Nolan Chose Trask
The first time I ever met Nolan was in Chinatown, where he was sitting on his bedroll reading a paperback. He said he thought the Street Books project sounded good, and that I should definitely stock some Louis L'Amour titles. When we ran into each other at Skidmore Fountain the next week, Nolan said he'd had a rough night, and showed me a scuff on his head and a wound on his hand. He looked through the library and chose Don Berry's Trask. It takes place in Oregon, and the main character is a mountain man, traveling the wilderness alone. Nolan said he'd been in Portland too long, and that he was thinking of heading north. We shook hands and he headed through the crowd of Saturday Market shoppers, his paperback tucked under one arm.
Street Books Crashed the Rose Parade
And lent books at Right 2 Survive's peaceful direct action. They'd set up camp along the parade route the night before, to bring attention to the city's policy of legalizing camping on the evening before the parade, so that parade-goers can save a sweet spot along the route. Three hundred & sixty-four days a year, camping is still illegal, and people who live outside in Portland are criminalized for doing so, wakened by police in doorways and under bridges, and told to move on. But once a year, anybody can pitch a tent.
Patrick Likes Stuart Woods
Says he spent most of 2006 in the hospital for his heart, and read about 20 Stuart Woods titles. But he hasn't read Cold Paradise yet, so he's pleased to discover that in my Street Books library.
Ryan Carries Bellow & Kerouac
I was technically off-duty from my Street Librarian position, walking in Hollywood without my bicycle library, and Ryan was standing with a sign that said “Indigent,” outside the Rite-Aid. The text on his sign asked for money for a place to stay, and had a little paper-clipped piece of paper that he could switch the number on. It said “8” to go, meaning 8 more dollars. I stopped to tell him about Street Books and then looked down at his feet to see a couple of books. “Wait,” I said. “You’ve already got books.” He smiled. “Yeah.” It was a Saul Bellow reader, and a Kerouac book, (I forget the title, but Ryan said “This one isn’t as good. The writing is super drunk and rambling. He doesn’t even try to hid his identity anymore, just goes by Jack Kerouac.”) Ryan’s twenty-five and comes from Cleveland. Said he’s got a wife there. He is a hell of a reader. Said he’d just “finished the Russians” and now he’s in the market for something French, like Celine.
Celia Took the Baby Goose
Elizabeth was afraid she couldn't take care of it, so Celia, Assistant Librarian and Keeper of Small Helpless Animals, tucked it in her sweatshirt and headed to look for a bus that might take her to the Audubon Society. Not in her job description, but then, she works for a street library.
Megan Wanted Kesey
She said she'd seen the movie version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and now she wanted to try the book. She was also interested in children's books, since she's got a two-year-old. She's due in July with her second, and she posed her book in front of her growing belly for a portrait. She said she thinks a street library is a great idea, because a book really helps to pass the time.
Martin Carries the Torah
He says he'd better not add anything to his carefully packed bicycle -- even a paperback book could take him over. He tells me about riding the train coast to coast, about growing orchids and working for the Rockefellers. When we part, we shake hands and he says "You made my day."
Thomas Requested Cold Mountain
He checked out a comic from Dark Horse, but said he'd like to read Charles Frazier's book, Cold Mountain. A few days later, I found a copy for him at the very stellar bookshop Second Glance Books, at 4500 NE Sandy Blvd. (Stop in and visit Rachelle, who gave me a deal on books and offered more for donation to Street Books -- great selection in her shop). On Saturday I'll be at the Park Blocks again, looking for Thomas so I can give him his book.
Marvin Likes Books About Building Things
He likes to read about how to use tools in carpentry and construction. It's hard to find books like that anymore, he says. It's a Wednesday, and he's headed to see the giant Navy ships come into port, since he still hasn't found a job, and so the day is wide open. It's a gray day at Skidmore Fountain, and chilly. I watch two police officers on horses rouse a group of three people, sleeping amid a tangle of bicycles and shopping carts, sleeping bags and plastic bags. The cops pause to have their pictures taken with a group of school children on a field trip. Then they go back to rousing the people. One of those just wakened is a kid who looks to be fifteen or sixteen. He paces around, agitated, and when he passes close to me, I ask if he'd like a book. He shakes his head and looks away, and I can feel the misery radiating off him.
Charlie Chose Edward Abbey
He saw me at Skidmore Fountain, biking the library along, and said "Hello, Sweetheart. Let's do this. Whatcha got?" He perused the collection and chose The Monkey Wrench Gang. Charlie said that back in the day he was an intern for Edward Abbey, in charge of food and drink and driving him around, but that Abbey got drunk and took off and left him in the desert. [vimeo video_id="24755675" width="320" height="480" title="Yes" byline="No" portrait="Yes" autoplay="No" loop="No" color="00adef"]
Fred the Firefighter Loves Jane Austen
At the fire station at Skidmore Fountain, Fred looked over the library collection and asked me how I decided what titles to feature. I told him I wanted to offer a mix of everything, like a regular library, and not force Jane Austen on a somebody who wasn't up for it. Fred grinned and said he likes Austen a lot. Then looked over his shoulder at the station and said, "Don't let the guys inside know." Sorry Fred. Your secret's out. [vimeo video_id="24706558" width="300" height="500" title="Yes" byline="No" portrait="Yes" autoplay="No" loop="No" color="00adef"]
AB Likes Our Idea, Wonders Do We Have a Permit?
He says people bring all kinds of weird things downtown. "What's the craziest?" I ask. He thinks a minute and then says there was a homemade mobile home somebody was pulling along behind a bicycle. Sleeping wherever they wanted. The second craziest: A man paddling a canoe in the fountain across from the Civic Auditorium. AB says he reads all kinds of books. His interests are diverse, he says.
Gratitude
Okay, first a little gratitude, before the project launches. Thanks to RACC for helping to fund this project. Thanks to my sidekick Ben Parzybok for the mad web skills and his steady support. Thanks to James Moulton, architect/builder/designer and a patient brother who will build and then haul my projects around in the back of his truck. Thanks to Celia Luce, Street Books Assistant Librarian and all around cool ace. Thanks to Joanne & Israel and the vendors at Street Roots, for their support of this project and willingness to participate. Thanks finally to all the people and organizations who have donated books to the Street Books library. It's going to be a great summer.
