Dante: Guest Librarian
Something very exciting is happening next week. Dante, one of our loyal supporters and a patron of Street Books, will be standing in as a guest librarian. He came to the shift today to train with me. The hardest part? It's getting used to the cart. But he did a great job navigating downtown traffic!
Thanks Dante...having patrons help with the operations of the library was one of our original goals. (He also took a book for the week). So, stop by the South Park Blocks Saturday and say, "Hi."
Olivia Was Just Passing By
And she stopped to select a book to take with her. Enjoy it friend! We'll see you soon.
William Enjoys Dan Brown's Writing
William was really excited to crack the spine on this Dan Brown book. He thinks Street Books is a great project.
Writers Interest Piqued
- Karl Friedrich, Camas author of the newly released book, "WINGS: a novel of WW II Flygirls" stopped by Street Books to say hello on Saturday.
- Watch a short televison news spot where Karl talks about his book and the inspiration for writing it.
Jim Selects James Joyce
Jim was quite thoughtful in his book selection process. I was 'in the weeds' as they say, talking to interested bystanders and completing book transactions with patrons. He found a book he liked: James Joyce, "A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man". Jim, James...hmm, is it a coincidence that Jim makes a handsome portrait himself? I don't think so.
Isla: It Only Takes One Good Book
Isla returned "Reservation Blues" which she had checked out last week. She chose to take a Zora Neale Hurston collection. Tony had read aloud to her from the same book last week.
"It only takes one good book to get you reading again" she said.
Abraham Returns
Abraham returned a book on shift today. "I wanted to make sure you got it back," he said. Though he didn't take a book with him this time, I invited him to our Street Books Reception and he showed me some of his drawings. See you around, Abraham.
Tilden Took Non-Required Reading
Tilden approached the cart first thing. He was resting on a bench near out library spot when I arrived. He had not heard of Street Books before and was happy to learn about our little library. He took a collection of stories, "Best of American Non-Required Reading" and sat in the shade most of the morning and read.
Serendipitous Meetings
Mark Wyatt stopped me on my way to the Park Blocks shift. He was jubilant about Street Books. "Man, I wish you guys had been around about 20 years ago," he said. He told me that he was homeless for about 8 years, but he lives in a home now. Thanks for your support, Matt!
SB Supporter Schemes About Rain Protection
What do you all need? Rob asked me in the course of our conversation at the street library on Saturday. We need a place to store our back stock and we need rain protection for the cart, I replied. Immediately, Rob began building a canopy in his mind (captured here in this photo). He explained his thoughts about the rain gear and suggested a church, just a few blocks away that might be open to storing some books for us. Thank you, Rob!
Jeanie, the Girl Who Wanted the Dragon Tattoo
Jeanie stopped by the cart today to donate a copy of Stephanie Meyer's, "Twilight." She also picked up a copy of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" and started squealing with delight. She held up the book. "Do I look like a bad ass?" she asked. Indeed! Happy reading, Jeanie...
Outside, Then In
You Can't Tell a Book By Its Cover
And often enough, you can't tell a homeless person from a sheltered one. That is the lesson Stephan taught me. He approached the tent and started to brainstorm ways he could help Street Books. It wasn't until a good five or ten minutes into our conversation that I learned he has been homeless for 10 days after experiencing long-term unemployment. He was happy to find a good book to take with him.
Sebastian Loves Comic Books
I won't remember to bring this back he told me and laughed. "I have two metal plates in my head," he said. It makes it hard for him to concentrate. But he was thrilled to take a comic book to pass the time and wait out the afternoon sun.
Maggie Rogers Finds Us on a Sunny Day
Maggie Rogers was at the square when I arrived for my shift. She had a lovely selection of books to donate to Street Books, and though we have been inundated with book donations, I could simply not say, "No". Maggie had been by the cart on a rainy day in early June, but returned to donate books and give Street Books many accolades. Thanks Maggie! We couldn't do the work we do without the support of such a loving (and well read) community!
Spaz Finds The Lost Symbol
Spaz didn't let the fact that he was wakened by a police officer and two animal control agents (with a $100.00 ticket for him) spoil the day. He walked up to our library (which was only feet from his spot of slumber) and found just what he was looking for.
'Little Bit' finds a Bone
Timmy, Katie and Miss Rodeo
Though they had never been to Street Books before, Timmy and Katie stopped and chatted for a while. They perused the books and decided not to check out a book today saying they both had a lot to read right now. They each took a patron card though and said they'd be back to check books out at a later shift. See you then!
Patrick, Charlie and Skye
This trio had not heard of Street Books before. They were headed out of town and weren't sure when they might be back. Still, they each found a book to accompany them on their travels. I suggested they pass on their books to someone else when they finished and that they could come back and trade out next shift if they were still in town.