All the Leaves Are Brown, And the Sky is Gray
So sang the Mamas & the Papas in the Park Blocks, at the start of the Street Books library shift. Background music for the car show at the art museum, and a nice floaty backdrop for this librarian to listen to as she organized books, (subsequent songs weren't as good, sadly. A few were even bad). Ben came by and returned Dog Eats Dog ("Hated it. It's like it took the whole book just to tell a joke.") and Travels With Charley, John Steinbeck's book about traveling America with his dog, ("Didn't even like the dog," Ben said.) Ben's still working his way through A Prayer for Owen Meany, (isn't liking it, but now he feels compelled to find out what happens to Owen Meany), so he declined a new book. As he left, I asked him if there was any book I could get for him that he might like. "I dunno..you know, maybe international intrigue, tracking down a killer...that sort of thing." He smiled wryly and headed off.
Dante showed up on a bicycle, a gift from several of his newspaper customers. He had a hot shower today and was wearing clean clothes, and he looked and felt like a million bucks. Dante is a newspaper vendor for Street Roots and has developed a lot of great relationships with customers, has gotten some recent odd jobs to earn money, and is serious about getting a regular job. He's also quite articulate when it comes to explaining why everyone should read Don Quixote. (See video posted soon).
Jim-the-Walking-Stick-Maker stopped by to say hello, as he does most Saturdays.
Beth Chapman stopped by to observe the library shift and help out, (she even brought me an iced tea!). She is a librarian who is very interested in working with people who live outside, and it was great to have her today. Mycol requested a book about the raw food diet, so he'll know what vegetables to grow, and Beth took on the quest to find him the perfect book. Thanks again, Beth.
Chelle Dey stopped by the library and donated copies of Clan of the Cave Bear and Eclipse. Thanks again for the books and the great conversation.
Marjorie Sharp lives downtown and stopped by to let us know she's got lots of books to donate. Nice to meet you, Marjorie.
All in all, a really wonderful Saturday of book-lending and great conversations. Thanks again to all my patrons, and to all of you who have donated books, money, and time to the Street Books project.
The Kindness of Strangers
Okay, they're not exactly strangers, since Broadway Books has been selling books and hosting great readings since 1992. But they certainly are kind, and owners Roberta Dyer and Sally McPherson recently contacted Street Books and asked what they could do to help. Knowing we were likely inundated with paperback book donations (we are!) they offered a $50 gift certificate so that we can buy particular titles not readily found in the donation piles. Roberta & Sally also posted a really nice letter to their blog about Street Books. Have a look at it here. Big thanks to Sally & Roberta, booksellers who are committed to getting books to people, no matter where they live.
Two Rachels, a Judy, & a Random James
They showed up today at the Street Books Library bike with their generosity in hand. First Rachel Witmer brought most of the Harry Potters, plus a copy of The Way to the Western Sea, a look at the journey of Lewis & Clark by David Lavender. Thank you, Rachel! Judy Kitell came by next and donated four great books, including Carson McCuller's The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and the new memoir by Patti Smith, Just Kids. Thanks so much, Judy. Then Rachel #2, Rachel Parker donated 2 bags of books, all titles she's seen requested on this site by Street Books patrons. She also gave Street Books a $50 gift card to Powells bookstore, and said it was also from Noah Sharpsteen. Thank you, Rachel & Noah. James Yamada came by near the end of our shift, and after surveying the project, opened his wallet and gave a spontaneous donation. Thank you to James. We are currently sorting through paperbacks and figuring out a good system for storage and organization. I'll keep you posted on that. In the meantime, thanks again for all the help and interest in the Street Books project.
Welcome to Sue Zalokar
Sue is a Guest Street Librarian who will work this Saturday's shift at the Park Blocks. Stop around and say hello to Sue, and if you see her pushing the library up the slope to the Park Blocks, give her a hand. That sucker's heavy on the uphills.
A Banner Day at the Street Books Library
People who read the terrific article by Rebecca Koffman at the Oregonian stopped by to see the street library, donate books and say hello. Big thanks to Ms. Koffman, who came down for two different Street Books shifts, and spent lots of time talking to people and observing the library in action. She captures the project and its aims very well, and I appreciate her keen eye for detail and wonderful writing. Robert Montgomery saw the article and came straightaway with a bag of great titles, including New Stories From the South: 2010, edited by Amy Hempel, one of my favorite authors. This librarian plans to get a quick look at that on her next shift.
