Last weekend was the annual library book sale. The Chief and I had a little outing to peruse the offerings, and found a few treasures. When I'm shopping with him, I don't, how shall we put it, feel the same sense of interior freedom to buy all the treasures as when I'm on my own.
“Where will we put it” is the cry heard throughout the land; but he asked me to go so we did get a good armload at the sale.
Now one of my beefs with our library is that they had a good collection of Trollope among other classics. If I needed a read, I could just pop in and get the next one.
But about five years ago they disappeared, and I definitely indulged in my eternal gripe of “why oh why do libraries remove the good books?” It's not like their collection is so vast. Just leave the books be!I always thought I might find them at the book sale, but they never showed up. It was a mystery and still is, where they were.
But Saturday, they appeared!
But “where will they go?” I left them behind, knowing full well (I mean, just hoping) they'd still be there on Monday, when homeschoolers (among others) can pick books up for free.
So violà, I got my Trollope!
As I was putting them in the bookshelf (ha! there is a place for them!), I spied this bookmark within the pages:
It did look familiar, and sure enough, it was ours — and truly, this must be from 10 years ago at least, maybe longer –when Sukie was still home and making Valentines!
I know that our librarians toss anything left in books if they find them; truly it must be that I was the last to check this book out (which is what they claim: “The book hasn't circulated for a long time, so we sell it”). Oh well, it's mine now!
bits & pieces:
Leonardo da Vinci's design for a bridge held up only by compression.
Podcasts: I recommend listening to Thomas Mirus interviewing Mary Stanford on the subject of authority and submission in Christian marriage; don't omit the last bit, from about minute 40 to the end. Also have a listen to “The Effects of Feminism on Divorce” with Leila Miller and LeeAnn Abel on Christine Bacon's show.
“I am not a legal scholar. I can’t comment on the constitutional ins and outs. But it is patently obvious that giving homosexuals and trans individuals access to the extremely powerful and coercive tools of civil rights law is bad social policy. It will further empower the powerful, allowing them to destroy anyone who resists their agenda.” R. R. Reno: How Gay Rights Empower the Rich
I'm very excited that John Henry Newman will be canonized tomorrow! I have a great devotion to him and read him all the time. His book of Plain and Parochial Sermons (affiliate link — and yes, it's pricey — but it's a treasure) is one I read on a loop. A slow loop, but a rewarding one. I will be posting articles about him as they appear (or I get to them).
Here are some suggestions for festive libations in his honor.
This 1965 short film might captivate your youngsters who are learning some biology and appreciate good music! The friend who sent it my way says: “It's a time-lapse of the development of a chick embryo; an extended visual/musical pun on the Egmont (get it?!?) Overture, cleverly capped by the piccolo at the very end. Both the video & sound are inferior to today's standards, but it's still good.” A different kind of chick flick!
from the archives:
A post in which I sort of talk again about The Reasonably Clean House: Redux
A science curriculum resource I don't want you to miss
liturgical year:
Today is the feast of St. Wilfrid. Tomorrow is the canonization of John Henry Newman — definitely a day to celebrate!
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Rebecca Millette says
I recently returned from a library book sale at 8 months pregnant weighed down with a huge box full, fully expecting my husband to say, “Where will they go?” Instead, I was delighted when he said, “But, these are all our favourites! Why are they getting rid of them?” Apparently, we are the only ones taking them out because “not being circulated” was the reason. So glad you saved some treasures!
Caitlin says
I know that you mean about “internal freedom.” 😉 How neat about the bookmark! Wow! The chick flick (har har) was fun– my two year old was entranced and was dancing by the end.
Mary says
I chuckled about that “interior freedom” remark. Now, I am NOT saying this is MY experience, but I have HEARD, shall we say?, that shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden. Just saying. 😉 Good night and God bless!
Ava says
I used to work for a library that would regularly organize large book sales but the book selection was predominantly what had been donated to them (though of course there were some books which were “weeded” for “collection development”). It’s great that you actually found what you were hoping for!! Highly recommend that if anybody wants a library to own a book, they fill out a “suggest a purchase” or online comment about it on their library website rather than purchase and donate it. If the form you fill out has a checkbox with “wish to be contacted about this,” check it and then call later in the week to inquire. The two most important hires in a library, in my humble opinion, are the person in charge of collection development (not always a librarian) and the Library Director (who has the final say so on who is hired, what programs are had, etc…). Boards can be ignored and librarians over-ruled, in my experience.
CJ says
Our library “curates” the collection, weeding out books that have not been checked out in three years. I was initially annoyed with that, but as it turns out our library has brought in GOBS of new books (much more than I previously remembered) to fill in all the books it culled since starting that. Yes, some old favourites disappear, but lots of new goodies coming in. I make a point of checking out books that I’m worried will disappear, LOL.
I also love when I suggest a book purchase, they call me when it comes in and I get to be the FIRST to read it!! *squeals in delight*
And yes, we got a new library director and an outreach librarian in recent years. The library has improved vastly in that time, and now offers a host of interesting and useful programs, guest speakers, book clubs, etc.
Kristi says
I am struggling with envy — both of your Trollope find, and to have a library that sells its older/unwanted books — ours destroy such books! Both the local public library, and the community college where my husband teaches.
In fact, when he checked out and returned older books at work, that would put them on the librarian’s radar as books to be destroyed. (I guess he was the only one who had read them for years.)
Fortunately, once he asked for these books to be kept, they were. But it’s maddening how the good books get tossed, and 99% of the new ones purchased are twaddle or worse. Ugh, this whole issue triggers me — fodder for my next confession!
But really, enjoy the Trollope! Lucky you!
Shyla says
I cannot believe you found that valentine tucked inside the book! What a surprise! So glad they were still there on the “free day” that is absolutely something I would have done (waited!). Love it.
Theresa Fagan says
Years ago I bought a lovely library discard of Little Women. Inside the cover was a post-it note recommending it be discarded for its anti-feminist views.