0. Bird Baths
The Wrens and Chickadees are fluttering around the water I set out in the front yard, yesterday. Their approach is cautious, always cautious.
What a lot of work, looking around, hopping from branch to branch before finally satisfying themselves that it’s safe to drink, only to look around some more from the brink before they finally dip to take a sip, only to dash off after just that one sip.
… this makes me think of public libraries.
1. A Card Carrying Member
30 minutes outside Austin…
“Can I help you?” the librarian asked. There were three librarians sitting at the desk (although one of them appeared to be an intern). Each of them was smiling.
I asked if I could get a card, even though I live out of town. I explained that I will be a teacher in town, and I thought it would be a good idea to get to know the library so I can talk to my students about it.
“Of course,” she said. “I can do it now.” And she handed me a form, which I filled out.
“Will you mail the card to me? How long does it usually take?”
“Oh no. I’ll do it now,” she said, as she reached into a drawer, pulled out a blank card, wrote my name on the back, scanned it into their system and handed it to me.
I am now a card-carrying member.
2. Making a Copy
While I was standing there, a woman walked up to the desk and asked a question. She had shoulder length white-gray hair, a wrinkled top, and looked to be in a hurry.
“Can I borrow $0.20,” she asked in a low voice. “I really need to make a copy, and I don’t have any money on me.”
“Of course!” one of the other librarians said with a smile and a go-ahead wave of her hand. “Pay us the next time you come in.”
For all the wonders of the new downtown Austin Central Library, this would never happen there. And I am a card-carrying member