book go down the piano, but a lot of them end up Under Something. (I don’t broadcast these facts, of course.)

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  2. Enjoyed reading this–and seeing librarians from the inside out! Fun! And you cleared out your bookshelves! Next time you go see them give me a heads up and I’ll make a contribution. Sure will make my husband happy for me to clear off my nightstand. Sylvia

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    1. I’ll let you know. My friends are voracious readers. Unfortunately, they’re going to return the books. They’re more steadfast than I in their determination to keep some surfaces clear of bound print material.

      Glad you’re back from the Golden Triangle. Or maybe you’re on the road again.

      (P.S. I didn’t exactly clear my shelves. But the cats can curl up in the rocking chairs again.)

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  3. I know what you mean. When I was the distribution person for SCN Book Reviews, I’d see all the new books before they went to the reviewers. It was like Christmas every time I got a package in the mail. Nothing better than books! And the people who love them…

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