Finally saw Tony again, and let him know I had the R.A. Salvatore books he'd requested a month or so ago. "I've been looking for you," I said. "I know, he said. "I was in the psych ward for four days, and then jail for three, so I've been gone awhile." "Welcome back," I said. I showed him the book marked "Reserved for Tony," and I could tell he was glad to see it.
A man named Arthur stopped by and recommended a book called The Butterfly Fleet, a book of historical fiction by Dena Johnson, which takes place in our own nearby Astoria. He said it was one of the best books he's read in a long time. While we talked, he began to arrange the paperbacks so that all the titles faced the same way. "I'm sorry," he said. "Do you mind? I'm a little compulsive about organization." I told him I was always happy for any organization, being (sadly) the opposite of compulsive about organization myself. So thanks, Arthur.
Had a very nice conversation with Dante, who has been on the road some years now, and he took time to tell me on video why Don Quixote is such an important book to read. I'll be posting that video soon, so stay tuned.
Thanks again, everyone, for the support, donations, and well wishes. I had a feeling when I launched this project that this city would rise to the occasion, and People of Portland, you haven't let me down.
Street Books In the News
The Street Books project has been fortunate to have some great recent coverage by local press. The Mercury published this piece yesterday and today the Oregonian put up this nice video by Beth Nakamura. Thanks to her for the great video piece, and for Mark & Pamela, who were willing to give interviews and be filmed. I owe Mark a copy of Where the Red Fern Grows, (yes, he remembers how it ends, and he still wants to read it again). Thanks to everybody who has participated in the project so far. Happy July.
Thanks & More Thanks to:
--Terra DeHart, who brought books to donate to Street Books today, (look for her caricature booth at Saturday Market, back near the food carts). --Ed, who learned that Stephen King was a popular author with patrons, and brought me a King book during the same shift
--Angela Pascal & her giant white dog, Charlie, who heard us on the Think Out Loud program and brought a copy of The God of Small Things to donate.
--Lisa Hoashi, for feeding the librarian.
--Kim Kaminski, for tending the offspring.
One Hundred Dollars!
That's how much the couple gave Rachelle at 2nd Glance Books. They walked in after they heard the Street Books interview on OPB's Think Out Loud program, and said "We'd like to help." She said, "Great," and then watched as they handed over five twenties. Thanks to the couple, Street Books now has a running credit at the bookstore. Here's what I bought for patrons today:
A Smock for the Librarian
Thanks goes to Carla at Bohemian Vintage, who kept me in mind after I described what I was looking for to wear at the Street Books library, and then, after she tracked down a smock for me, insisted on donating it to the project. She runs a very cool little shop in the Hollywood neighborhood @ 1627 NE 42nd Avenue, and photographs customers in the duds they buy. I'm going to try and stencil "Street Librarian" on the back of my smock. Drop me a note if you happen to be an expert at stenciling letters on smocks.
Beautiful Day, Lovely Patrons
After a few Saturdays of chilly, drippy weather, which found this librarian and her paperbacks decidedly damp, today was a very sunny day and the weather matched the people, for the most part. Right away Brian showed up and returned 2 books, and checked out 2 more. He is definitely a shy, quiet person -- opted not to have his photo taken again. It was great to see him, and great to send him off with 2 new titles. Chris returned "Dirty Tricks" and Jeffrey G. brought a whole bunch of RA Salvatore books to donate that have been on my Request list. A woman named Sharron Volkman stopped by to donate a paperback, and a traveler named Isla donated 5 bucks before she checked out a few books. A guy named Robert requested some of the Forbidden Gospels, especially Enoch, he said. Jim came around to show off his handsome sanded walking sticks. Kreeg Peeples from Potluck in the Park stopped by. His business card says "Serving anyone in need since 1991." His organization feeds hundreds of people every Sunday at 3 p.m., rain or shine (at O'Bryant Square, 9th & SW Washington). They've seen an incredible spike in the number of people needing assistance in the last couple of years, and see more families & children as well. The Street Books library saw a mix of regulars and newcomers today, and it was great to see how many books went out. Lots of interest in the project, and support via donated books and donated $ on the Sponsor a Book page. Thanks everybody, and I'll keep you posted.
